Aquaponics

[andrew11235]

I was wondering if there was any interest in Aquaponic systems?

What is an aquaponic system it is aquaculturing ( breeding fish tilapia or others ) and hydroponics ( growing plants with no soil usually a mixture of water and nutrients ) combining the two you get aquaponics.

A normal fish tank has a filter in a aquaponic system the filter is plant line which contains a bio-filter ( usually crushed porous rock and an aerator )  then the water flows through the plants and in to a sump tank where Ph is balanced and any excess particles settle.

There are two different kinds of aquaponic systems continues flow and a "pump and dump" or flood. 

There is allot more that can be expanded on aquaponics and i hope there is interest.

interest that go with aquaponics 

 automation - harvesting, natural Ph balancing, bio fuel etc.

a cool site gardenpool.org

   

[andrew11235]

have to break the pdfs up

[andrew11235]

[andrew11235]

[andrew11235]

Sorry for the double post i didn't mean to create 2 threads it crashed on me the first time so i split up the pdf's and then there was 2.

[Rich Hart]

I'm definitely interest in aquaponic systems.  I found a excellent video of what Urban growers in New York have been doing for those that are interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqcBCcSLDlo&playnext=1&list=PLA93C9A730068D09D&feature=results_video 

I'm actually most interested in aquaponic automation, specifically how to automate testing of the nutrient solution.  The entire process of testing the elements in the solution is still a very imprecise science in the DIY aquaponics community.  There are very expensive methods that professionals use, but I am looking for a low cost alternative to work on.  

Since testing the nutrient levels in a solution is essentially a chemistry problem I have been looking into chemistry testing automation.  I think the most promising work is being done in microfluidics (kind of like plumbing but on the microscale).  One thing I would like to do is prototype a system that could test something simple like pH levels at first then try to test for other chemicals with later prototypes.

 Let's talk if you'll be at Hive tonight. 

On Wednesday, September 19, 2012 3:03:25 PM UTC-4, andrew11235 wrote:

[andrew sooy]

Main stream aquaponic setups can get pricey depending on size but looking at how to make it cost effective, efficient, and automated. 

I'm not trying to turn this in to a gardening club think of having a system that was automated that you could have meat, vegetables, clean air, and fuel for your car.

I would want to try and focus more on experimenting with balancing Ph level autonomously with house hold items that would not hurt the plants or the fish maybe baking soda and lemon juice.
I think an aquaponic system is more then just a garden or a fish tank in my eye's it is more of nature hacking creating a self sustaining ecosystem that gives you food and energy to be able to be "off grid".

Things i would look at for automation

Ph levels, particle levels, harvesting, and bio fuel generation.

I am looking at part of it gardening, part of it aquaculturing, and mostly automation making every aspect happen so no one has to maintenance it except maybe give it a bag of lye for bio fuel conversion.

Also maybe figuring out how to make a continues flow system  with out any pumps.

I have no experience making one but i have read a good bit and have some ideas i am working towards building one though.

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[andrew sooy]

I know i am, and i think Rich is working on his hydroponics.

I am still working on my design but it kinda got put on hold right now due to english class.

i would love to hear your idea for automation that is something i was going to be working on later down the line once i have a system running, probably am going to start working on it again in the spring and over spring break.

On Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 12:04 PM, Andras Kristof <akri...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Andrew, Rich,

I am working on a project to automate and streamline aquaponics. Are you still interested in the topic? If so, I'd like to collaborate.

Andras

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