New Raft Aquaponics System at Vancouver Island University

The latest aquaponics system contructed in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at Vancouver Island University (http://www.viu.ca/fisheries). Kirsti explains how the new raft system works and how to get the bibb lettuce and basil started. The tilapia are provided by Redfish Ranch (http://www.redfishranch.com) and hydroponic equipment provided by Progressive Hydroponics (http://www.progressive-growth.com).

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Vancouver
• Island
• University
• raft
• aquaponics
• hydroponics
• tilapia
• bibb
• lettuce
• rockwool
• metal
• halide
• basil
• sustainability
• water
• recirculation
• aquaculture
• plants
• fish
• education
• reuse
• environmental

[ruff7rider]

the water should be running all the time????

[FishAquaMalaspina]

Yes indeed! This is a raft system which by definition needs a volume of water underneath the styro at all times to "float the vegetables". Underneath the styrofoam are 4 airstones (in each grow bed) which keeps dissolved oxygen level high so the plants thrive.

[nectarineblue]

sweet root system for 2 weeks.. I love self sustaining environments... now with the revive , is it getting into the fish tank?

[FishAquaMalaspina]

yes whatever you add to the system goes throughout the system. The fish are not negatively impacted by the level of chelated iron in the revive solution. We keep the iron levels at a constant 2-3mg/l.

[madscirat]

Two problems here. 1:Your system is too concerned with sterility.Remember aquaponics is about building an artificial ecosystem not just two crosslinked monocultures. In this vein u should be promoting algae which will help by adding 02 to the fish tanks 4 u. 2: The design is too complicated. Why have a whole tank just for seperating wastes when they naturally float to the bottom anyway? Why have the nitrifying bacteria in their own compartment when they will gladly work alongside plants?

[greenfish13]

It'd be interesting to compare the two week growth from this raft system to plants from different set-ups

[copefarms]

I wish the audio was better I know it was because of a cheap camera and a cement room and no external mic.

Otherwise she is a very good speaker and cute as well.

for the organics people I wonder what kind of chemicals break down and leach out of the styrofoam that is floating in the water?

[ezesjostrom]

I saw alot of this type of system in shanghai china, it works great.

i just got my barrells for my new system.

will begin setup when it is not 115 outside.

i am in Arizona.

so i will wait for the cooler weather.

keep up the good work kirsti.

your a cutie.

[mopieo]

Just a comment on the algae growth. I understand that you wouldn't want the system to become clogged, but I think you should look at algae as an asset rather than a problem. Algae is the fastest growing "plant" in the world and converts sunlight into tangible energy at a very fast rate. This energy could go into your system as a food source or "buffer". Blocking any kind of light out of your system is counter productive, especially when using that expensive HID light ;) keep up the good work

[YouMockMe]

what other types of fish/aquatic life can be raised efficiently in this type of system?

[nectarineblue]

as i understand rockwell isnt ph neutral .. is there any method you have to do to make it neutral, or does that only apply to chemically based hydroponics instead of aquaponics..

[MarineHarvestCanada]

Oops - meant Kirsti, not Kristi (fingers got ahead of me). Sorry 'bout that!

[MarineHarvestCanada]

Good job Kristi - Hey, is that you that is on the VIU television commercial? (the person that opens the door that enters on to the beach).

[FishAquaMalaspina]

Ammonia is taken up to some degree by the plants but a majority of the nitrogen needed by the plants is taken up after bateria break down the ammonia to nitrite and then other bacteria break the nitrite into nitrate.