Operation of the Green Trust aquaponics system

An overview of how our aquaponics system works. The pump in the fish tank pumps ammonia laden water to the flood tank. The flood tank contains the siphon which regulates the flood/drain cycle of the grow beds (providing oxygen to roots, and preventing them from drowning) . The bacteria in the gravel converts the ammonia to nitrates, which feed the plants, and clean the water being returned to the fish. More info at http://www.green-trust.org/wordpress/aquaponics-project/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• aquaponics
• hydroponics
• aquaculture
• fish
• vegetable
• self
• sufficiency
• DIY
• garden
• green
• food
• eco
• environment
• nature
• gardens
• gardening

[JoshABand]

what kind of fish do you grow?

[sspence65]

@JoshABand Most people seem to be raising Tilapia. I prefer Channel Cats. I hope to try Bluegill this spring once it warms up.

[JoshABand]

@sspence65 well if you ever need a supply of tilapia, let me know. i breed white nile tilapia.

[sspence65]

@JoshABand Thanks. I don't see us raising Tilapia.

[ursmarts]

What determines when the water flows to the plant beds? Also what is the purpose of the barrel, if when it fills up, it sends water to the plants anyway. Why not just have the pump supply water to the beds without the barrel, is this for water pressure?

[sspence65]

@ursmarts no water flows to the beds until the barrels fills. That's the point of the barrel, with the siphon inside. It's a timer for the beds. The beds need a ebb and flow, otherwise the roots get waterlogged.

[JoshABand]

@sspence65 well good luck with your systems :) i look forward to seeing your progress :)

[sspence65]

@benmissimer It's a 800 gph pond pump. It's available at the url in the video description.

[fang1998]

Nice work guys! Love seeing these simpler systems working well. It's alot easier building a system like this than most people think.

[kisa444]

having dealt with ponds, you will need to do a bit more to enclose your pipes & collection system a bit more or you will lose a lot of volume due to evaporation. Very cool though. Your earlier posts on this prompted me to rejuvinate my dug pond. I ripped out the liner and am in the process of digging it out & more than doubling it in size. It sits above my garden and should prove to be a good tool for easing the burden of on my well in deep August droughts. Thanks Steve!