Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

pretty cool project Brian, I'll tag along to see how it progresses.

Thanks Rob.
I sure could use your expertise too.

Only one that I know of.

http://www.collegeofaquaponics.com/prod ... nd-design/

Adam

Aww man I was hoping this project would be progressing in the next few months... if you have to wait for my expertise it might take me a few years to get some...

yes I am right there with you except for the "engineering" part. It's dawning on me that I need the edumacation from Ryan's class. After today we'll have an idea if we can proceed and what we have to work with. Another of my hopes is the project can include that class for it's local guy. It may be that my mobility gets better, but if it doesn't I think I can do more activities here at the computer. I'm trying to do what I can. I've been diagnosed with Inflammatory Arthritis, kind of a low grade Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Nothing against Ryan or his course, or anyone well off enough to have the money to spend on the course... I'm sure it's educational and he did it for a reason: people kept asking him for help and he didn't have time to help each one individually, so he put the resources together for people to learn his methods while not having to continually answer the same questions over and over... SMART!

With that said, it is only one person's way of doing things. If you copy it exactly you will possibly be able to succeed, but there is still a lot of effort that is on the individual, not necessarily the system, as well as unique issues to your location that aren't going to be answered in a one size fits all class (so really the only way you are guaranteed to have his level of success is if you convince him to sell you his property so you can install the exact system as what he has installed in that exact location, and they somehow figure out how to clone his brain and effort levels so you can supplement your own brain and energy levels to do everything exactly how he does).

You can take his list of topics that are available on his website and google or post a thread asking thousands of people their ways of doing things for a lot less money (free) and get what works for each person vs. paying for what works for one person (you still have to test it and figure out if it works for you even if you exactly copy him... as evidenced in Adam's thread that even though he sat through the course he's still putting his own spin on it so not going to know if it works until it's running.) So while I think it's a smart idea for Ryan and maybe some people prefer that in your face presentation and testing rather than having to look for information, or trial and error on their own, part of that trial and error is really how you are going to learn how to do this. I would think that would be part of the experience for an educational facility as well is hands on trial and error to learn what works and what doesn't for the students.

If I had $900 that I didn't know what to do with I'd consider taking his course, but I guarantee no matter how much money I make in my lifetime I'll always figure out something to spend it on, which means I'll never have $900 that I don't know what to do with... so unless I was trying to set up a business in which I was going to solely rely on it as a source of income I probably wouldn't invest the money into it. But that's just me... (I'd rather sit back and watch the other guys who have invested their money and see how much they let slip about Ryan's ways through their implementations and put that $900 towards building my system instead =)... ) if you can get the school to pay for it for you then heck go for it... but I don't think you need it just to get on the bandwagon, you already have a lot of what you need and the rest I'm sure you can get with the forum.

I thought the same thing, I did not have the money (@ the time I signed up) and went against wife and put on a credit card. The market in my area is no good for produce and 4 Mos of shopping, the course has paid for itself in fuel/time (time mostly that can be applied to other things.....)

To clarify, I am putting my own spin on my system b/c I am looking to sell and do not want to lose anymore than is necessary to a party that may/may not use for their own use. It is by no means optimized, but even the improvements in my test system are being realized with information learned.

However, the majority of the info can be found if you are able to sift through Lots of posts that may/may not have backing to support. Things that are not readily found, is information as to as to overall system design, feed rates, dissolved oxygen considerations, filter design calculations to name a few.

There are quick conversion factors to be utilized that he has come up with that based on his own experiences and lab testing (his and independent) that cut through the trial and error portion of designing something that is too small, right sized, or overkill and takes up a footprint that could be used for growing.

B/c of things that I have been introduced to, it allows me to try and streamline what I am working with. Yes, I have seen parts of this information throughout the forum, but I can go back to review things (I hope) for an indefinite period of time.

Ryan also states that most of this information will be made public in a period of time, 8-10 years, by others who look to venture into a commercial market and the technologies become more readily available b/c it is not such a niche market.

The course is geared towards a market that you are limited by how big and how much money you have initially to invest. It can also be dialed down to a level of if you are just wanting to feed family/friends or even mid size community.

I will also tell you that had I drained my IBC FT and punched a hole in the bottom of the tank, that a lot of the issues I'm currently exercising would be reduced.

Takeaway: it is an investment, but one that I am already seeing returns on for my own family and will probably trickle over to a farmers market to further add to my income stream by selling to others.

Adam

Thanks for the feedback. I needn't add any expense to the project. I'd do more good if I learned sketchup.
Fantastic, this kicks me off to a great start.
I'll focus on the overall plan then.
Mario, if successful in his meeting today with the LA Lab staff will need a detailed plan next.
I'll reach out to the school staff as well as parents for volunteers in order to remove current grow beds and clutter from the geodesic dome.
If we're blessed with a large pool of volunteers, would it be appropriate to pick people for their skills and capabilities?
Designing the layout should be fun.

Please draw something up if you have ideas for a layout.
This dome should have room for 16 children and a teacher.
I'll follow up with the square footage of the dome Brohay calculated. In the meantime I better get started with Sketchup.
I appreciate everyone's help.
Can you guys give me some more good search words?
What are the latest styles of automated aquaponics called?
What is the term that best describes this system if it is all user controlled with no automation?
What are the key points I'll need address? In which order?
Should we rent a portable building for to store tools and supplies onsite?
Things I missed?

Darn it, Sketchup is for Mac and Windows, not Linux. I'll see what other Linux users do.
https://alternativeto.net/software/google-sketchup/?platform=linux
Am I missing a 3D modelling app?

I have access to other Cad types programs.

One question that does need consideration, is the city/state involved for any type of inspections?

If so, is occupancy code with egress needed to be maintained? That will cut down on space available for the grow/FT space.

Adam

Good question. Would this be checked with fire department?

Alrighty, NMHU is onboard and they expressed interest in a version of our proof of concept project for their vacant greenhouse.

The person you should be asking about a lot of this Brian is Web4Deb. He is the only member I know who has built a geodesic dome with working aquaponics system and still posts on the forum.

I don't go looking for trouble unless it is deemed necessary....... But yes.

Wait to see how things progress with design /layout and see what utilities are going to be added? Meanwhile I'll ask another county what the general consensus might be.

Adam