Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

i live in socal desert, in a very windy spot(on some nights). its been preventing me from building a outdoor AP system. i dont have enuff money to build a greenhouse, any idea? i am afraid with out a coverd grow bed, my fish tank will just full up with finefine dust.

any thoughts?

-df

PS i REALY want a BYAP. it is all of are dream right?

Kalgoorlie would get pretty similar problems, so OBO might be able to help you out. If the dust is really fine it might just settle on the top of the water and you can use a swirl filter or skimmer to remove it.

I live in the desert too and so far it isn't a problem for me - but I haven't been going that long. The amount that gets in the growbeds has been insignificant so far. Any that is there will likely work its way to the stock tank bottom. If it builds up then I would clean it out from there. The winds tend to hurt the plants more than water system (they don't like getting sand blasted so much) so I am thinking of building a wind screen.

The other issue in the desert is just the sheer heat. We are already in the 90s and it is not even 'summer' yet. I think I will have to constantly flood during the heat of the day to keep everything alive and then flood and drain only at night.

snazzy my tip of the year.

Unless you place looks like it is from mars, I doubt that dust will be your problem.

I-10 in Palm Springs, ca. umm where known for are Windmill felds, it get gusty, but hey mabe i can have a windmill set up for my AP system.



SNAZZY nice double tip.
+2

the heat is a problem here to, 115-128deg/f for 2-4 mouths out of the year , not to humid thow .
but i was thinking on setting my fish tank in the ground, that will keep the temp cooler

its good to know that its not that much of a problem over in the dubai, the sand there is way finer.

-df

I DO need a wind block, but i was also thinking like WEED STOP, over the growbed and fishtank? but direct sun just might fry the fabric and the fish

ok well i have a update about the dust in my area

IT BLEW HARD last night...65mph gust

here are so

before:

after




i had 5 fish die last night.

and this system is in an indoor patio. is there anything i can do? if i had an outdoor system, this would be a HUGE problem i am thinking

Do you know anyone who has a swimming pool around there? See how they deal with the dust.

Where have you found that dust builds up? In nooks, out in the open?

Did the fish die from temperature swings or PH lack of O2 or what?

Could you simply siphon the sediment from the bottom of the fish tank?

How would a filter system go for removing the dust from the water as in a fishtank filter? While the dust is in the GB it should be "OK" but in the water could cause problems, especially at that level. Physical removal is an option I would investigate.

Youch, that is rather dusty, not nice.. Physical removal will be difficult as it's fairly fine, Some form of wind break would have to be the best option..

Joel, that is in my Indoor Patio, all that dust is threw cracks in the window. a wind brake is a must still for a outdoor system

manualy removing sand from the fish tank is not realy what i have in mind, to trouble some...

i think covering up as much as possable will limit the dust in the water... the growbed will have to fare on its own... i know if i seal up my FT opening i will still need air to move out.

i have a 275g IBC(FT) with 55g Drums(GB) for my out door system...the IBC will be easy to seal up... ill let you guys know on any up dates
-df

WOW
How often does that happen?

let just say they have one of the largest wind farms just down the road from me...so more often then not...

Maybe you should try using sand as a medium.

Not sure what else to say if that's the inside patio...... Certainly interesting to see different issues people have in different locations.