Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi there all,

Welsh Dragon and I were wondering what experience anyone has with Aquaponics in cold temperatures, preferably in an unheated / low cost system. I've been looking through everybody's systems trying to work out who has it coldest, and there are quite a few of you out there in chilly winter spots, so lets try and get the best of your wonderful knowledge into one place in these FAQS.

From going through the forums, the things that I'm thinking about are:

- Types of structure / enclosure
- Changes to water flow / pumping as it gets colder or at night
- Changing feeding patterns in colder climates
- Ideal Vegies to over-winter with.
- Insulation/positioning of growbeds and fish tank
- Types & running costs of heating if used

I think my aim is to work out how to make a year-round practical solution for the least possible $$ (or Pounds)

(WD's original thread can be found here: http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=144790#p144790)

Thanks,

Andrew

Mine is a cold area system. Gets down to -2 or -3 at night and up to 10 or 11 during the day. I've only really started to get a handle on the temps now by putting solar heaters, adding a greenhouse material roof, and getting those water temps up around the 10s.

Not this cold all the time of course, but I saw no problems other then a few lost plants because of the freeze.
I heat in the winter and it keeps my system above freezing, almost always.

Looks like a good beer cooler. Got to look on the bright side...
Seeing that encourages me not to complain about Adelaide winters.

Iceaponics. Must be hard to get it to auto siphon.

That sort of weather would be....challenging

Depends how hard you suck... kind of like a "slurpee"....

So yes under 10c/50f Aquaponics can be done, my winter crops are onion, lettuce, and peas. The growth of each limited to the day lenght. These are my only attempts to date as they dont seem to mind too much the chill.

Hi John,

Thanks for that info - I'll try and avoid the layer of ice though!
What sort of heater are you using, and do you know how much it's costing to run over winter?

Thanks

Andrew

Andrew, I use a little propane heater during the winter cost around $60 a week I spose.
The ice was the result of a clogged syphon that caused the tank to overflow resulting in loss of water for the pump to pump. No water flow + cold = Ice on the Lettuce.
Another good reason to pipe in an overflow.
And yes I'm still eating expensive salads.

If its a glass house can you recirculate its air with your house.

My climate is -2 -> 10, and I run a 300 watt heater about an hour a day and it keeps it high. Insulating the tank, and covering it (Rupe did a test which indicated that there is up to 5 degrees difference just from covering the tank).

Choose an appropriate fish to the climate so that you are not trying to heat the system just to keep them alive let alone growing.

Here is a link to a hydroponic forum based in Scotland, their members often deal with rather cool temperatures so could probably share info on what plants grow well in winter greenhouses.
http://www.thehydroponicum.com/forum1/default.asp?CAT_ID=2

I actually like cooler weather growing as salad and greens do better then as well as mint, broccoli, turnips, beets, snow peas, garden peas, onions, garlic, leeks, kohlrabi, carrots, parsnips, spinach, spoon mustard, kale, cabbage, and the list goes on. Biggest challenge is the short days during the cool season here (and the fact that our cool season is so short.)

If 50 F is as cool as it ever gets, no problem with most plants as long as you choose appropriate fish to that temperature, you won't even need to heat.

If the actual low temperature is really more like freezing, then you will have a little more effort making it work but work it can.