Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Here are some pictures of my greenhouse and of the components that make it work as an automated controlled environment. I am not sure anyone is interested in the build photos so I've attached some current ones with captions.

Awesome!!

Impressed, what brand auto feeder?

Also, any pics from outside? What are the hoops made of? Is it half circle or cathedral?

The feeders are Fish Mate brand. Can feed up to 3 times in a 24 hour cycle with each feeding from 0.4 to 4 ounces of feed.

Hoops are hand bent from chain link fence top rail. Each 21ft long. Base of each hoop is inserted into a 1 5/8" pipe that is pounded into the ground 4ft. At 4ft here we reach rock.

Would you like to see pictures of all the components that make this greenhouse work?

How well do they work with small pellets <3mm???


Yes please...

Churro... it looks as if you went with tubes, rather than grow beds... Pretty cool. Why the pots? Was it to circumvent the need for a bed?

I'd love to pick your brain regarding your choices! There is actually a water heater? Power or gas?

Man, that's tidy.

How well do they work with small pellets <3mm???

I have not measured the Cargill feed that I've used but my guess is it close to 3mm or a little smaller in size. The feeders work fine with this size pellet. The basics of the feeder are a servo with a cam and a screw drive to move the feed from the hopper down the snout that sticks out from the side. So, they should work with most feed as long as it is not so big it jambs or some that is too small like fry powder or flaked. If I remember the instructions say "Do not use flaked food in these feeders." I have also used larger feed such as Purina Game Fish Chow and it also works fine.

No one asked but the batteries last at least a month on my feeding schedule, twice a day.

Asked because I've found a lot of the feeders work fine with a pellet >3mm... but anything smaller just tends to drop through when filling the hopper... or activated...

Or they work with smaller pellets... but not the larger... (usually these are too dinky to use anyway)

There are plants that do well in the tubes. There are plants that need a rooting medium to do well. Lettuce/basil/chard grow well in the tubes, tomato/pepper/cucumber/tomatillo plants do not because they require a rooting medium.

Propane water heater. Maintains 70F nutrient water temp.

I will caliper the feed tomorrow to verify its size.

Pics.

Bloody Hell!

Pics