Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good news JT, nice to see these articles in the paper. They got the BYAP link wrong, but apparently backyardaquaponic.com is claimed already. Confusing!

thanks.. missed that will contact them and see if they can change it...

jT

the link has been fixed YEAH.................

now BYAP will be swamped with new users LOL well maybe a couple or three

JT what kind of plastice are you using on your greenhouse. I just read the post where tronvik mentions the clear 10 mil plastic. Ten mils? Cool, could you please share where to find it?

Just a quick update.....

cold weather continues, tho this week will be more around normal...... had lots of rain today.... finished and the temps are heading back down....

the fish are still eating well...so I guess they are still growing....

have been harvesting more and more veggies, now that they have become mature....Middle of winter here..... low light, cold nights and harvesting vegetables.. cant beat it....

One of my many yellow bell peppers, the fruit is almost bigger then the plant


Romas



and my favorite Breakfast Kellog orange...


all heirlooms and have been collecting seeds for the next planting...

Future Plans.....

going to extend the existing GH west by about 20 feet or so... and put in a dwarf fruit and citrus grove using half barrels and another bed for herbs....so I can keep them seperated...

maybe start late summer or early winter...

jT

Hey sorry missed this post.....

its a PVC 10 mil perfectly clear...... You can get it off EBAY and I also carry it on my site

later
JT

Thanks JT. Great system you have there.
Do you know if ten mil is available in 48 x 100 foot roll?

just another small update..........

my green peppers are looking kinda weak.. so checked my water quality.... my PH was below 6..... again..... hmmmm wonder why it keeps crashing.....

amm. .5
nitri 0
nitra 0
wt 60 degrees (15.5c)

so used some CC and got it up to 6.8 and things should get better.....

jT

Nice Winter vegetables JT, LOL.

All well run established systems providing there is nothing buffering will fall below 6
I put about 1/2 cup of lime in about every 6 weeks

You deserve that great winter harvest. You earned it by dedication, hard work, excellent planning, giving to others while making them wash gravel. Oops. Did I say making? I meant letting them wash gravel. lol

Solid system you have. Thanks for sharing along the way.

Mayne consider this info from William A. Wurts Ph.D.

He essentially explains the long term cause of pH decline.
"The plant members of the pond plankton community, phytoplankton, absorb CO2 for photosynthetic production of sugar.  As daylight progressively intensifies, the rate of photosynthesis increases and so does the uptake of CO2.  The removal of CO2 reduces the concentration of carbonic acid, and pond pH rises.  Late in the production season, high waste nutrient concentrations can promote dense phytoplankton   blooms   which,   in  turn,   can remove all of the CO2 from pond water during photosynthesis.  This can cause the water to become alkaline with pH levels greater than 9.0.  Pond pH is highest late in the afternoon -- a few hours before sunset.
 
After sunset, photosynthesis and CO2 uptake stop. However, respiration continues day and night.  During respiration, plants and animals consume oxygen to free the energy stored in food.  The end product of respiration is CO2, which is released directly into the water.  As photosynthesis is halted by the absence of light, CO2 begins to accumulate and the carbonic acid concentration increases.  The rising concentration of carbonic acid causes the pH to fall. Toward the end of the production season, the biomass and respiration of cultured animals and phytoplankton is high. Nighttime concentrations of CO2, and therefore carbonic acid, can become excessive, lowering pH below 7.0.  As such, pond pH would be lowest an hour or two before sunrise."

But also over time the buffer gets used up and the nitrogen cycle process naturally acidifies the water as well so if your overall system pH is dropping with time (and not just on a diurnal cycle) you will need to regularly add a buffer. I usually use lime stone or chicken grit on my 300 gallon system.

Thought I would bump my own thread with a picture I forgot to add a few weeks back

it's a tomato pie....

made with large red and yellow heirloom toms....

diced onions and garlic............

mix in some mozzarella cheese and bake it............... MMMMMMMM

jT

so it just tasted too good to take the time to snap a pic after it was cooked, eh