Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi, everyone. I have just started a blog about building an aquaponics system from a blind person's point of view. I am doing this so the blind community will have hopefully better instructions on how to build a system. I am completely blind and ran into a few issues trying to figure out how certain aspects of the systems worked I have everything figured out now and am ready to start building my system soon. . Please drop by and comment with tips or ideas. The more the better for helping spread the word to everyone. My blog is www.growingoutofsight.wordpress.comm


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Corrected link - http://www.growingoutofsight.wordpress.com

If your blind you might be used to this but I cant imagine how hard it would be to get my head around how a siphon works and changing water levels.

Strength to your arm.

+1

I worked in a Sheltered Workshop with blind people for seven and a half years and some of the things they could do better than able body people never cease too amaze me, but visually impaired and aquaponics that takes it to a new level, well done.

Great job D8.
Really nice to see someone wanting to further thier community and people aiding others from within the same community when possible.

Glad to see you are a risk taker too - Blind person owning a cactus! brilliant.

Thank you everyone. I don't know how to address y'all individually, but thank you for correcting the link if I posted it wrong. Figuring out the siphon was the hardest part, but i figured it out in a dream oddly enough, and tested my theory out and it worked. I wanted a new challenge and I love building things. I had a hard time gathering the information and couldn't find anything geared towards the blind community so I figured I'd start a trend of blind aquaponics. To check the water my wife said she would help me, but I am hoping a kickstarter project will get funding to help automate the process and have all the info on my phone. If y'all can please take a look at "the osmobot" on kickstarter and spread the word. If they make their funding goal this could help more than just aquaponics, but a who range of communities. Sorry if my responses are short I have to scroll back and forth to make sure I answered all of you. Thank you all for visiting my blog as well I hope it will be entertaining and informative for everyone.


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Identifying nutrient deficiencies will be a challenge.

With that system "the Osmobot" it will be able to monitor those parameters, and the ones it won't and till it comes out my wife said she'd help. I have been gathering a list of everything I am going to be needing, and for the most part am ready to start building. We are moving to a new apartment next saturday so I am on hold till we have everything settled in, and then I will hopefully be able to start setting up. For right now my blog is going to have some back ground on me, but will soon have the processes of building the system and tips for checking values. Luckily My system will be on our patio which will be between the garage and back door to our apartment so my wife will have to walk by. She is pretty enthusiastic about the idea, not so much about the fish, but all the veggies and fruit.

I've also made a little checklist for things to look for on the plants as far as yellowing in the veins etc. for the plants we'd like to grow

I was looking at this for a different purpose and (while it would be expensive) there are some digital photometers out there which can be hooked up to a PC. If you had a screen reader on your PC you could then listen to the values. You could also get an app for your phone - they're not that good but for a simple display like this it could suffice?

E.g.:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hanna-Instrumen ... 2c7c4f366d

If this was for a community project perhaps the reader could be located wherever you meet and you could split the cost amongst members - just bringing some sample water in with you when you meet.

Again, you could also just ask a friend to help you with the readings.

You would still have the issue of identifying fish problems even if you can identify nutrient levels. If it was just for a remote/off-grid type configuration you could stream images from the tank if you have reasonably clear water. I'm not sure for Blind people though to be honest.

Maybe if you were running it as a business you could offer to have somebody remotely monitor your tank as a service to look for signs of fish problems. :/

That's a good point. To be honest I barely even thought about fish problems. I know the basics about their health and effects of water quality, but didn't think of signs of infection. Thank you for bringing that up. Eventually I'd love to create a business out of this, and having someone trained or working with me to help monitor fish and plant health would be awesome. Looks like I'm going to have a few days of research to find signs of sick fish. More than likely I think I am going to raise catfish. tilapia are going to be the runners up.

There is actually a group that is going to have their first meeting here in a few days. After we get to know each other a bit better I'll run this by them and see if they would be interested in spliting the cost.

If you only keep goldfish, although maybe a bit cruel, not noticing small problems shouldnt cause major problems.
Use very hardy fish that you dont plan to eat and you might be good for years with no problems.