Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello All! I've been surfing around looking at Aquaponics info and found this place. After reading posts for a few days I figured it was time to introduce myself.

A bit about me and what lead me here.

I've been keeping fish on my own (always had fish as long as I have memory, but this was my first tank *I* kept) for about 27 years. Since my first little one gallon tank, I've worked in the pet fish industry, ran fish rooms, ponds, helped people with their tanks and maintained my own hobby. I even tried to help a friend who bought a running LFS... I just wish she had asked for help BEFORE signing! Even after getting into my current career, I still had a part time "fun job" at a LFS... in reality I spent more than I made from that job in the store... so was just a way to offset the cost of my hobby . My "portfolio" includes Freshwater, Planted tanks, several Biotopes with a focus on Cichlids. I actually kept a single Tilapia zillii when I was 12 or 13 lol! I also keep marine fish only, reef and FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock). Science has always been the basis of my hobby. While I may not recommend some of the things I do to beginners, I have been known to push the envelope for myself with some of the cutting edge topics. Actually, that's why I am here... there have been more than a few things I've found reading up on Aquaponics that just don't make sense to me, such as Nitrogen sources for the plants (NO3 vs. NH3/NH4), pH, Micro and Macro nutrients, stocking densities and biological filtration (I've been reading some horrifically outdated information on the topic of Biological filtration). Hopefully we can get it all sorted out.

Another interest that led me here is gardening. My wife and I do fairly well with our tiny, condominium yard if I do say so myself . We have two raised bed planters, one @ 9' x 3' and the other @ 8' x 4'. Also two flower beds that including more decorative flowers also have a "Bee mix" and "Butterfly mix". Gotta support the pollinators!

Given those two main interests, along with a growing need to know where our food is coming from, our short growing season, indoor aquaponics (that has been an interest for me for years) seems to be the direction we want to move in.

Some of my other interests include making anything... metal working (I'm a Machinist), wood working, assembly, design... you name it. Computers, cooking and quality knives. I have noticed though, the older I get, the more the knives seem to be kitchen knives.

Anywho... I guess that's enough about me for now. Hope to meet everyone on the forum!

Thanks,
Chris

Hi Chris! Welcome to the BYAP forum.


Ask away with any specific questions. There is a whole range of expertise on this forum and we look forward to yours being part of it!

What would you like to know about Nitrogen sources? You've probably already seen the basic Nitrogen cycle diagrams, right?

The Nitrogen Cycle



pH affects it all: fish, plants, nutrient uptake, etc.

Micro and Macronutrients are the nutrients the plants need to be healthy. Macronutrients are required by most plants in large quantities. The macronutrients normally supplied in the soil include NPK: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, as primary macronutrients and calcium, magnesium, and sulfur as secondary macronutrients. The micronutrients (trace minerals) are important, but needed in much smaller quantities: iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum, copper, zinc, chlorine, and cobalt. In aquaponics, the gardener must supply everything needed by the plants as opposed to counting on the soil to have sufficient quantities of whatever nutrients are required, so we do tend to focus more on proper plant nutrition than a typical dirt farmer.

Please explain more about what you mean regarding biological filtration.

I have to confess my first guess at what LFS meant was Linux From Scratch, but finally after a little research I gather it means Local Fish Store?

Thanks,

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Sam