Hi All,
I've been reading all the posts and learning quite a bit. I thought it would be time to join up and say 'hi'. I live in the USA, southwest of Philadelphia. I've been doing organic gardening since I was a child. My father raised angelfish in the basement when I was young, and I've had aquariums and ponds for years. Aquaponics is the perfect marriage for me!
Actually, I have been doing aquaponics for years in my small outdoor pond. I just didn't know it had a name. Water from the pond is pumped up to the bottom of a basin of lava rocks. It flows up through the rock, past water hyacinth (in the summer), and out over a waterfall. It keeps the water crystal clear quite naturally. When I remember to feed the goldfish, the water hyacinth grows quickly. I never have problems with algae, either.
I've now decided to borrow a few of the pond goldfish over the winter to do an indoor aquaponics experiment in my sunroom. I located expanded clay pellets for the filtration, and 'liberated' some plastic tubs from under my father's deck. I got it up and running last night, and brought the fish in. They are acclimated and feeding lightly. I may bring one or two more fish in next month before the pond freezes. I ran water tests to get a baseline reading, and am going to teach my girls how this all works. They are 6 and 3.5 years old, and are fascinated by the idea that the fish will help me grow lettuce. (I think they envision fish with little hoes. They look at me dubiously when I try to explain bacteria and the nitrogen cycle.) My husband drifted in to see what was up. I think I can 'hook' him into the hobby; he also used to keep fish, and loves a good salad.
If I can get lettuce growing nicely in this small setup (64 liter tank, 40 liter filter), I'm tempted to do something bigger with catfish or maybe a native perch. I'll proportion the filter better; the filter on this setup is small. I know a hatchery about an hour's drive from here where I can pick up a variety of native fish. Their ad says 'small or scientific orders welcome'. (
Rubbing hands together with glee.)
--Janet.
For the record, my pond measures 0 ammonia/nitrite/nitrate which is just how I want to go into the winter. I think we should drink the pond water--and put our hands in it. On the bright side, the nitrate reading means that I will go ahead and plant lettuce seeds today.