Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi
I know this site has a lot of smart people, so i hope someone will be able to help.
I have a dream.
I am yet to actually start my aquaponics system, but one day i will.
I would love to grow Trout, as many people do, i know there a MANY things to consider, one being water temperature.
I live in SE Qld, so i know it would be a lot of hard work to keep the water temp down, however i have a lot of old bricks at hand that i think may be of use in building a fish tank.

So...would bricks be of use in a similar idea as the "free refrigeration" concept, that uses earthenware pots?

www.ruralindia.blogspot.com/2008/05/alm ... using.html

could i build a tank within a tank? Would plastic liners prevent the cooling?

Any answers, ideas or suggestions?

Thanks

Woody

ps. Work commitments don't always allow me to access this site everyday, so i may be slow in thanking and responding.

Welcome to ap madness firstley i dont think you are allowed trout in qld and also its probley to hot trout realy only go to 24 deg jade and silver perch are your main choice

as above, F&F is right. Even with earth grounded tanks, I dont think you'll get Trout year round.

I'd still like to have a go at them later. But I've got a coolroom that can have the fish tank in.

Thanks for the replies.
Fair enough on the no go for the trout.
I'll have to move for that idea.
But, i would still like to know if anyone thinks the idea of the tank in a tank made with bricks would work for keeping water cooler.
As bricks would not be glazed, i'm think that could be the stumbling block.

Has anyone seen this idea before and tried it with anything?

Cheers

Woody

Woody those pots are unglazed earthenware (well the outer is) otherwise the water would not be able to bleed through the sides and evaporate. Its just a Coolgardie fridge or primitive evaporative cooler. Problems I could see are water pressure at depth, eventual clogging of the brick pores through slimes and fines and salts (think they have to scrub those pots from time to time) and if your climate is humid it would not work.
Don't want to be negative cause I like innovative ideas fine sand or some other substance that causes capillary action may negate the water pressure problem but not sure about the other. The inner tank of course would have to be waterproof.

Hi Sleepe

The cooling works by evaporation of the water in the sand between the 2 pots.
I have just reread on another site, that the "pots" are above ground as the air around the pots causes the evaporation.

Water is added to the sand from the top, between the pots, not by the capilery action.So the clogging of the pores wouldn't be a problem for the cooling "only" for water hygiene.
As the idea was originally from Nigeria, i don't think the humidity of SE Qld would be too much of a problem, as i believe it gets pretty humid there too.

You did mention the water pressure being a problem, could you please expand on this, as i don't understand.

I do want to add that the original idea was to store veg in, not as a water container, that bit is my "idea".

Cheers

Woody

Woody
I lived in Nigeria when I was young (father worked for the Gov't) it may be humid and monsoonal around Lagos but inland it can be very dry.

Couple of points
The surface area of the sand imho is not large enough to provide cooling I think you will find the outer pot (at least) is unglazed and water is drawn through that so that the outer surface allows water to evaporate.
Evaporative cooling requires a fairly dry air to work, the best example of this is on a day of about 36C with v low humidity it is not unpleasant. On a day of 36c with 80 percent humidity it is very hot because your body will sweat but it will not evaporate.
Pressure is dependant on depth not volume so I would think if your outside wall is slightly porous you would tend to bleed more near the bottom.

Hi Sleepe

This has only just popped into my head!
It's not strictly Aquaponics either...but most of us have some sort of soil garden.
I have another idea, let me know what you think.

Where i live it is hard to grow Brussell Sprouts......because of the weather...too hot.

Using the same technology as before...the pot in pot idea.

Do you think Bruusell Sprouts could grow a "tight head" if they were to be grown on the inner pot of the 2 pots and therefore the soil in that pot would be cooler than in a regular pot, a wet hessian sack over the soil in the pots to keep the soil protected from the sun.

Thanks for your input.

Woody

Woody

You must like brussel sprouts a lot
Not sure if it is root temps or air temps responsible for the heads not being tight. The first thing to consider would be whether the air is dry enough in winter in your area to allow evaporation therefore cooling. Theoretically you can grow anything anywhere its just usually the energy input makes it impractical.
If I get a chance will check out the hydro etc requirements for brussel sprouts.

Ok
Long growing crop not usual hydroponics. Warm is ok during leafy growth but requires v cool when the sprouts start to form.
Ph around 6.5 7.0 do not like acid soils. Nitrogen during leafy growth then cut back when sprouting. Phosphorus and iron are important boron in the micronutrients. Nothing about air v root temps

Would that be an aquaponics cellar?