Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm planning to build an new aquaponics set-up. I live in the Netherlands which has a moderate maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. I will be growing lettuce, paprika, tomatoes, basil etc. It will be under protection of plastic in the spring. It will be open in summertime. I am irrigating with an ebb and flow system. Should I insulate it so temperature would not vary to much during day/night? Is it important to keep root temperature stable? What temperature range should is be? Can I use the ebb/flow as a cooling method?


Arnold Boer

http://www.arhen.com

Hi Arnold

Insulation is always good, if the system can be kept at optimum temperature. Fish especially, do not like wide temp changes. Fish like a steady temperature that they are comfortable at.
Plants also do best at certain temps. this varies with plants, but not as important as the fish.
I would try to keep the fish happy by maintaining their optimum growth temp.

Example is rainbow trout. Temperature for optimum growth rate of rainbow trout is 18 degrees.

Although high temps can give faster growth for plants and fish, the health risks can be higher.