Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

hello Rick the tube running between the NFT tubes is a fintube for the hot water radiant heating system it is actually aluminum there are 2 750,000 btu boilers that boil water and sends it to the greenhouses and down the rows thru the FinTubes and produce heat. The only challenge to the equation is the cost to run the heating system it runs off propane and cost $10,000 per month for 3 1/2 months out of the year. I need another sustainable cheaper fuel for heating. any Ideas Bro Im all ears Thanks for the comments Peace RP

Any way to store thermal mass? Barrels of water will go a long way toward moderating temps in the Winter. Add to that a means of directly collecting thermal mass, like a monster solar water heater down the south facing sides of your GHs and pipe it to the barrels and you could be golden.

I think the general rule for my zone is two gallons of water per square foot. You are farther South and could get away with a little less... The plants ( someone can correct me if I am wrong) are happy in 50-60º temps as long as the roots stay a little warmer. Fish, depending on what you stock, may determine the optimal temps for the water and thus the ambient temps for the GH in the Winter.

My GH is simple 6mil that was buttoned up pretty tightly and I did okay. This Summer I'll be building the solar water heaters that I'll use next Winter. A decent, well-insulated set-up can generate 120-140º barrels of water in the day that can warm the FT directly or radiate into the air in the GH.

(I moderated my temps as well with 20 tons of gravel [more thermal mass] in the floor of the GH, but that may not be an option for you... )

Just my thoughts.. Hope they help.

CB

I'm growing catfish so I can skip the heating if I must (and now that I've had to remove the greenhouse plastic, it is a good thing we already decided to stick with catfish and not bother with tilapia anymore.)

Anyway, there are many plants that will very happily grow well in a non heated greenhouse through winter anywhere in Florida. Actually, I've found that through winter is the only time to grow broccoli down here. So, if you really don't want to spend the money to heat the greenhouses, perhaps choose a different type of fish and grow cold happy plants over winter.

You could also look into a digester to collect methane to power the heaters for the tilapia and hot weather crop systems.

There are also a few members using subterranean heat in their greenhouses.

Lots of pictures in this one.
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7127

Burried sumps and or fish tanks provided pretty stable temps also.