Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Do you get a decent life span out of that plastic or does it tend to only last a couple of years?

DD have you insulated your tank in the ground?

The plastic is used from the local greenhouse's free pile. It's a bitnworn but I just want to get through this Winter with it.

Nope the liner is not insulated, which is another reason I'm not expecting too much other than keeping things from freezing solid. It would be pointless to try to get this above ground temp for example.

I'm thinking about putting a trough in the front as well as two in the back now.

It's currently 29F/-1.6C, getting down to 26 tonight.

You are looking for a tough winter! Fingers crossed for you.

We've had frost the past three mornings but from what I can tell it's not cold enough in the cold frame for it. It helps to have a floor made from 500 gallons of water probably.

Hope to move forward some more today!

I feel your pain DD....

here in eastern north carolina, it got down to 33 degrees (.5c) luckly I have all winter vegetables in my outdoor systems....

had to apply a little heat in the GH to keep the temp up around 50 degrees (10c)

its not supposed to be this cold down here


jT

OK, so I just fell in. Clothes changed, back outside now!

Been there, done that LOL

jT

Not everyone gets into AP this deep

I've managed to avoid this but it's been close a couple of times....just have to reach that water hyacinth that died.. .

So my ribs/underarm area, elbow, and left foot are all bruised from trying to stop myself when I fell in. Foot felt bad Saturday night but much better now although a little sore.

From that I'm going to do the floor correctly instead of with little scraps, going to make hatch-like sections that can be lifted but that are safe and solid otherwise.

Got the troughs moved in and put up a second layer of plastic on the side yesterday. Need more time off to work on this. Lots of condensation on the plastic in the morning.

The bottom trough is made from 2x4s with the liner screwed into the top edge, very simple. More flow than when it was outside because the pump splits to the two halves on the upper trough, and both of those go into the lower trough.

The condensationn is always on the coldest spots. Its gonna be on the plastic all winter, even worse it helps cooling down the GH. But since we need the watertanks and the plants inside we have to live with it...

Well I suppose falling into cold water meant it cooled you off to help keep the swelling down but that probably doesn't make you feel any better. Yes, sturdy floor is a good idea to keep your aquaponics safe.
Looking good hopefully it keeps things going for you this winter and a quick start in spring.

hey dave

how far is cashtown pa, from berlin, pa?

jT

Plain old Berlin, New Berlin, or East Berlin? LOL, there was a lot of Berliners settled in PA. Plain old Berlin probably two hours I'd say.

berlin in sommerset county.... guess just the plain berlin LOL