Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

It was almost 60 degrees yesterday, cold has not been a problem for awhile. It's funny how you expect December to be cold but really sometimes it is not. Low light though.

60F thats crazy!

Today the sun was on the lowest of the year. Incomming sun lights angle was onle 19,5 degrees on my latitude. The cold is just comming but at least from now we get more and mor sun day after day.

Happy Solstice!!!

No worries:

Not looking good for a white Chrismas, eh

I'll take it! The snow will come soon enough Mr. Bill...

our weather has been strange here too, this year a state record was set for rainfall (as well as 40 some other weather records)
..

OMG all of September was nothing but rain. I realized after that that a greenhouse could be useful for B.S. from Mother Nature like that too.

"Every day above freezing is a good day" Now you have it. But you surely have to pay for this later. I'm not a meteorologist but I bet february is gona be a nightmare.

I really like the mylar blanket idea, thanks! Tucked away in my list of things to remember...

Sure thing PG, TCLynx hipped me to that. Sure is cheap and effective re-purposing!

Hey Dave,
Any extra observations on using charcoal? Does the water seem clearer? Does the charcoal break down over time? Does it waterlog and stay in place during a wind?
Thanks

Hey Rhame:
The charcoal I'm using is hardwood lump charcoal, so it doesn't necessarily filter like an activated charcoal does. I would compare it to lava rock probably. Water quality is OK, there was a lot of charcoal dust depending on how I broke it up. Banging on it and not rinsing it before putting it in caused the most dust, which ends up as a gray sludge in my troughs. Now I break it up by hand with pliers and my hands, and rinse it. I'm only using as much as I need to fill up net pots so that hasn't been too much trouble. All I ask of it is to be a lightweight surface for the plants to sit in, and hopefully for the bacteria to grow on.

The charcoal does not break down at all, I have been reusing it again and again for replanting.

It hasn't been too light to blow away. Once it's rinsed it isn't dusty and doesn't mark up things anymore. The charcoal I have in the trash can floating media filter has finally settled more in the bottom, but it is still neutrally buoyant. The largest pieces of course float more strongly and they are still in the top.

Note also that I am not running a flood and drain setup and have supports for the plants. I wouldn't use it for a regular flood and drain bed. If it started out the right size like say pine mulch then reduced when made then the breaking up work could be skipped.

I doubt I'll ever use gravel again, but I may try expanded shale in the future.

We are surrounded by apple orchards here, and when the trees are getting old they pile them up and make big bonfires. I like the idea of using that wood rather than just burning it; if you have a free source of wood chips like from a wooded yard and some time then I think it's a worthwhile thing to try as a twist. Or since you're in the South there should be bulk charcoal available for cheaper than the seven dollar bags I'm using. There is a BBQ guy nearby and if I needed a lot I would probably talk to him about his supply.

Making your own charcoal, or getting it from the bonfires? I have a couple of acres and occasionally clear a little of it but usually make some more fence with the wood.