Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just wanted to share this article about a roof top Hydro farm in Brooklyn NY.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/nyreg ... .html?_r=0

Gotham Greens already exists:

http://gothamgreens.com/

If these are viable then why couldn't Aquaponics be done instead? From what I have been reading on this forum, large commercial aquaponics systems have not been proven to make a profit and there is too much risk involved if there is a problem with the fish.

I'm still going to keep believeing it is possible. There just has got to be a way.

So for it to work.... then quite simply.... the risk of problems with the fish needs to be removed...

That means both a design, and focus on fish production as a a standalone component... with a seperate plant growing component, capable of hydroponic style management...

IMO.. the "new".. unproven, but much "hyped" mixed media systems.... just wont cut it...

What is a mixed media system Rupert? (I'm searching the forum for info now)

If a tank of fish gets sick how would one "sterilize" that tank and its connected plant system before introducing new fish? I'm guessing that the water would have to be drained and then replaced quite quickly? From what you have mentioned I thought that it would be best to have quite a large number of smaller tanks, pumps and grow beds or DWC or NFT that are independent so that if the fish get sick then only a small part of the production is affected. As a back up system: double the usual fish stocking density and include solids removal then if fish get sick in one tank, that system can be "sterilized" and restocked with half the fish from another tank and turn off solids removal on those particular systems. Not sure about the replacement of water and maintaining PH though. Bacteria should still be okay in the filter system? Maybe also double the amount of water usually needed so that it can be used as back up to re establish another system that is down. The solids that are removed can go to a traditional on site worm farm. Worms can be harvested for fish food (unless this might cause cross contamintion in the case of sick fish). The castings can be used to grow in ground crops.

Maybe that's not good enough as back up because there is still a chance that all the fish are affected even if they are kept in multiple isolated systems with strict quarantine?

That's off the top of my head and maybe I have no clue. Am I on track or totally going in the wrong direction?

A "hybrid" system.. comprising media grow beds... and DWC raft beds...


An "integrated" system such as I believe is required... effectively runs both the fish and plant components as distinct seperate units... capable of complete isolation...

The only common component being a "mineralisation" tank.. effectively a sump/waste tank from the fish tank... that supplies the plants.... which drain "cleaned" water into their own sump tank... for transfer back to the fish tank... both units capable of isolation..



Both an absolute necessity.. for staged fish grow out.... and isolation as you suggest...



Again.. correct.... the aquaculture system should be designed as a standalone... filtered RAS operation... and can thus be stocked accordingly....

The "waste" water is then sent to a "mineralisation" tank.. where it can be supplemented to the correct nutrient profile for the plants... ala hydroponics...


pH management for the plants.. would take place in the holding "mineralisation" tank....

pH management for the fish tank would occur in situ... or from the source water... be that the return tank from the plants, external.. or combination...


Yep...


If the aquaculture side is a standalone design... then if required the holding tank... and/or fish tanks... can be dumped if required...


Close enough...

This "mineralisation tank" you speak of, is this a really nifty filter system? Can all the seperate tanks feed to one "mineralisation tank" that then feeds the plants? Or is isolation required for each system to ensure that cross contamination does not occur?

If for example fish all get sick in one tank, what is the usual procedure in aquaculture? Is there a certain down time period? Does the tank have to be drained and then sterilized by people wearing bio hazard suits to ensure that the tank is disease free for the next batch of fish?

Also if you dump water from an infected tank and mineralisation tank would that not mean that you need to also dump the water in the DWC trough or NTF section?

Your forward thinking and contingency plans are very good.

Thanks for your reply and insight Rupert.

My previous post above may have come across as sarcastic now that I am reading it again but they are actually genuine questions that I have.

I just realized that a problem with the fish could be anything from sickness to death and therefore a tank might need to be isolated indefinitely untill the problem is fixed.

What would then happen to the plants? Could they be reconnected to a nearby healthy fish tank using a "junction" or does this plant trough that was previously connected to a sick fish tank need to be isolated for a legth of time to prevent cross contamination and this is why you have the hyrdponic component to save the plants?