Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Design and building go hand in hand......

System is housed in a 35x12 meter high tunnel (420m2) and contains:

Total water in system 120,000 liter (about 31,600 US gallon) of which FT 60,000 liter (about 15,800 US gallon)

Nursery 13 m2
DWC 166 m2
MB 96 m2

Total growing area 275 m2

10 growing towers with total of 140 slots

(See attached Sketchup picture)

why are you using a poly tunnel... in Thailand???

Is there a reason not to, Rupert?

From what I can see... you seem to average day temps between 28-35 all year round... with night lows of about 16-25...

And periods of fairly high rain....

One, I don't see the need for a poly tunnel... but two... I think you'd end up with significant temperature and ventilation problems...huge humidity, mildew and moss issues.... and extreme transpiration, and water loss/replacement issues...

A shade house.... and/or screened pest control methods might be applicable....

Up to the hip board it's screen all around, ditto for the large vent holes in the front and back tops. Cooler air flows in at ground level, heats up and creates a draft while it leaves through these vent holes. Shade cloth will be hung on the cross bars and help to keep temps further down. All screening can be instantly covered, resulting in a complete closed environment.

I'm not sure if I would like to have rain water pouring into my system, for many obvious reasons. That's where the PE comes handy. It also protects against airborne chemicals that are happily sprayed on the surrounding rice fields and unwanted pollination by GMO crops in the vicinity.

So I think the problems you foresee should not occur. The proof is in the eating of the pudding, though. And it is going to be an interesting adventure with enough hordes to take. Please be so kind to be as critical as possible to force my little peanut (others might confuse it with a "brain") to stay active and alert.

And hey, if it does't work out we'll have a great place to start Japanese hot tubs or have an nice indoor swimming pool with adjacent terrace.

Looks great! Monster system

You certainly will need a roof over the top with all that tropical rain. Otherwise you will have complete water change 4 times a night. Everynight.

Thanks, Charlie.

It does in Sketchup, now we have to make it happen in real life.

It's not only the AP we have to take care of, but also a wood and metal workshop and a 50 feet diameter geodesic dome house. All to be ready February 2014....don't know if I should start to laugh or cry about that deadline. We are with 3 of us; my fantastic wife, her brother and me (the idiot with the plans and idea's!).

Maybe make some money on the side by betting on the finish date?

+1

Hi Paul,
Looking forward to seeing this develop,Iam north of Chaing Rai and just up the road there is a hydroponic farm,the welcome boards to the entrance show all the different types of lettuce they,or can produce.Anyway everything is in poly tunnels,the only difference from your designs is,at the apex of the roof they go up with a square section the length of the tunnel,I should imagine for ventilation,it actually gives the tunnels a Thai look.
This company have been here for years and are still very busy and active,so they have made this work for them. I did ask if I could go in and look around but I wasn't permitted,most probably thought I was going compete.
Really interested in your fish tank and grow bed design,well actually all of it...

They must be running really huge EC to produce lettuce in that setup...

There are three large pollen tunnels square on to the road so it is difficult to see how long they are. But if there working ere they should work there,as I said hey have been established a long time even to the point where the covers are now quite opaque. Wish I knew more to help.

Das Boot, that upper section is indeed for the ventilation and a common design (have seen it more often in the tropics). I considered it, but it asks for support in the middle, which I didn't want to have there. If the ventilation on the ends for some reason don't work (good enough) I will place a couple of these automatic mechanical ventilators on the apex to enhance ventilation.

Hmm, welcome boards and they didn't let you in? Must be, because you're a farang!

Domain,
Please excuse my poor typing,the only excuse is its late,must double check before I post.

Poor typing, alla. But spelling the name wrong, is almost unforgivable! Almost, but not entirely. Considering your early beers of today.

Domani is Italian for tomorrow and also a combination of dome (geodesic) and mania (without the a). Thought it was a good name. I love Italian food and especially the magnificent tasting tomatoes from Liguria (also their wine, garlic and other homegrown stuff).

So now you know!