Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I didn't see any popped pipes like before but they'll have to be taken apart and de-iced anyway.

Moving to PA from OH was a big improvement, sunnier and warmer Winters, it seems to always be 10 degrees colder in OH than here. In Ohio it's cloudy a lot in the Winter.

I looked at the trends thing on the Weather channel web site again today, I could deal with a low of say 30 at night with added heat but if the daytime only gets to 10 or something then I'll lose. When I had the greenhouse against the garage the water didn't get below 40 but we haven't seen temperatures like this in years either.

Good thing there aren't any fish to lose right now!

Great that there don't appear to be any broken

What are you going to do next winter if the temps drop that far?

What kinds of fish can survive a cold like that?

Sometimes i wish i loved somewhere really cold like you are to face these kinds of challenges. I really want a justification for a greenhouse

Yep that's something to think about between here and there. Average temps this time of year are like highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s. Would require a lot more insulation, probably added heat from propane or electricity. I would probably reduce the running footprint to a "Core" of just FT and biofilter, and only start up the farther out items as the water temp could sustain them.

Trout would not mind water this cold as far as I know (as long as they aren't frozen).

Two nice days in the sunny greenhouse this weekend. Got things organized with some nice work surfaces and chairs to relax in. Experiments went well, will be testing the one after the silicone dries overnight.

Going to get down to 10 degrees I think Tuesday, all the pipes might freeze solid once again.

OK so no updates recently, been trying a few experiments, which continue. Just got yearly bonus in the bank so the plan is to load up on so-called "jumbo" bluegill in a week or two. System is still frozen solid other than the FT. Not cycled yet obviously, but I have ammonia to start that, maybe in a week will be able to circulate the water without it freezing overnight. Won't even bother until we get out of the teens at night.

Big snowstorm, looks similar to the blizzard of 2010 to me.

Will start the water flowing again today!

Snow is finally melting, got the water flowing again. Head spinning with possibilities.

Had stinky gravel from outside and a round laundry tub on hand so 30 seconds later (more or less) I have a biofilter. From the forecast it looks like this could stay running through the cold nights, I hope anyway.

Put together seed germination thing yesterday, inspired by Francois' split styrofoam post here: viewtopic.php?p=413564#p413564

Every other pipe has polyester quilt batting as a wick going into the water. Precursor to a pool noodle raft maybe later this year when pool noodles are cheap.

Bets on which and how many seeds actually come up? Put on lettuce, broccoli, strawberry, cucumber, onions. Beans, and nasturtium don't fit very well hahaha.

Hey DD, great to see the system starting up again. Looking forward to seeing the system crank up.
Won't the roots get tangled in the batting?

Oh, my money is on the beans sprouting first.

Haha skeggley we'll see, I tried using polyester felt on another experiment and that would keep the roots from getting tangled up in it but it did not wick well at all, more like repelled water almost. I know that planted walls usually have felt in them.

I might end up destroying the plant trying to tease the roots out.

Another option could be a layer of landscape fabric to keep the roots and batting separated but still getting some wicking action.

I'm doing an intro to AP seminar with the Frederick County extension office on Saturday, who's coming?

https://www.facebook.com/events/662158343821250/

Doing my thing this morning, the Powerpoint has lots of pictures and we will watch a Garden Pool movie and Rob's dome greenhouse overview movie too. In the online resources slide I'm providing links to the BYAP forum, the Aquaponic Gardening forum, Travis Hughey's barrelponics manual, Rob's web site at Bigelow Brook Farm, the Garden Pool web site, TCLynx's web site and Ryan's Chatterson Farm web site.

My hope is that at least one attendee goes home and builds an AP system! Otherwise it's all in vain...

Good luck and great mentor list...!

i'm sure you'll have a couple folks that want to start up right away, and more down the line after they spend some time checking ap out