Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

this isn't exactly what was suggested to me by my inventive mechanic friend way down in Texas. It is one way to make air.
[youtube]www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fAAdwDEMbM&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

Boss,

As I have a soft sided pool it just flexed flat at the point of the bulkhead. As for the air, I am going to buy a ac/dc air pump and hook it up the same way as I saw on Chainsaws thread. He uses a car headlight relay as the switch. So as soon as the power drops out the air pump gets battery current. But that is down the road. Hopefully before the next hurricane season though.

All I want for Christmas is my garden done. My garden done. My Garden done. All I want for Christmas is my garden done. So I can say Merry Christmas, Christmas this year

me too..change words to "my RAS done."

Coach,
This song will get stuck in some ones head all day

I have been initiated into the life of greenhouse ownership. On only the second bad rainstorm I am putting these pics up here today so that someone else may someday learn from it. So feel free to laugh at, or share my pain. From what I can see, this is the end of a chain of events that started way before the storm. I started building my AP system with a drawing that I thought was a set in stone design. And consequently went online and ordered materials like my GH film. Which at the time would have been the exact width that I needed. Along with being extra long. Well as I was building the system kept getting redesigned in my head. Which means it grew bigger Which meant that the GH film would now have to be seamed together. Having never attempted to build a GH ever, I figured that I could just use Gorilla tape to do the job. At 16 bucks a roll it is billed to be able to be up for the job. Exterior use, double thick adhesive, and right on the packaging grips smooth surfaces. I tested a few small pieces before I attempted the seam that ran across the entire center of the GH. It held so well that the film ripped apart because the tape would not release its grip. So figuring it was a safe bet at this point I seamed the film and through it on the GH. I was able to take the slack out of the film when the ends were put on. The tape held wonderfully. In fact even now, not 1 piece of tape on the ends has came loose. Somehow between the weight of the water, and pressure of the wind it was enough to break the bond. The film was not torn. the adhesive just let go. Maybe it somewhat dried out during the last week of really sunny days. Either way it let go and I don't know exactly how as I was at work when it happened (Worrying about my GH at home). Either way when the seam split the water was allowed to pool up in the now loose film. This extra weight resulted in snapping several 4 way connectors. Causing 1/3 of the roof to fall onto my MBs So basically I inadvertently built one of the worlds best rainwater collection systems But all in all, most of the GH has survived intact so it could have been much worse. Now I just have to go and buy actual GH film tape. If anyone knows of a reliable brand let me know. Because I never want to come home and see this again.

After playing in the rain for an hr. Replacing the connectors and clamping the GH film to keep as much water out as I can tonight. I am going to bed.

Well I had to guess that champagne dreams on a beer budget would come with some hiccups along the way. It would be nice to have the money to get a prefab GH and System. But in the end I will defiantly learn more this way. Besides one day I would like to take Aquaponics to the mission field. And their most likely won't be anything prefab there either. So might as well learn what I can and can't do now.

At least it wasn't code enforcement. I felt like I was under the hot lamp in a who done it movie. But when its all settled I suppose there is a greater since of accomplishment.

Yeah I am totally in code compliance. So I do not worry about that, they can show up. I'll teach them what I know about Aquaponics. Maybe even get another convert The code reason is the ONLY reason that I went the hoop house route instead of a more sturdy actual GH. As a hoop house is a non permanent structure, therefore treated like a event tent, for a wedding. No permits required

Love your half barrel diffuser in the RFF

Jay,

Thanks, just trying to make stuff work right. Even if it does not look the best at the moment. I want to ask, I see your yard is almost completely full. Are you to the point where all your familys veggies are taken care of or is it a pipe dream, that I am chasing?

With a country like America or Australia, you can eat pretty much anything in any season, but I try and cover the veges per season, i.e. I don't have to buy tomatoes in summer or broccoli in winter.
I would say it comes in waves, sometimes nothing, other times too much! Hard to keep ontop of crop seedling rotation - need to have a seedraising hothouse going all the time with fresh produce ready to replace. This takes time and constant small amounts of effort, as opposed to busy work and then school holidays, not ideal but with AP you don't have to water as much

Jay,

That means that my system is not going to be half as large as I am going to need it to be. Better get planning for extensions.

Look who came to help daddy feed the fish and work in the "big tent"