Aquaponic Sauce

Privacy Policy

2017-01-02T13:53:00.002+01:00

Welcome to Aquaponic Sauce (the “Site”).We understand that privacy online is important to users of our Site, especially when conducting business.This statement governs our privacy policies with respect to those users of the Site (“Visitors”) who visit without transacting business and Visitors who register to transact business on the Site and make use of the various services offered by Aquaponic Sauce (collectively, “Services”) (“Authorized Customers”).

“Personally Identifiable Information”

refers to any information that identifies or can be used to identify, contact, or locate the person to whom such information pertains, including, but not limited to, name, address, phone number, fax number, email address, financial profiles, social security number, and credit card information. Personally Identifiable Information does not include information that is collected anonymously (that is, without identification of the individual user) or demographic information not connected to an identified individual.

What Personally Identifiable Information is collected?

We may collect basic user profile information from all of our Visitors. We collect the following additional information from our Authorized Customers: the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of Authorized Customers, the nature and size of the business, and the nature and size of the advertising inventory that the Authorized Customer intends to purchase or sell.

What organizations are collecting the information?

In addition to our direct collection of information, our third party service vendors (such as credit card companies, clearinghouses and banks) who may provide such services as credit, insurance, and escrow services may collect this information from our Visitors and Authorized Customers. We do not control how these third parties use such information, but we do ask them to disclose how they use personal information provided to them from Visitors and Authorized Customers. Some of these third parties may be intermediaries that act solely as links in the distribution chain, and do not store, retain, or use the information given to them.

How does the Site use Personally Identifiable Information?

We use Personally Identifiable Information to customize the Site, to make appropriate service offerings, and to fulfill buying and selling requests on the Site. We may email Visitors and Authorized Customers about research or purchase and selling opportunities on the Site or information related to the subject matter of the Site. We may also use Personally Identifiable Information to contact Visitors and Authorized Customers in response to specific inquiries, or to provide requested information.

With whom may the information may be shared?

Personally Identifiable Information about Authorized Customers may be shared with other Authorized Customers who wish to evaluate potential transactions with other Authorized Customers. We may share aggregated information about our Visitors, including the demographics of our Visitors and Authorized Customers, with our affiliated agencies and third party vendors. We also offer the opportunity to “opt out” of receiving information or being contacted by us or by any agency acting on our behalf.

How is Personally Identifiable Information stored?

Personally Identifiable Information collected by Aquaponic Sauce is securely stored and is not accessible to third parties or employees of Aquaponic Sauce except for use as indicated above.

What choices are available to Visitors regarding collection, use and distribution of the information?

Visitors and Authorized Customers may opt out of receiving unsolicited information from or being contacted by us and/or our vendors and affiliated agencies by responding to emails as instructed, or by contacting us at

Are Cookies Used on the Site?

Cookies are used for a variety of reasons. We use Cookies to obtain information about the preferences of our Visitors and the services they select. We also use Cookies for security purposes to protect our Authorized Customers. For example, if an Authorized Customer is logged on and the site is unused for more than 10 minutes, we will automatically log the Authorized Customer off.

How does Aquaponic Sauce use login information?

Aquaponic Sauce uses login information, including, but not limited to, IP addresses, ISPs, and browser types, to analyze trends, administer the Site, track a user’s movement and use, and gather broad demographic information.

What partners or service providers have access to Personally Identifiable Information from Visitors and/or Authorized Customers on the Site?

Aquaponic Sauce has entered into and will continue to enter into partnerships and other affiliations with a number of vendors. Such vendors may have access to certain Personally Identifiable Information on a need to know basis for evaluating Authorized Customers for service eligibility. Our privacy policy does not cover their collection or use of this information. Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information to comply with law. We will disclose Personally Identifiable Information in order to comply with a court order or subpoena or a request from a law enforcement agency to release information. We will also disclose Personally Identifiable Information when reasonably necessary to protect the safety of our Visitors and Authorized Customers.

How does the Site keep Personally Identifiable Information secure?

All of our employees are familiar with our security policy and practices. The Personally Identifiable Information of our Visitors and Authorized Customers is only accessible to a limited number of qualified employees who are given a password in order to gain access to the information. We audit our security systems and processes on a regular basis. Sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or social security numbers, is protected by encryption protocols, in place to protect information sent over the Internet. While we take commercially reasonable measures to maintain a secure site, electronic communications and databases are subject to errors, tampering and break-ins, and we cannot guarantee or warrant that such events will not take place and we will not be liable to Visitors or Authorized Customers for any such occurrences.

How can Visitors correct any inaccuracies in Personally Identifiable Information?

Visitors and Authorized Customers may contact us to update Personally Identifiable Information about them or to correct any inaccuracies by emailing us.

Can a Visitor delete or deactivate Personally Identifiable Information collected by the Site?

We provide Visitors and Authorized Customers with a mechanism to delete/deactivate Personally Identifiable Information from the Site’s database by contacting . However, because of backups and records of deletions, it may be impossible to delete a Visitor’s entry without retaining some residual information. An individual who requests to have Personally Identifiable Information deactivated will have this information functionally deleted, and we will not sell, transfer, or use Personally Identifiable Information relating to that individual in any way moving forward.

What happens if the Privacy Policy Changes?

We will let our Visitors and Authorized Customers know about changes to our privacy policy by posting such changes on the Site. However, if we are changing our privacy policy in a manner that might cause disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information that a Visitor or Authorized Customer has previously requested not be disclosed, we will contact such Visitor or Authorized Customer to allow such Visitor or Authorized Customer to prevent such disclosure.

Links:

Aquaponic Sauce contains links to other web sites. Please note that when you click on one of these links, you are moving to another web site. We encourage you to read the privacy statements of these linked sites as their privacy policies may differ from ours.

AQUAPONIC SAUCE DISCLOSURE.

2017-01-02T13:52:00.002+01:00

Aquaponic Sauce may earn a small commission for it's endorsements, recommendations, testimonials, and/or links to any products or services from this website.

Your purchase helps support Aquaponic Sauce work in bringing you real information about aquaponics, and aquaponic systems.

Prices are exactly the same for you if your purchase is through an affiliate link, or non-affiliate link. You will not be paying more by clicking on the links.

The same applies to any other product links which take the user directly to an external website.

Furthermore, none of the links are 'Pay-per-Click', meaning Aquaponics Sauce does not receive any money whenever you click on a link.

All links that Aquaponics Sauce display on this site will be directed to aquaponic products, or related products only.

These items will only be items that Aquaponics Sauce feels are going to be of interest,or useful to its visitors, and that they merit space on this site.

Should any links be totally non-relevant, Aquaponic Sauce would be happy for the user to contact us by email to let us know, so that we can make any changes that we deem necessary.

What is Aquaponics?

2017-01-02T11:33:00.000+01:00

Aquaponics is a mix of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants) that grows fish and plants together in one integrated system.

The fish waste provides an organic food source for growing the plants, and the plants provide a natural filter, cleaning the water, for the fish live in.

The third team-members are the microbes (nitrifying bacteria) and composting red worms that thrive in the growing media. They do the job of converting the ammonia from the fish waste into nitrites, and then into nitrates that are food for the plants.

There are several drawbacks to normal gardening:-

Firstly, the weeds.

The copious amounts of water required throughout the growing season.

The pests, and diseases that can be found in most garden soils.The back-breaking labour.

Digging, weeding, raking etc.

Understanding basic soil science.

Knowing when to water and feed.

The space required for raising vegetables.

Crop rotation.

Finally, garden enemies since almost the dawn of time...... Slugs and snails!!!

So, what are the benefits of Aquaponics?

Firstly, aquaponics works by taking the vegetable garden off of the floor, in other words, we grow in raised beds. End of backache.

Re-cycles fish "waste".

100% Bio. You can't add pesticides or fungicides as that would kill the fish, forcing you to grow biologically. This is better for all of us.

You only need the water from your "fish tank", meaning only using around 10% of the normal volume of water needed for soil-based growing. (Imagine the savings if your water use is metered.)

You can't get the watering, or fertilizing wrong.

No soil-borne pests, or diseases.

No crop rotation, so no need to plan your vegetable plot year after year.

No weeding.

Slugs and snails are "vertically challenged". Your plants are better protected against them.

Smaller growing area requirements.

100% organic vegetables.

The opportunity to grow your own fish for your kitchen table!

Fresh!

You can grow indoors and outdoors.

Systems can be Large, Medium, Small, Miniature.... in fact, any size that suits you, your family, and your budget.

Your carbon footprint from shopping for fish, fruit, and vegetables becomes markedly reduced.

Good for our planet.

It's fun.

Aquaponics is a way of growing food that is so easy to learn and do.

Children of all ages like gardening, but when comes to Aquaponics, they absolutely love it. You, as their role-model, could be showing your children how to be self-sufficient.

That is some gift to give.

The Different Types of Aquaponics Systems.

2016-11-04T12:14:00.000+01:00

Growing with Aquaponics allows you a great degree of flexibility with layouts, and crop volumes, and there are several systems that you can use to maximise the harvest from your own growing space.

Here I list the different systems that are available, and I try to give a little insight on each. You may find that one method is best for you, or you may want to incorporate some of each, whichever, they all work.

The types of aquaponic systems currently in use are:-

Media Beds
Raft
Nutrient Film Technique (N.F.T)

Without getting all technical, the principle is the same for each system. Water is pumped from the fish tank, flows into the planted area, and returns to the fish tank, cleaned by the plants which use the fish waste as nutrients to grow. The simple diagram below explains this perfectly I feel.

You will notice that the pump is plugged into a timer, which turns off for 15 minutes in every hour. This is to enable the growing area to drain and allow air around the plant roots, and is called "Ebb and Flow". This is the basic set-up, and great for novices.

An alternative to this is to incorporate a siphon into the grow bed, which means the pump can run continuously. Once the siphon is activated by the high water level, it will drain quickly bringing a rush of air to the plant roots. A bit of technical skill is required here to install a siphon and get it working, but once it's running you have nothing else to do except to keep it free from debris, meaning you have no need for a timer.

I digress....

Let me explain the different systems to you.

Media Beds.

Media beds, in my opinion, are the easiest to set up. Take a water-tight container, run an inlet pipe to just below the rim, and make hole in the bottom for the outflow pipe, fill with growing media, and plant it up with bare root plants. It is that simple. The photo below shows my media beds when I initially set them up.

Why would you want to use a media bed?

The reason that I like media beds is that the bed itself, and not just the plants, becomes a large mechanical, and biological, filter. Debris gets trapped by the media, preventing it returning to the fish tank, and good bacteria grows on the media itself, and consumes excess waste, thereby keeping the water really clean for the fish.

The media also acts as an anchor to keep larger plants firmly rooted in the growbed, which is especially useful if you happen to live in a windy area, and have your system outside as I do.

Media beds are great for debutants, as there are not many components, however, it is not necessarily great for maximising plant growth. This system tends to be used more by hobbyists than for large scale growing.

Raft / Deep Water Culture ( D.W.C )

Picture this as an empty media bed, filled with water and a floating raft on top.

The raft is typically a large sheet of styrofoam, around one inch thick, with holes cut into it of around two inches, at evenly spaced intervals all over the sheet. Seedlings are planted into net pots, filled with expanded clay or coir, and these fit into the holes.

The photo below was my first attempt, although I need to cut more holes, and larger, but you get the general idea. ( I need to use slightly thinner styrofoam too! )

You can see that the raft is floating on the surface of the inner container.

As opposed to media beds, in order to avoid water quality problems, additional filters would be required in the system, to separate the solid wastes and to stop them returning to the fish tank.

The raft system allows for increased, or mass, production and really offers a solution for food sustainability, and many different crops can be grown in this system.

Aquaponic raft systems are fairly straightforward to set up, and not too expensive. Additionally, once a harvest has been done, the styrofoam boards can be re-used for the next crop.

By Bryghtknyght (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Whether you want small scale, or large, the raft system is probably the easiest to operate, maintenance is simple, and productivity is excellent.

Nutrient Film Technique (N.F.T)

Nutrient Film Technique is a method used in hydroponics, that has been carried over to aquaponics. Plants are grown in channels such as rainwater pipes, or gutters. As in the raft method, holes are cut into the pipes and the plants grown in net pots containing a small amount of substrate. The water flow is continuous and thin, allowing for plenty of oxygen to flow around the plant roots.

This system is really only beneficial for growing shallow-rooted crops such as lettuce and greens, and attention should be paid to clogging in the pipes. The best size pipes to use are four inches in diameter, as this reduces clogging risk, any smaller and maintenance time will be increased.

By Ryan Somma (Leafy Greenhouse) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Nutrient Film Technique does allow for growing a lot of produce in a small area, because not only can the pipes be laid horizontally, but they can also be placed on a frame, one above the other, allowing you to use vertical space. Alternatively, the can be suspend vertically, with the water introduced at the top, and drained out of the bottom, and back into the system. Take a look at the two videos below.

So, there you have it. The three systems employed in aquaponics. It's a very brief outline, and I hope it proves useful to you.

I Love Aquaponics.

Why is an Aquaponic system better than a Hydroponics one?

2016-11-03T10:13:00.000+01:00

Disclaimer about this Blog

2016-09-22T18:49:00.000+02:00

Hello there.

I hope that you are finding my blog both interesting, and, useful.

It certainly takes a small amount of work for me to produce, though I enjoy it, which makes it a pleasure for me to do.

I would like to add a small disclaimer though.

I am not, and do not, claim to be an Aquaponics expert, guru, instructor, professor or anything else on this level.

I have no paper qualifications in Aquaponics, and have never attended an Aquaponics course of any description, in person, or online.

I would say that I...

...am self taught

...have 33 years trained Horticultural experience

...have my own outdoor Aquaponics system

...own books about Aquaponics

...research Aquaponics online

...am a member of several Aquaponics groups on FB

...have learnt from my own Aquaponic experiences

...learn from other peoples' Aquaponic experiences

...watch Aquaponics videos on well known websites

...am trying to spread the word about Aquaponics

...try to write my blogs in a simple friendly manner

...do my best to keep my blogs simple, without science.

...Love Aquaponics

There, that's out of the way. Happily, the "I am" outweighs the "I am not"! I guess this qualifies me to try to point people in the right direction with the Aquaponic information that I try to provide.

Of course, my blog is not the only source of information about Aquaponics on the internet, there are far more professional ones out there, which provide you with all the intricate details that you could possibly need, or want to know, and they provide a sterling service with this. They do have more time and resources than I do, and much more experience than me too.

So what are my objectives?

Simply to help people to understand the basics of Aquaponics. Which plants. Which fish. How to, etc...

As I have my own system, it is nice to keep people up to date with my experiences too.

Share information and websites that I feel may be useful to my blog visitors.

To enjoy myself whilst sharing all this.

Now....

There are plenty of people who want the best Aquaponics information currently available, and they want it regularly.

Articles that are written by the real 'masters' of Aquaponics.

At the risk of being accused of 'name-dropping', I'll drop some names of those leaders in the field who I am talking about.

Sylvia Bernstein
Dr George B. Brooks Jr. Ph.D
Ben Webster
Nelson & Pade
Vlad Joranovic
James Loomis
Jeremiah Robinson
Nate Storey Ph.D
Murray Hallam
Dr Thierry Vrain
James A. Hollyer
Ouroboros Farms
Joel Salatin
Adam Cohen
Chooka Parker
Travis Hughey

There, that's a lot of names I have dropped for you.

You could find them all by doing individual searches online, or you can find them all in one place.

They are all in the worlds largest and best monthly aquaponics trade magazine.

This magazine gives you the RIGHT information from the real 'Pros'.

Colleges, research projects, ongoing testing and other great information is explored each month.

Lessons learned here are priceless and can be applied to your own growing.

This magazine Is Not Just About Aquaponics but ALL sustainable and beneficial green growing too.

What is the name of this magazine?

It is of course, the world renowned ASC Magazine, and if you want concise information, technical data, in-depth interviews and analysis, or just a monthly read to sate your aquaponics desire, then you can find out more by clicking on the banner below.

There is an alternative of course...

You can stick with the unique, almost generic, blog that I am constructing, and will continue to construct, right here. Whichever course you decide to take, you will get information.

Here is the banner, click away soldier!

Did I say thank you?

Whichever way you go, thank you, yes you, for taking the time to read all the way to the bottom of this post, which is after the banner below.

I Love Aquaponics.

Ps. If I am fortunate enough to make a small commission by your acquisition of ASC Magazine I would like you to rest assured that it will be put towards the upkeep of my own system, fish and plants. (which is feeding me, my wife, and two young daughters.)
It simply wouldn't be enough to buy some shiny new car, pool, or house!

How to Grow Aubergine in an Aquaponics System

2016-08-14T12:30:00.000+02:00

How to Grow…..

Aubergine/Eggplant

in your aquaponics system...

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Plant name :

Aubergine/Eggplant - Solanum melongena

Situation :

Full sun

Size ( h x w ):

60 - 120cm x 60 - 80cm

Spacing between plants :

40 - 60cm

Temperature requirements :

Daytime temperatures should be around 22 - 26°C, and night temperatures no lower than 15°C. If lower night temperatures are likely then protect the plants.

pH :

5.5 - 7.0

Germination time :

Sow from seed in February or March and expect germination in 8 - 10 days, with temperatures around 25 - 30°C

Aquaponic method :

Media beds.

HOW TO GROW

Growing in Aquaponic systems :

Aubergine has a large root system, and is only really suitable for media beds when grown in an Aquaponics system. This plant has high nitrogen and potash requirements, so take this into consideration when planning your planting scheme. This will help avoid nutrient deficiencies arising which could be detrimental to other plants. You can expect 10 - 15 fruits per plant if they are happy.

Growing Conditions :

Aubergines love warmth, and thrive in warm temperatures, but watch out when the temperature goes over 30°C, this could limit their potential.

Growing Instructions :

Once the aubergine seeds have germinated you can transplant them when they have 4 - 5 leaves, in the spring. Beware of late frosts and protect accordingly. Pinch out the growing tips when the plant is around 30cm tall to encourage branching, and remove side-shoots after 5 - 6 fruits have set. ( to help with fruit setting you can give them a fine misting. ) Towards the end of the summer season start taking off any new blossoms to enhance the ripening of existing fruit.

Harvesting :

Pick the fruit when they have have reached 10 - 15cm in length when the skin is shiny, dull skin will indicate that the fruit is overripe. You should remove the fruit with a sharp knife, leaving at least 3cm of stalk attached to the fruit.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pruning :

Can be grown without pruning

Pests :

Watch out for: lacebugs, flea beetles, tomato hornworms, mites, aphids and cutworms.

Diseases :

Be aware of: Blossom end rot, Bacterial wilt, Phomopsis blight, Phytophthora blight, Southern blight and Verticillum wilt. Good plant management will help to eliminate, or prevent the risks of disease.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PLANT, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW. THANK YOU.

I Love Aquaponics....

photo credit: DSCN7240 via photopin (license)

Where should you place your Aquaponics system?

2016-08-06T10:50:00.000+02:00

If you have decided to set up an aquaponic system to start growing fish and vegetables for you and your family, there are some things which you should know.

Apart from the types of fish, the plants which can be grown, the appropriate water conditions, and how to care for it all, you also have to consider where should you place your aquaponic system.

The answer is simple: you can put it anywhere you like as long as the place has enough light to enable the plants to photosynthesize in order produce the appropriate sugars to help them grow. Low light conditions are not going to make you successful at growing, and if the plants aren't growing healthily then they cannot filter the water efficiently, let alone provide you and your family with food!

One of the major advantages of aquaponics systems is that you can grow indoors or outdoors, you can make them mobile, or just have a small aquaponics system in your kitchen. You could convert your soil-based greenhouse into an aquaponics greenhouse, or have a system set-up in your garage, even a small unused space on a balcony can become a great growing space.

Your local climate is going to have a big say in how successful your system will be, a hot desert sun isn't necessarily going to be particularly conducive to fish, or plant health, likewise with polar weather conditions. Monitor the weather and adapt accordingly, using shading for example, or heating the fish tank in the winter.

That said, most people live where the weather conditions are not as extreme as those mentioned before, and everything will be fine outside.

Indoors, of course, there are no such extremes, but I wouldn't necessarily stick my plants or fish directly in front of a heat source, or have them exposed to an air conditioning blower blasting them from above. Common sense should prevail.

So, go for airy places, with moderate temperatures, where the fish can feel good, and the plants can grow and develop properly.

For more exciting tips, news and information about Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Sustainable and Organic growing I recommend checking out the ASC Magazine by Clicking Here.

I Love Aquaponics.

Aquaponics... A brief history.

2016-08-03T16:29:00.001+02:00

Aquaponics has been around for centuries, although no exact date can be put on it's debut.

The ancient Aztecs were probably the first civilization to use the system, though they wouldn't necessarily have called it Aquaponics. Plants were grown in fixed raised, or floating, beds called chinampas in the shallows of lakes. Waste materials from the lake, or canal beds, would have been manually raised and used to irrigate the plant beds. Undoubtedly there were fish in these lakes and canals and bio-organisms etc.

I guess we could also say that the Ancient Egyptians had a similar way of doing things too, along the banks of the Nile.

In Asia, the paddy field system for growing rice has been around for centuries too, and here they introduced fish into the fields for cultivation alongside the rice. Sort of the "appliance of science" without thinking about it too deeply.

It is only since the 1970's that we can say modern aquaponics, as we know it today, really began, when research on using plants as a natural filter began.

Eventually, in the 1980's, large scale aquaponics was introduced in the United States. Which in turn, led to scaled-down versions being created for our own gardens.

The United States wasn't the only country developing the craft of aquaponics. In Australia, ways of being able to reliably grow crops under drought conditions were being researched, and aquaponics, naturally, took off. The Australian aquaponics industry started to boom under the hot, blue, skies.

Now in 2016, aquaponics is widely regarded as a way of enabling people in the poorer, more challenging, areas of the world to grow their own food, and encourage a more viable way of producing food crops.

Not only is aquaponics proving extremely versatile in the developing world, it is also accessible to almost everyone around the world, but it is also moving into urban society, in the form of cooperatives, small businesses, and even simple kitchen windowsill growing.

The Aztecs were certainly onto something weren't they.

Discover more...

I Love Aquaponics.

Five Essential Points To Consider When Setting Up Your Aquaponics System

2016-08-01T16:40:00.001+02:00

Setting up an aquaponic system, although quite an easy task, requires some basic knowledge of aquaponics. Below you will find 5 essential things which you should know in order to obtain spectacular results.

1. Location

The place where you put your aquaponic system is highly important for the way in which the plants and the fish will develop. In order to obtain great results you should make sure, if you are growing indoors, that the temperature from the room is not too high, nor too low, that there is enough light for the plants to photosynthesise. The same rule applies to growing outdoors too, and also that no wind or extreme weather conditions will reach them. Also, make sure that no harmful chemical substances can get inside the water as this means death for both your fish and your plants.

2. Oxygenizing the water

The happier your fish are, the better your system will work! This is why you need to oxygenize the water on a daily basis and make sure your fish have all the “comfort” they need.

3. Choosing your fish accordingly

The aquaponic system works well with almost all types of fish. Yet, there are States in which you are not allowed to grow whatever type of fish you want, so you will need to see what types of fish you are allowed to have before starting your aquaponic system as you do not want any problems with the law.

4. Placing the pots

In order to make the work easier, you should place the pots or the entire system at your waist level. This way you will not have to bend over, making the daily care routine a much easier activity.

5. Adding additives

There are cases in which your fish may not provide all the nutrients needed for your plants. If the quantity is lower than what the plants need, then you will have to supply them with the respective substances. In most cases you will need to add iron, calcium carbonate or potassium carbonate.

Aquaponics is an easy activity which will provide you with lots of pleasure, as well as 100% organic fish and vegetables in a short amount of time. Just follow the tips mentioned above and you will have great success in your attempt to grow organic food in your home.

Get lots more information by clicking here.

I Love Aquaponics.

How to Grow Swiss Chard in your Aquaponics System

2016-07-31T13:23:00.000+02:00

How to Grow…..

Swiss Chard

in your aquaponics system...

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Plant name :

Chard - Beta Vulgaris

Situation :

Full sun. If temperatures are going to exceed 26°C then shading is recommended.

Size ( h x w ):

30 - 60cm x 30 - 40cm

Spacing between plants :

30cm

Temperature requirements :

Optimum: 16 - 24°C

pH :

6.0 - 7.5

Germination time :

From seed, expect germination in 4 - 5 days, with temperatures around 25 - 30°C

Aquaponic method :

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), Deep Water Culture (DWC), Media beds.

HOW TO GROW

Growing in Aquaponic systems :

Being easy to grow, Swiss Chard is extremely well suited to growing in an Aquaponics System, and as an additional plus, it is fairly bolt-resistant, making it a better choice than plants such as kale, for example. Nutrient uptake is reasonably moderate, using mainly nitrates for the leaf growth. Potassium and phosphorous requirements are low. Its high nutrient content, and fast growth rate, make it extremely popular in aquaponics.

Growing Conditions :

Swiss chard is traditionally a late-winter/spring crop, and only needs temperatures of 5°C for growth. That said, if you live in an area where the summer temperatures are reasonably mild, you can grow Swiss Chard in full sun. Grow indoors, or under a shading net if temperatures regularly surpass 25°C.

Growing Instructions :

Swiss chard comes in various colours, ranging through white, lime green, red and yellow. Sow Swiss chard seeds at any time between March and Autumn, remembering to cover later sown seeds to speed up germination. Thin out the seedlings once they are 2 - 3cm tall, and leave 30cm between plants. Thats all you need to do. Really easy.

Harvesting :

12 weeks after sowing Swiss Chard can be harvested by using a sharp knife to cut the external leaves, taking care not to damage the centre of the plant where the new growth comes from.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pruning :

N/A

Pests :

Butterflies, Moths and Leaf miner. Covering with fleece or mesh when the plants are young will help with pest prevention.

Diseases :

No real issues.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PLANT, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW. THANK YOU.

I Love Aquaponics....

photo credit: So that's why it's called rainbow chard... via photopin (license)

How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Aquaponics System

2016-07-29T17:02:00.000+02:00

How to Grow…..

Tomato

in your aquaponics system...

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Plant name :

Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum

Situation :

Sun or very light shade

Size ( h x w ):

60 - 200 cm x 60 - 90cm

Spacing between plants :

40 - 60cm

Temperature requirements :

Optimum: 20 - 25°C Fine at: 18 - 30°C

pH :

5.5 - 6.5

Germination time :

From seed, expect germination in 4 - 6 days, with temperatures around 20 - 30°C

Aquaponic method :

Deep Water Culture (DWC), Media beds.

HOW TO GROW

Growing in Aquaponic systems :

Fantastic plant for growing in an aquaponics system, of course, you must remember to give them some sort of support. Tomatoes are nutrient-hungry plants, with a taste for potassium, so be careful to plant according to the amount and size of fish that you have in your system. At the younger stage of the plants life, it will be happy for a little more nitrogen to enable good, vegetative growth. Once the flowers start arriving, then they need potassium to ensure good flowering and fruit production.

Growing Conditions :

Plant your tomatoes in full sun, although they will manage in very light shade. They love warm temperatures, and night-time temperatures of 13-14°C encourage fruit-set. They don't like hot drying winds, so some form of protection is advised if you live in areas where they are likely to suffer from wind-scorch.

Growing Instructions :

Before you plant your tomatoes, which are ready for planting when they are 10 - 15cm tall, make sure you put in your plant supports so as to not disturb the root structure later on. In aquaponics, it is not always easy to insert canes into the grow media, so try finding a way of tying string from above the grow bed, and growing the tomato plant up the string. (Just tie the string around the base of the plant). Do not plant your tomatoes outside until night-time temperatures level out at a minimum of 10°C.

If you have bush tomatoes you can leave the side shoots to grow. These will have clusters of flowers at the ends which will bear fruit.

Vine tomatoes, are grown as single stem plants, and you will need to pinch out the side shoots that appear between the leaf and main stem. Remove the apical tip two leaves above the fourth truss of tomatoes (outdoor plants), or above the sixth truss if you are growing in a greenhouse. All the fruits should be growing out from the main stem. Remove bottom leaves if required to control disease, otherwise leave them on. There is no need to remove unless you absolutely have to.

You don't need to help outdoor tomatoes to pollinate, but indoor grown ones will need either a gentle shake to release the pollen, or a gentle misting on the flowers.

Harvesting :

When the fruits are firm and fully coloured they are ready for picking, and will have the best flavour. Keep the stalk on to keep them fresher for longer. If you pick un-ripened fruit, they will ripen indoors if kept in a warm, dark place.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pruning :

N/A

Pests :

Aphids, Cutworms, Flea Beetles, Hornworms, Nematodes, Whitefly

Diseases :

Damping Off in seedlings, Fusarium Wilt, Mosaic Virus, Verticillum Wilt.

Environmental conditions :

Blossom End Rot, Catfacing, Cracking and Sun Scald.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PLANT, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW. THANK YOU.

I Love Aquaponics....

photo credit: Fall Colors via photopin (license)

New Floating Aquaponics Raft Bed

2016-07-28T12:36:00.000+02:00

So, yesterday I installed a third growbed for my Aquaponics system, this is the one on the left, with the black pond liner hanging over. This was for two reasons, primarily because the growbed on the far right has sprung a leak, and secondly, to give me the chance to try making a floating raft bed.

The styrofoam only cost six francs, and the plastic liner, which is really the tray from a rabbit cage cost me ninety francs. ( It is really difficult for me to find plastic growbeds here!)

The liner is inserted in the growbed on the pond liner, and the sides have been filled with gravel. The sides will collect some water when it rains, and will serve as a seed bed. The styrofoam has been drilled with a hole cutter, leaving space for 29 plants to grow, and one corner cut out to allow space around the outflow pipe. The inflow is via a second pump in the fish tank, which I was already using to supply the spraybar in there.

All in all, it took around around an hour and a half to complete.

I have planted one water melon, one courgette , six celery, and twelve lettuce. The empty holes have been left empty ready for pak choi, which I will sow in few days time.

The photo below shows the other two growbeds, which are looking a bit depleted, however this is because I have been harvesting the globe lettuce that were in there, and now this leaves space for other plants, which again, I will sow in a few days.

I am not too worried about the number of plants right now as the trout are still small, so nitrate levels will be low anyway, and also the growbeds are only three months old, so nowhere near mature.

That's it for now, when the plants have grown on, I will add to the blog. Please feel free to comment.

I Love Aquaponics.

How to Grow Cucumber in your Aquaponics System.

2016-07-27T10:54:00.002+02:00

How to Grow…..

Cucumber

in your aquaponics system...

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Plant name :

Cucumber - Cucumis sativus

Situation :

Full sun.

Size ( h x w ):

Up to 2m x 80cm

Spacing between plants :

30 - 60cm

Temperature requirements :

Optimum: 22 - 28°C Night temperature: 18 - 20°C

pH :

5.5 - 7.0

Germination time :

From seed, expect germination in 3 - 7 days, with temperatures around 20 - 30°C

Aquaponic method :

Deep Water Culture (DWC), Media beds.

HOW TO GROW

Growing in Aquaponic systems :

With their large root structure, cucumbers are ideal for growing in aquaponic media beds. Attention should be paid to not planting them to close to plumbing parts as the roots could block pipes. being a hungry plant, cucumber needs a good amount of nitrogen and potassium, so be careful with the quantities you plant so as not to starve other plants.

Growing Conditions :

Cucumbers love sunshine, and humidity, with warm nights, with the substrate around the 21°C mark. Higher concentrations of potassium will help increase fruit yields.

Growing Instructions :

Once your cucumber seedlings have 4-5 true leaves they can be transplanted to their growing spot.

If growing in a greenhouse it is recommended to pinch out the apical tips once the stem has reached 2m in height. Pinch out the tips of sideshoots two leaves after the female flower, or at 60cm on flowerless sideshoots. Do not forget to provide adequate support for your cucumber plants, the last thing you want is them sprawling everywhere.

If growing outdoors, pinch out the apical tip once the young plant has seven true leaves, you can leave the side branches to crawl over the ground, or train up a netting support or trellis, but non-flowering sideshoots should have the tips pinched out after seven leaves.

Harvesting :

Fruits usually form 2 - 3 weeks after transplanting, and plants can bear as many as 10 - 15 fruits during the growing season. Harvest every few days before the fruits get too large to allow good growth from the new ones.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pruning :

Pests :

Just your regular bugs.

Diseases :

Watch out for powdery mildew, grey mould and cucumber mosaic virus.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PLANT, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW. THANK YOU.

I Love Aquaponics....

photo credit: Imsilgun_County_31 via photopin (license)

How To Grow Basil in your Aquaponics System.

2016-07-26T11:04:00.000+02:00

How to Grow…..

Basil

in your aquaponics system...

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Plant name :

Basil - Ocimum basilicum

Situation :

Sheltered position in sun or semi-shade. South or West facing.

Size ( h x w ):

10 - 50 cm x 10 - 50cm

Spacing between plants :

15 - 25cm

Temperature requirements :

Optimum: 20 - 25°C Fine at: 18 - 30°C

pH :

No special requirements

Germination time :

From seed, expect germination in 6 - 7 days, with temperatures around 20 - 25°C

Aquaponic method :

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), Deep Water Culture (DWC), Media beds.

HOW TO GROW

Growing in Aquaponic systems :

Try using Sweet Basil, Purple Basil, or Lemon Basil. Basil loves nitrogen, making it ideal for aquaponics, be careful it doesn't take out too many nutrients from the water.

Growing Conditions :

Once planted into your aquaponics system it will grow best in warm, to very warm temperatures. Shading is advised in order to get better quality leaves, and to prevent burnt leaf tips. Cooler temperatures, with high humidity levels will lead to poorer quality plants.

Growing Instructions :

You can plant Basil in your aquaponics system, once it has 4 or 5 true leaves, or buy larger plants, and carefully wash off all the growing media from the roots. Water and air temperatures of 21°C, 24 hours a day, will keep the plants stress-free, and more disease resistant.

Harvesting :

Start picking leaves when the plants are 15cm tall, or higher. If you remove flowers when the plants are in growth, you will have a bushier plant with no bitter taste.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pruning :

For continued leaf growth , pinch out flowerheads as they appear.

Pests :

Mainly leafhoppers and aphids. Slugs and snails can be a problem, but less so in aquaponics.

Diseases :

Look out for powdery mildew, blackspot and fusarium wilt.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PLANT, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW. THANK YOU.

I Love Aquaponics....

photo credit: via photopin (license)

Which Plants Can I Grow In My Aquaponics System?

2016-07-24T16:18:00.001+02:00

Choosing which plants you can grow in your own Aquaponics system can be a daunting task, and it can have you going round and round in circles whilst trying to make a decision. It is best to start simple by growing the things that you like, and that are easy to grow, which will fit in the space that your grow beds allow, and that suit your climate.

I have made this list of plants which will grow in an Aquaponics system, starting with plants for beginners, or new systems, then advancing to plants which need a little more in the way of nutrients and care. This list may be full of omissions, and for that there is a comment box for you to add your own, which I will then add to the list.

Click on plant names for instructions on how to grow.
Easy plants for any Aquaponic system, with low nutrient requirements, and reasonably quick growth. These would be ideal for starting new Aquaponics systems, where the fish are small, or few, and bacteria colonies not yet mature:

Basil

Chives

Kale

Lettuce

Mint

Pak Choi

Rocket

Swiss Chard

Watercress

These plants have higher nutritional requirements, and will only flourish in a well-stocked, mature aquaponic system, so would therefore be better planted once your first plants have become established, and your fish have grown to at least the juvenile stage, or where the stocking density is higher:

Beans

Broccoli

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Courgette

Cucumbers

Eggplant

Peas

Peppers

Squash

Strawberries

Sweetcorn

Tomatoes

Some other plants well worth considering:

Beets

Brussel sprouts

Carrots

Celery

Chinese cabbage

Dill

Edible flowers: View a comprehensive list here.

Endive

Garlic

Ginger

Globe Artichoke

Kohl rabi

Leeks

Lemon grass

Melon

Micro-greens

Mustard

Okra

Onions

Parsley

Parsnips

Radish

Rhubarb

Rice

Spinach

Aquaponics doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to grow plants for eating, it may be the philosophy, but you can always do something different.

How about some alternatives?

· Bamboo
· Cut Flowers
· Ground cover plants
· Herbs
· Ornamental grasses

These could be just the right plant ideas to get you set up in your own Aquaponics business. Who knows? Just find a crop that you have infinite success with and grow just that! I am going to start with pak choi.

So, there you have it. A list of plants that will positively thrive in an Aquaponics system. I hope that this is of some value to you, and it helps you to decide what to grow.

When I have more time I will attempt to write some cultural instructions for all of the plants mentioned. In the meantime, happy Aquaponicking!

I Love Aquaponics.

photo credit: Frutas e Vegetais via photopin (license)

Which fish can I use in an Aquaponics system?

2016-07-22T13:05:00.000+02:00

The Fish....

There are a number of fish species which are perfect for Aquaponics. In fact, almost any freshwater fish, as long as it is not going to be too big for your Aquaponic system, and that it suits your climate and growing conditions.

Depending on your own preferences, you may want fish that you can eat. Or maybe you would rather have ornamental fish. Either way, they still produce the same waste to feed the plants growing in your Aquaponics system.

I would say that the most important thing to consider is the climate where you live. If you live in a hot climate, you really should not consider trying to keep rainbow trout for example, they are cold water fish, and you will most certainly lose them if your water temperature is consistently over 24°C. These sort of temperatures are more ideal for warmer water fish, such as Tilapia. Also, bear in mind the building materials that you use for your fish tank, whether they conduct more heat to the water, or insulate it from the hot/cold.

I live in Switzerland, and keep trout, but in the summer there are regularly days when the outdoor temperature is 35°C, or more, which pushes the water temperature up to 24°C. This really does get me nervous for the trout, but I have an airstone and a second pump running a spraybar overhead to increase the oxygen levels, and I seem to be able to get away with it.

Of course, if you are going to install your Aquaponics system indoors, then that changes everything, especially if you can regulate the air temperature. You could have cold water, or warmer water fish, (maybe you would consider a water heater for this ) or, you could have smaller Aquaponics system set up in conjunction with your freshwater aquarium. The constrictions are less, making your choice of fish wider. You don't have the worries of snow and ice, or heatwaves, but you may be restricted by space for holding tanks and growbeds. Don't be discouraged, where there is will there is a way, there are always solutions. You could install your system in a greenhouse, or poly-tunnel, in your basement, or even in your living room or kitchen.

So which fish are commonly used in Aquaponics?*

Baramundi

Bass

Bream

Catfish

Goldfish

Koi Carp

Pacu

Perch - Jade, Silver and Yellow.

Tilapia - Blue, Mozambique, and Nile.

You can also consider freshwater mussels, prawns and crayfish.

In aquarium Aquaponics, you could use, amongst others;

Angelfish

Betta

Cichlids

Guppies

Mollies

Rainbow Fish

Swordtails

Tetras

In fact I will stick my neck out and say almost any freshwater aquarium fish. The fish you stock, and plants you want to grow, are only limited by the size of the fish tank. The important thing is that enough waste is produced by the fish in order to feed the plants.

*These are the fish that I know are suitable for Aquaponics, it doesn't mean there aren't others, and you can add your own ideas in the comments box.

In summary then, you need to choose the right fish for the right situation.

I Love Aquaponics.

photo credit: Rainbow Trout via photopin (license)

photo credit: cjb20110209017 via photopin (license)
photo credit: Restaurant Obere Mühle: crayfish & char via photopin (license)
photo credit: Aquaponic Greenhouse via photopin (license)

How to Make a Floating Raft Bed For an Aquaponics System

2016-07-17T20:49:00.000+02:00

Using floating rafts in Aquaponics is a great way of growing crops directly from the water surface. Whether this be in a substrate-free raft bed, channel or directly on the surface of the pond/basin where the water is being taken from. I imagine that you could make any shape you choose as well.

Here you can see a great photo-description from Max Aquaponics on FaceBook, on how to build a floating raft very quickly and easily.

Thanks to Max Aquaponics for allowing me to post this on the blog.

I think that you will all agree that this is a very simple way of making the Aquaponic rafts, and is an easy way of growing salad vegetables. I have seen this done with lettuce, chard,celery, and other leafy greens. Now I just need to set up a raft bed for my own system.

I love Aquaponics.

My First Aquaponics Harvest...

2016-07-17T16:20:00.000+02:00

My First Harvest

So, here we go....

My very first Aquaponics harvest, although this doesn't include the strawberries that my little ladies have been picking and eating every time they see a ripe one!

Yesterday afternoon I reached my first Aquaponics milestone. Harvest. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough to provide salad for my family and my brother-in-law's family.

There we are....

Now it doesn't look a great deal, my Aquaponics harvest, but one courgette, one tomato, and two lettuce plants, went down well, totally devoured. Of course that's easy when served with barbeque roasted pork, fried baby potatoes, honey glazed carrots, barbecue cooked peppers and some good wine and beer.

My brother-in-law was amazed at the produce growing in my 2m x 2m growbeds, and the fact that the fish do all the work.

So, conclusion...

Reaping the benefits of a small first harvest just make you want more and more from your incredible Aquaponic system.

I love Aquaponics.

Why I fell in love with Aquaponics...

2016-07-15T13:36:00.000+02:00

Why Aquaponics?

Aquaponics was something that I had never heard of until around six months ago, and it was whilst caring for one of my three aquariums that I disocvered the aquaponics theory and system.

This is how my 450 litre aquarium looked around a year ago, a playful looking creation, and a great habitat for the fish. But, one thing that it was always suffering from was excessive algae growth.

The algae growth was probably due to slight overfeeding of the fish, and although the aquarium was well stocked with plants, they were not taking up the nitrates quick enough. So, I started looking for solutions online. The normal remedies were to be found everywhere, water changes, nitrate extractors, reducing feeding, playing with the lighting periods, increasing co2 levels, adding more plants, etc. These all play a very important role in eliminating algae growth, but it didn't really sort the problem out completely.

One day, I stumbled across a video on YouTube about using Aquaponics to help keep the aquarium clean, and how you would be able to keep an aquarium water perfect, without the need for water changes. This, I thought, could be the answer that I had been searching for.

So, I did some more research about Aquaponics, and found that a lot of people were swearing by it as the next best thing since sliced bread!

This then, encouraged me to create my own mini-aquaponics system, very cheaply, and see what would happen.

I installed a small pump in the aquarium, connected it to a small window box with holes drilled through, and filled with expanded clay. I then planted three ferns in the box and waited for the results.

This is how it looked when set-up.

Now I know, in Aquaponic terms that this is very small, for a 450 litre aquarium I would need a larger volume of "grow bed" to make any significant difference, and I would need hungrier, faster growing plants. Not to worry though as I did see a small difference in algae levels, and the ferns did start to grow. Good news.

Never happy to sit back on my laurels, I kept on looking for more solutions, and discovered that putting "lucky bamboo" in the aquarium, with plenty of water movement around the roots, could be beneficial too. So, using the principle of Aquaponics, I bought and supported 200 "lucky bamboo" stems at the water surface, roots dangling in the water. Luckily enough they started to grow too, and algae growth slowed down some more.

Having also added cuttings from scindapsis (house plant) as well, I could see, that although the algae was reducing, but never quite eliminated, I was getting growth from all these external plants, and at least part of the theory was working, the Aquaponics part. The fish waste was helping to promote the growth of the outside plants.

All well and good, I hear you whisper, but what about the algae? Well, it is normal to have a certain amount of algae in a tiny ecosystem like this, so I accepted this, and let a little live in there, if nothing else it provides some extra food for the fish, and adds some extra oxygen to the water.

Having experimented with the Aquaponics window box, I have since removed it as I didn't find it aesthetically pleasing, but I still use the "lucky bamboo" which is crammed in the top of the filter, box, and I have stems in my other aquariums too, silently working away.

Was this the end then, of my interest in Aquaponics? No way.

A month or two after I had initially set up the window box, I saw a news article about a company in Bâle, here in Switzerland, who have converted the rooftop of the old railway station into an Aquaponics business, Urban Farmers, (Visit here) and thought this was quite interesting, and stored it in the back of my head for future reference. Then, another TV programme caught my attention.

Again, it was small enterprise in Switzerland, and they had a twenty minute slot on a prime time documentary, showing their premises, and explaining how Aquaponics works. They had four enormous, to me, fish tanks, holding lots of trout, and a huge greenhouse, using ebb and flow, and rafts for growing their produce. They were growing celery, lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, all sorts, and selling to shops in their area. They were selling the fish too, and after some initial hiccups at the debut, they were becoming successful, and expanding bit by bit. This, I thought, is for me. I said the same to my wife. She's very accommodating, and always takes my ideas with a pinch of salt, but lets me get on with them anyway.

This was the beginning. A revelation of sorts. the first time that I had found something that drove straight to my core. I would make my own Aquaponics system, on a budget (not rich enough to buy a professional kit!) I would empower myself to grow fish and vegetables for me and my family, 100% organic, fresh, healthy food.

I did more research about Aquaponics, I bought books, apps, and subscribed to Aquaponics magazines, and absorbed the information and ideas that I was seeing.

I got to work....

I produced this...

This is how my Aquaponics system is looking today.

I have 29 trout, in a little under 1500 litres of water. The two grow-beds offer around 500 litres of grow space and filtration.

I am growing broccoli, courgette, cauliflower, chives, cucumber (slowly), lettuce, strawberries, peppers, globe aubergine, and tomatoes, in growbeds which cover 2 square metres.

This is the beginning. It will grow. I love Aquaponics, it is my future, it is my family's future, it is me.

And this is the aquarium as it looks today...

The Front.

The Back.

I Love Aquaponics.

Aquaponics.. "A Green Revolution"

2016-07-14T14:00:00.000+02:00

Join the Revolution...

Food prices are skyrocketing all across the world and there seems to be no end in sight. Economists have put food inflation at at least 30% each YEAR and growing.

With often ridiculous and illegal food regulation laws being passed all the time, that seek to undermine, control and fully regulate all food ( UN Law ‘Codex Alimentarius’ that most governments are now enforcing), is it any wonder food quality is drastically DECREASING and costs worldwide are exploding?

If you have been watching world events unfold like I have, you already understand that creating your own “Secret Sustainable Organic Whole Food Source” is going to be one of the best and most essential things you can do RIGHT NOW to protect you and your family!....more

Greenamic 3D MultiFarm Platform

2016-07-13T15:10:00.000+02:00

This is great...

2016-07-13T13:59:00.000+02:00

Proof of the pudding is in my Aquaponics system.

2016-07-13T11:44:00.000+02:00

My Homemade Aquaponics System.

In my Aquaponics system I am growing.....

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Lettuce

Courgette

Peppers

Globe Aubergine

Tomatoes

Strawberries

You can see some baby peppers, and courgette hiding in there somewhere!

And if you look really closely, you get a glimpse of some trout!

I Love Aquaponics.

Watercress in Aquaponics.

2016-07-12T11:59:00.000+02:00