Aquaponics, Food for a Hungry World

Aquaponics, Food for a Hungry World - I spend a lot of time thinking about this, although I won't be doing anything physical on it until next year. I am not writing this blog for anyone else - just me! I don't mind if no one else reads it at all, but it helps me to keep a record of my progress and my thinking.

But if you do decide to read it, feel free to comment!

Monday 20 June 2011

System Design

I've been thinking a lot about how to design a system in a 4m x 3M Keder house. I am coming around to the idea from Murray Hallam, that perhaps a sump is a good idea, mainly from the point of view of relative levels. The fish tank could sit on the ground, and the grow beds could be fairly low (which I would prefer, for access to climbing plants) especially if the sump was sunk into the ground. It could be completely insulated to help maintain temperature, and the growbeds could be insulated too. Another plus is that much of the pipework could be run underground, which, especially if lagged, would also help to retain temperature.

I needed to find out how big the sump needs to be, so I asked Charlie Price about the medium/water ratio in a grow bed. (He said it's about 2/3 to 1/3) I have worked out that if I have five bath-tub growbeds, I would need a sump with a capacity of around 450 litres.

I have asked Murray Hallam if I would be able to use the sump as a breeder tank - which could solve the fish stock problems. I read that you can have a breeder tank for Tilapia, and if you have a male of one type (specified) and I think five females of a different type (specified), the offspring are 98% male, and it occurred to me that these could live in the sump!

Now I have to find a source for a 500 litre tank of the right shape, preferably without buying two IBCs!

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