Update 30th Oct 2010

Quick update.
Cherry Tomatoes recovered and once they did, the grow rate is phenomenal. 
Check their size on 14th October  : Here   26th September : Here
Estimate about 45 days its start to flower.
 All plants started to flower at same time, and this tomatoes I don't practice any pruning.
Maize flowering too, male flower coming out on one of the two plant. Female corn flower should be coming out on the stems together with baby corns. We'll see how it goes, I hope to see the corn developing.
Photo of this maize plant on 10th August : Here  26th September : Here
This guy below is PR of the maize plant. We have an agreement, if he don't eat too much I'll let him be.
So far he's keeping his part of the bargain.

Single Barrel Aquaponics - Update 24th Oct 2010

I decide to redo my single barrel kit, the 15mm siphon requires too much water tweaking. It requires very small water inlet, I did divert excess water but since the pump is small it tends to clog easily.
Those Tomatoes plant show sign of yellowing leaves. I need to check water PH, adjust  and may add iron in water to reduce the yellowing.
Two changes done since last update on this set. Water inlet I redo from bottom and feed through to top of growbed, no more ugly pipes on the outside.
Another changes,  15mm siphon I replace it with 20 mm siphon, this able to use all water from the pump without diverting.
I also put a timer, to switches OFF at night, this will reduce pump maintenance and chances for it to fail is less.
Water has been clear, not much sediment, maybe because of few fish in this tank.
More to do on this kit to ensure it is able to produce comparable plant growth.

Gaetan Dureau - Aquaponics

Received few photos from Mr Gaetan Dureau on his aquaponics set in a small village located  North Eastern part of Thailand near city of Khon Kaen ,its interesting  to see how it was all constructed and put together.


I do not have much information on how all was done and as he mentioned its still newly build and still cycling.


Here are some of the photos.


Just a note from what I could deduce, those cement will make Alkalinity shoot up,  plus limestone use as growth media will cause water PH value sky-high, just ensure this set is cycled properly before putting fish or plant.


I recommend pineapples peeling or vinegar or lemon be added to water in tank for about a week to bring the PH to below 7.5.


























Update 14th Oct

Quick Update
Cherry Tomatoes getting bigger, plenty of seedling need to trim a few and let only about 8 ~ 10 in each growbed.
After 2 week check how fast they grow : Here
These two growbed below already done and just wait for it to grow. I need to provide some support later on.


Maize root coming out from its stem
Maize getting very tall, no sign of flower or maize yet
These are the tomatoes in first growbed, doing great
Same growbed.

Home Kit - Revisited

Decide to reassemble my Home kit, I was contemplating on whether to give it away or make use of it. Its best to keep it and use for some testing, if I gave it away to a person that is keen on Aquaponics is okay but if that person is not interested then its a waste of equipment.


Its outside my compound on the back alley that not much use in between the houses, as long as I don't block any path for emergency exit during fire then its not a problem. Since its not a permanent fixtures its also okay.
I use Astro 2000 pump rated at 1540 Litre/hour flow rate, water is more than required by this single growbed so I made a "Saddle Valve" on the water feed line to divert excess water. This way I don't need to use ball valve to do this simple job, rotate the Saddle Valve to varied its outlet.
That's the remaining water flowing into the growbed its almost half of what the pump can supply. BTW I am not using those Hydroton, this one that I have floats and remain floating, so not suitable to be use.
Closer look at the Saddle Valve at full flow, its very easy to make. I don't know whether anyone else have had use this type of water diversion. I just called it Saddle Valve since it look like a saddle piggy back on a pipe, first time I use it here on my single barrel kit.

That Astro pump is the series 2000 suitable to feed 2 growbed, its easy with this Astro pump, Astro 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 correspond to 1, 2, 3 and 4 growbed. Each growbed I recommend 800 liter/hour flow rate. Its best to use 1 pump for 2 growbed its the best value for money and the easiest to construct.
Water inlet not finalised, I yet to put in gravel then I will make a better water feed. I will just cycle this growbed for the next two weeks.
Siphon above the standard 25mm version no other improvement except the water outlet from siphon is using my "Whistler" outlet. This siphon will drain till about 0.5 inch of water left in growbed then it cut OFF.

If you are wondering how big a growbed this siphon can handle, I recommend up to 4' x 8'. If bigger you will need to provide better drainage within growbed to ensure no water logged.
Saddle valve in action. I drilled 2 holes on it, from experience 1 hole is not enough. You can have more holes and wider saddle if needed. Either rotate the saddle or slide it up/down will varies water outlet. It can't be simpler than that.
Flush in action with Whistler aerating the water. 
Close up of siphon outlet this arrangement will give maximum aeration possible with minimum noise, Saddle valve also aerate water in the fish tank.


This setup I will try without aerator pump, what I'll do is to run water pump from 8 am till 8 pm without stop and from 8 pm to 8 am I will run it at every alternate hour. So its 1 hour "ON" and 1 hour "OFF" during the night, hope this will give enough aeration during night time.


Its best to just switches it "OFF" but if that's the case I need an aerator pump to run during that period. The reason for pump "OFF" is as what I experience, I will need to clean the pump less if I switches it OFF at night since if any debris stuck at pump inlet will be dislodge during pump OFF as compare to stuck and remain stuck if pump is continuously running and eventually choke itself.


It also saves energy and reduce noise and some plant do better if they are given some period of "Dryness" while there is no sunshine.


Okay that all for today.

Uitm - Photo Update 8th Oct 2010

Received few photos from UiTM setup showing progress of their test on Aquaponics. It doesn't look encouraging due plants not doing well and fish dying.


The growbed was using two types of media for growing, coco peat and stones. This makes it difficult to do proper cycle and being short of time the system had not fully mature for planting. 


I do not have full write up on this, from my observation of situation. The Aquaponics cycle was not fully matured, insufficient pebbles and too large size use makes it even more of a problem to the setup couple with high water level causing algae to be growing in growbed.


Usage of Tinfoil Barb is not advisable due to this fish require high oxygen content in the water.


With all said, its a learning process for those involved with this setting.

ikan2 mati pada raya ke3 saya fikir disebabkan ph air.itu observation yang sy dapat lepas baca beberapa artikel tentang masalah ikan dlm sistem akuaponik.