Few Questions from Ty

Hey Affnan, Great work with blog very informative. I setup 6 grow bed made from 55 gallon drums cut in half vertical. I plan on taking some pictures and submitting on how its layout is once I get everything up and running since winter is officially over.   My question to you however is I want to try and grow some rooting vegetables and I read that this is best in a tight grow media. I've read that a pure vermiculite,  and perlite would be a good mix for this.  I just wanted to get your input on this.

One more question, which I can't seem to find any information online. What are your thoughts are a growing medium that is 100% carbon (activated charcoal)? Seems like it would work nicely due to the high surface area and bacteria able to colonize more efficiently 

Thanks for your time.

~Ty

Hello Ty..

You sure have some interesting question there...

On vermiculite and perlite to be honest with you I never have these materials here. looks like both of these product have large surface area and light. If they don't crumble into tiny pieces then its not a problem to use.

I never tried these materials it would be difficult for me to make accurate recommendation, perlite is volcanic rock hope it do not remain floating otherwise it will be difficult in using it for growbed. This also applicable to vermiculite.

Generally only two things to consider when choosing growbed materials, 1 its must not remain floating, 2 it must not breakdown into tiny pieces then it may cause water clogging in the growbed.

On activated charcoal, we use it here for growing Orchids in pots. These are wood base charcoal  and they didn't give any problem to plants. In Aquaponics since its immersed in water half of the time, it may absorb the ammonia from the fish tank. Whether this will have any effect on plant growth again I can't confirm, if you are willing to try then it would be a good knowledge for everyone doing Aquaponics.

Hope this help.

Affnan

CHOPS

CHOPS stand for Constant Height One Pump System, is Murray Hallam's System from Practical Aquaponics. This system reduce the number of pump required as in their earlier setup, and I can say its quite an ingenious system.


Apart from the reduce number of pump to one, this system will make the fish more comfortable due to more water in the system and the level do not change much during operation.


Below a simple diagram on the basic of CHOPS, in Murray's site there is a better illustration on the system.


Note :

• To avoid confusion on CHOPS installation, please refer to Murray Hallam's DVD or his other instruction on how-to construct this system. The illustration I made here is for brief explanation on basic CHOPS concept.

• Please check CHOP 2 it is an improvement of this : Here

On the above diagram I do not include the fingerling tank on the return line, this is optional in my opinion and it do not change the way this system work.

This system, water in the fish tank is maintained at a constant height above delivery pipe outlet, water flowing out will be distributed to growbeds and subsequently controlled by siphons. Its doesn't matter what type of siphon used here, if its work for you then its good.


Growbed outlet water collected by a sump tank and returned to Fish tank by a pump, according to information from Murray Hallam's site the pump is running 24/7. However I don't see the reason why it cannot be shut off at night. 


One aspect of this system I find beneficial is the pump located after growbed, this reduce pump maintenance significantly due to "filtered water" in the sump.


As mentioned earlier this is an ingenious system, but with any Aquaponics system there are pros and cons. I do not practice this due to one simple fact that my backyard is too small for such a setup, so I am not able to elaborate on this design.


I do wish this system can be shut off at night, partly because noise, energy saving, reduce pump maintenance and also it will give some species of plants a time to grow and stabilized during that period.


To switch off the pump at night, it may need a bigger sump tank to hold all the water above the fish tank outlet. How big is the sump tank will depend on the size of the fish tank.


A word of caution on any sump tank system in equatorial & tropical regions you must ensure mosquito cannot breed in the tank, by either covering it with nettings or have few larvae eating fish reside in the sump.

With this system, it give Aquaponics enthusiast more way to setup their system and see which is suitable for their location, budget and space.

Updates - 2nd May 2010

Not much been happening, waiting for those seeds that I sow to germinate. I got the feeling that's something wrong with it.


Been raining on and off, causing water logged in the sowing tray. I need to put fresh seed, because apart from the three seedling nothing else germinate. Thanks to Amir, he pulled out those 3 when I am not watching. He may have though its weed or something.


I cut up few "Sambung Nyawa" and gave it to the Tilapias, its good for their diet. Its best to give them early in the morning where the leaves are softer and Tilapias are hungry.

Kangkong is easier for the Tilapias due to its softer leaves, Sambung Nyawa are harder.

Tilapias having a go at their new feed.

Its advisable to throw the leaves with their branches so that it will not clogged the pump and easier to pick up the left overs

Another type of leaves that Tilapia eat is Tapioca leaves which is  also being use for catfish.

Duck weed is popular, but Tapioca, Kangkong and Sambung Nyawa are easier to cultivate here.

Siphon haven't give me any problem, sometimes I forgot that they are there.


Updates - 030510


After 24 hours, all leaves being strip off the branches.

That's more of it where it comes from... 

That's all for now.