Barrel-ponics, Hydroponics and Aquaponics

gettinaclue

gettinaclue

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I have been looking into this quite a bit lately and would like some of your practical feedback. What sort of system do you have? The drawbacks and advantages of your set up, mistakes you have made - decisions that have really worked out well for you. What direction you would like to go in, etc.

I really want to hear about you and your situation. Please share!
 
I had a basic aquaponics set up a few years ago and used channel catfish and crawfish in my system. One of my mistakes was right at the beginning when I didn't wash the media before putting it into my system. I originally tried gravel, but ended up switching to the expanded clay balls as it seemed to have more surface area for the bacteria.

Another mistake was not providing some type of back-up power for it. We had an extended power outage, and I ended up running to the local sporting goods and buying several battery live bait aerators that ran on D cells.

Even though the system was viable and produced fairly well, I took it down to use the outbuilding for other purposes. Had I had a greenhouse, or a dedicated area, I would probably be still have the setup going.
 
That is exactly what I'm thinking of doing.

There is a guy here locally that catches blue catfish and I'll probably be getting my fish from him.

My biggest problem is lack of greenhouse (obviously), but clicked on a link here and found a site to build one out of some 2x4's, PVC, staples, and some plastic.

That is very doable for my budget - in comparison with an actual greenhouse.

I'm really excited about trying this out, but want to try and get around some mistakes - maybe reduce the learning curve abit.

Any advice you have to offer would be very welcome, no matter how small.

Anyone else have something to share?
 
I use plants to filter my pond. I grow peppers, strawberries, ground cherries and basil.
 
We have an aquaponices system right now. It produces very well. We have catfish, bass and crappie.

gettinaclue, that is exactly how we build our greenhouse because to actually buy a kit or ready made one is really expensive.

Mistakes were we started with kiddie pools just to test the waters. They did great but when we decided to expand, the pools were too flimsy and it wasn't easy to reach the plants on the far side of the pool.

Put your grow beds low! We initally put our beds about waist level and when the plants started growing, they really took off and things like corn and any vining plants just didn't have enough room to go up. With things low, you have the head room and you can put a trellis up for the vining plants.

Since we have two systems, one is low and the other is waist level for things like lettuce, peppers, chives, etc.

The clay balls are truly the way to go. Look on Craigslist to get them cheap. We cut plastic barrels in half to use as grow beds. To cut down the usage and cost of so many clay balls, we fill the bottom of the beds with washed gravel and then put the clay balls on top to plant in. The gravel helps to stabize the barrels and the clay balls are easy to plant in and harvest from.

It has been a few months since you posted on this thread, how are things going for you?
 
WF, what sort of fish are in your pond?
Click to expand...
Right now, none due to a hungry duck and an unlocked duck pen :D

But I have had gold fish and rosy minnows. I like the rosie's better because they do reproduce and excess can then be feed to the ducks. I also grow duckweed on purpose for the same reason.

I was able to get quite a lot of free food out of the pond this year before hubby accidentally killed all my fish by letting the chemically treated hot tub drain in to it. After I fixed the water and got new fish, there was the escape and the ducks finished off everything, so I am letting the pond sit now. I will do it all again next spring.

Some of the guilty pond destroyers. Good thing they are so cute!!!
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Here is the pond before hubby poisoned it...
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When I first set up the pond the ducks actually had free access to it.
1003467a.jpg


I just fenced off the plants and the filter...
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The reason I don't do this anymore is because a hawk found us and killed 2 of my ducks. I had to move them to a covered pen. Now I use the pond to make them food and me food too.
 
I do have a hydroponics system but the mistake here i made is that the Aquaponics system i didn't created. Both of this system running parallel gives you the best results so if possible than create them both.
 
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