First Aquaponics Project 2/12/15. Update #4

So I've become a bit of a sluggard in my updates, but I do have an excuse for that and whether it is a good one is up to your judgment.  Since my last update my veg in the grow bed has taken off quite a bit.  It's really amazing once the beneficial bacteria sets in and converts the ammonia to nitrites and then nitrates for the plants to filter out and consume as nutrients.  What I've noted is that it takes roughly 6 weeks or so for the bacteria to properly establish itself, but once they do the breakdown of ammonia is much more efficient thus resulting in faster plant growth.  Anyways, I'll let the pictures do the talking as I am not adept at the moment in swaying you lovely readers with my words.

~~~~Veg presently in my growbed~~~~

Spinach (Bloomsdale Long Standing), Lettuce (Black Seeded Simpson), Radish (Early Scarlet Globe), Mesclun (Baby Greens Moisture), Chinese Red Shallots, Kelsae Sweet Giant Onion, こまつな (Komatsuna)

2/9/15

My veg have taken off at this point.  Since taking this photo the veg have grown even more. 

The lettuce are quite respectable now.

 This particular one was transplanted approximately 2 weeks ago, and you can definitely see that it is much smaller than the other ones.  Before I had transplanted it this lettuce was the same size as the largest ones in my growbed.  The reason for the stunted growth is due to root reestablishment from the root loss it suffered when I moved it from its original location.

Me Radishes and Mesclun are looking very nice.

Kelsae Sweet Giant Onion

The こまつな (Komatsuna) sprouted!  There are a lot more currently.

The largest Tilpia in the pond.  It's not impressive in size, but considering that I've only had these fish for roughly 2 weeks it's grown 2-3cm.  Not bad.

 American sized gut!  lol!

First harvest!  I butchered all my red shallot chives as they were beginning to wither.  More have grown since then.  

First Aquaponics Project 1/30/15. Update #3

Third update for my first attempt at aquaponics.  Initially when I started the system the beneficial bacteria was slow to develop so the break down of ammonia in the system was not quick nor efficient thus, plant growth was not as quick as I'd hope for.

It's been roughly 5 weeks since the start of my system.  During these past 2 weeks was when the growth of plants took off, and what I've noticed is that once a veg sprout reaches about an inch (2.5cm) is when it begins to grow quickly.  In the following pictures you'll see what I mean.

1/28/15

 

  My grow bed is looking pretty good.  

Types of Veggies in the grow bed

菜心 (Choy Sum), Spinach (Bloomsdale Long Standing), Lettuce (Black Seeded Simpson), Radish (Early Scarlet Globe), Mesclun (Baby Greens Moisture), Chinese Red Shallots, Kelsae Sweet Giant Onion (I'm not sure if this is the correct species)

1/28/15

On this day I made a little trip to North county to pick up some Tilapia from a gardener.  While there, I chatted with this gardener for a good 20 minutes sharing our passion for gardening and stories.  During our chat I commented on his chickens and how organic eggs were better tasting, of course I was talking purely from a subjective point of view.  Noting this, he offered me two eggs and other various goodies as I took a tour of his beautiful homestead.  I had eggs and Bok Choy for breakfast the very next day, and if you have never tried organic eggs I would highly recommend it!  They're very creamy.

 

 20 Tilapia fingerlings and my feeders

 World's largest onion!  I believe it's Kelsae Sweet Giant Onion.

 

14 days old. My Shallots are growing fast in this pic.

 Spinach and Lettuce are looking great as well

 Choy Sum is a bit yellow. 

 Radish sprouts and Mesclun

 Radish

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During the week I was browsing online for some different types of veg to grow, and fortunately I discovered this super mustard green known as こまつな (Komatsuna).  It's supposed to be extremely high in Vitamin A, C; high in Calicum, Iron, Vitamin B-6, and Manganese.  I've yet to plant these as my grow bed is becoming crowded.

1/28/15

Everything is getting bigger!

Radish

 

Radish and Mesclun

 

More Choy Sum sprouted

 

 

I'll be honest, I pinched off a leaf and tried my Spinach.  It has a nutty after taste.

 

 

The shallots are looking great.  The Kelsae onions are hanging in there.  

 

I'm still not sure if this is a strawberry

I was surprised to find that one of my 白通菜 (White Ipomoea) actually sprouted!  It's not doing too well, but I'm staying hopeful.  

 My grow bed has been attracting a lot of bees recently.  It's not a bad thing though since they can help pollinate any flowering plants in the future.  I just have to be careful to not get stung.

First Aquaponics Project 1/15/15. Update #2

Hello again.  In my last post I did not formally post a picture of my system.  Well, here's a picture to give you a glimpse of my simple but functional system.

*My system was completed and running on 12/21/14.

My simple Aquaponics design is, and again, a 80 gallon pond equipped with a 50 gallon 13" tall grow bed.  In the grow bed I have roughly 5" of lava rock and 7" of pea gravel.  To my dismay I discovered today while browsing online that gravel between 3/4"-1" is preferred for the grow media.  My gravel ranges between 1/2"-3/4", not ideal, but doable.  Knowing this though, I sure as hell will not remove 3.5 cubic feet of gravel and do who knows what with it!  :)  As far as I'm concerned though, my system is working right now.  The veg is growing, the stronger and healthier fish are hanging in there, and my water quality is looking good. 





Getting back on track, my grow bed is equipped with a bell siphon (auto siphon). The stand pipe of the bell siphon is 10" tall and 1" in diameter, while the bell housing is 2" in diameter and roughly 12" tall.  Surrounding bell siphon is a large PVC pipe that acts as a protective cage, roughly 6" in diameter and 13" tall.

My flood time for the bed is roughly 7 minutes while the drain is around 1.5 minutes.  They're short time frames, but it's working right now as far as I can see.

Update #2

12/23/14- planted 2 rows of 白通菜 (White Ipomoea), 1 row of
菜心 (Choy Sum), 1 row of Spinach (Bloomsdale Long Standing), and 1 row of Lettuce (Black Seeded Simpson).

13 Spinach and Lettuce on 1/7/15
17 Spinach and Lettuce on 1/8/15

 1/9/15

 Lettuce

 Spinach

1/11/15

Added 6 shallots.  I'm hoping to harvest the greens from these if they manage to root and thrive.  For now this is merely a test and me screwing around.

1/12/15

The Lettuce is now significantly larger compared to 14 days ago.

The Spinach as well

1/15/15

19 Spinach on 1/15/15
21 Lettuce on 1/15/15

I decided to plant more seeds to have a consistent harvest and to keep my system in balance.  Added 1 row of scarlet globe radish was planted,  1 row of Mesclun (baby green mix), and more seeds back to the 菜心 (Choy Sum) row.  The
白通菜 (White Ipomoea) row was scraped and as I did that the seeds I dug up were beginning to rot.  Apparently, this type of vegetable seed does best in the warmer months.  That was a poor decision on my behalf. 

While separating the grow media I realized the supposed 菜心 Choy Sum that I had previously identified was actually a lettuce.  That was a buzz kill for me.  Fortunately, after removing the hermit lettuce I noticed a pair of familiar green leaves.  It was in fact a 菜心 Choy Sum!  Stoked!

This species of vegetable has been causing all kinds of misery for me, but it looks like the fruits (or should it be vegetable?) of my labor have finally begun to pay off.  lol hopefully I don't have to wait too long for this tasty veg to mature.   
More pics to come in the coming weeks.  The veg are growing much faster now due to warmer weather, consistent sunlight, and increased nitrite levels. 

First Aquaponics Project 1/5/15. Update #1

Converted my long time goldfish pond into a small scale aquaponics system.  It was completed on 12/21/14. 

Pond: 80 gallons Max Cap.
Grow bed: 50 gallon horse trough
Grow media: 5" of lava rock and 7" of pea gravel

Fish: Fifteen 1-2" common goldfish

Pump: est. 400gal/hr

12/23/14- planted 2 rows of 白通菜 (White Ipomoea), 1 row of
菜心 (Choy Sum), 1 row of Spinach (Bloomsdale Long Standing), and 1 row of Lettuce (Black Seeded Simpson).
  
It took 9 days for the first seed to sprout.  Normally this would not happen, but there was a cold front that blew in with air temperatures at high 50s F daytime and high 30s F nighttime. The weather now is warmer at mid 70s F daytime and low 50s nighttime.  I'm looking forward to some rapid growth now!!!  
 

Lettuce sprouts.  First one came up on 1/1/15. 

Spinach sprouts.  First one came up on 1/2/15

 

菜心 (Choy Sum) came up today 1/5/15