I have decided to try growing all my own food. There are plenty of reasons why Im doing this, but what follows is the documentation of how I do it (or how I almost do it... or how I completely fail to do it).
Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. Water will flow from the 275 gallon fish tank to three grow beds. The grow beds will contain plants growing in 3/4" gravel. Naturally occurring bacteria will inhabit the gravel, turning ammonia from the fish into nitrites and nitrates which are edible for the plants (ammonia is not). As the plants absorb these nutrients, they are also cleaning the water for the fish. The only input into a balanced aquaponics system is whatever you feed the fish.
It uses 90% less water than traditional farming, and you end up with organic fish and vegetables.
Below are pictures of the greenhouse and aquaponics system coming together:
Greenhouse frame going up. I used 3/4" pvc for the hoops.
Janky door frame seems stable enough.
9x15
I had to cut these containers up to make the grow beds. Me cutting through metal. You know, manly stuff.
And suddenly... grow beds. The tank on the ground is a sump (water hangs out here before it is pumped back to fish tank).
Painted, to prevent algae.
Im never hauling gravel again.
Oops, didnt get enough gravel. Had to go back to the gravel store. Also, look! Theres plants in there!
I bought a bunch of starts from around the corner: chard, kale, a few varieties of lettuce, broccoli, bok choi, sorrel, and lavender.
There are no fish in the system yet because I have to attract beneficial bacteria before its safe for them by adding ammonia periodically. Fish, and pictures of the fish, coming in the next couple weeks.
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