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Episode-2771- Ask Me Anything about Aquaponics

The Survival Podcast Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:12:44 — 16.7MB)

This podcast was from a video that was prompted by a lot of misinformation, confusion and frankly some things that were absolutely factually wrong on our ReGen Ag Facebook page.  I recorded it all the way back in April of 2018 but it is all still relevant today.  The original video version is here, it was before I went keto.  God look how fat I was.

Here are the questions covered in order.

  • What kind of fish do you use? Have you ever tried implementing non-fish creatures like crayfish or scud?
  • I’d like to see the energy calculations. I have a feeling these big aquaponics projects use more energy setting up than they will ever provide?
  • Do you see any reason why using a male and female PVC fitting threaded together and JB Welded through a bed container wouldn’t work just as well as a bulkhead? Have you had any situations where being able to remove your bulkheads has been necessary?
  • Why are so few making it into a profitable enterprise?
  • How many mineral additives do you use? (Iron chelate, potassium, ext…)
  • How to get your wife on board with it?
  • What is the average return on investment?
  • Have you ever performed a brix test and compared a fruit or vegtable grown in soil compared to water?
  • If you are doing wicking beds is it still truly aquaponics?
  • I would like your thoughts on ideas for making a decorative garden.
  • Are there any concerns using the PVC primer and glue from Home Depot or Lowe’s? Is there a food grade alternative?
  • I’m interested in maintenance. Once it’s up and running is it pretty durable? Back up parts, etc.?
  • As a nutrient / water source, could I pump water directly out of my 1 acres farm pond and cycle it back into the pond?
  • If you have an outside system and your fish tanks are outside uncovered. Do you see a problem with getting too much rain and having an overflow and losing nutrient out of your system.
  • Is there a concern with bothering any fish by adding extra nutrients to the beds? Like the tea Jack suggest for keeping away pests?
  • What tests do you perform to make sure the system is and stays balanced? pH, ammonia, or observation only?
  • How do you determine water flow rates for the size and type of bed?
  • If you had to start over again, is there anything you would do differently? I realize you learn and things evolve but just wondering this knowing what you know now?
  • What type of fish do you use? Do you incorporate any other life besides fish? Do different species or fish contribute differently to the system?
  • What food have you grown that you have found that is superior to conventional methods?
  • Does the lava rock in your wicking beds act as the medium that your nitrifying bacteria live in? How deep is the water in your larger wicking beds?
  • How does aquaponics compare to the benefits that symbiotic soil bacteria and fungi give to the plants?
  • Would you recommend a beginner to start with gold fish?
  • Is there a specific genus of worms for aquaponics? Going through some of the old episodes, it was said that worms need it moist but too much and they could drown.
  • What trees work in that system?
  • Is there a way to use the water from a duck bath for aquaponics?
  • Do you do anything to encourage the beneficial microorganisms?
  • How important is water ph for in the tanks, and do you test your water, or is that regulated by the plants?
  • Specifically, what food do you grow in a flood and drain besides leafy greens? It’s my first year with a system and it’s about to get too hot for those pretty soon.
  • Are aquaponics to farming as the flow hive is to beekeeping?

Source of the numbers provided https://www.fmi.org/our-research/supermarket-facts

Resources for today’s show…

 

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Kurtis Daniels
Kurtis Daniels
4 years ago

I enjoyed the content of this episode. Thank you.

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Henry
Henry
4 years ago

Jack, awesome episode. I’ve been doing aquaponics for 8 years now. I use a LOOP SIPHON for my return and my water pump runs non-stop. 9 minutes to fill the grow bed, 3 1/2 minutes to drain. It was a little tricky setting it up at first but, its run flawlessly for years and it’s a much simpler design than a bell siphon. Basically just a rubber hose bent in a loop. I never heard you mention use of a loop siphon, just an FYI. Great show. Thanks for all you do. Henry.

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