You Might Be a Survivalist (or Prepper) If…

[Vodin]

I don't have the land/space/weather to do Aquaponics full time outside. I am in Colorado so that right there shortens the growing season.

SHTF moment it would be awesome IF
You have power
You have water

The reason I am doing this is to reduce the food budget. Anything healthy, fresh and home grown is a good thing.

This is a tiny setup it rests on a 10'x10' concrete slab in my basement. It is simple a water container, grow bed, air pump, water heater and 2 water pumps. Cost is ~$400 for the set up.

I don't mind setting up a thread. Helo does the same thing I do but he is on a much bigger scale. I am just a compacted mode.

[Sniper-T]

That is what I am interested in, I cannot do Helo's scale based on our winters, but may be able to do a modification of yours in my 4' high crawlspace under the house, by excavating a hole for the pond, using a soft liner, and then either building a rack for the plants or suspending something for the joists.

[helomech]

You can do aquaponics as small or as large as you want. The advantage to a larger system is that it is more stable. Been thinking about doing a small one in the house on my 55 gallon aquarium for spices and such.

[Sniper-T]

I have the room to do a large scale system, but not the weather. Whatever I saved in food costs would be trumped for heating. 5 months of frozen pond do not a happy tilapia make. So, yeah, it would have to be indoors. And I don't really have a place to put a big aquarium, so it might have to be a dig in in the crawl space (If feasible)

[Vodin]

Sniper-T here are the parameters for AP Fish.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Vodin]

4' crawl space. I can work with.

1> Get a stock tank (I recommend)
Reason: Easy to move when empty. Less effort placing. Harder to puncture. It lasts longer than liner.
2> Electrical outlets separate circuit (GFI circuitry)
3>You need lighting. Use CFL or LED
Reason Power usage and less heat.
3>Water Pumps
Fish need oxygenated water
4>Water Pumps
Water needs to move
5>Heater
Need a certain water temp

[helomech]

Heating a aquaponics system is a bad idea outside. The grow beds work like giant radiators and bring the water temp to the air temp very fast. It is much easier to heat the room than the water. I gave up on tilapia until I get my big green house built and can heat the air instead of the water.

[Vodin]

Water Temp is key.

What can effect it?

Ground, Sun, Air and weather.

Keep this in mind when you place your tank. If it sits on concrete the concrete will leach into your water. Rest it on wood.

Water ingredients 1st find out what is added to your tap water. You would be surprised Chloramine is starting to be put into drinking water. Chloramine kills fish I am still researching how to remove it. Chlorine is a given just let it sit and it will escapes over a 24 hour period.

[Sniper-T]

Rigid isn't feasible... I only have a 2' square hatch for access, so it'll have to be an EPDM liner.

Already have lighting and electrical in place. Can add to it if necessary.

The rest is all available. Need to look into things like auto fish feeders...

[Vodin]

Helo, I have been pondering doing this for water temp for the fish..
http://growyourowngroceries.org/thin...he-greenhouse/