planted over-tank filtration

[ccole]

:dk:what difficulty with house plants?
maybe you should write a book yoda :yes:

 

[jessonthenet]

see post below

 

[jessonthenet]

The concepts being talked about aren't theoretical in the least but are in practical use everyday. See aquaponics as I mentioned previously. Aquaponics is the practice of raising fish and plants together typically for food production. Its not at all a terribly difficult thing to do and the same concepts that we deal with in aquarum keeping apply to aquaponics. If you're used to growing aquarium plants the requirements are similar, just that your plants are grown in a remote grow bed rather than the aquarium and you're dealing with terrestrial plants vice aquatic plants. The biggest difference is that terrrestrial plants require oxygen at the root zone or you could literally drown the plant.

The difficulty that you encounter with growing houseplants, I think, is related to the other posts I made regarding light levels. Indoor light levels are often greatly overestimated due to the human eye's ability to resolve light. With the aquatic plants its probably not as much of an issue simply because you know that you need aquarium lights to grow aquatic plants.

Last post as i think maybe posts are confusing or giving the wrong impression.

I know the ideas are not theoretical and the link shows it can be put into practice in a home environment(I am aware of it used on large scales) but I think for myself if being used in the home it would have to be worth while and I would have to be persuaded a little more to the potential benefits if I was to try and recreate that in my home.

How worthwhile would it be? Is there a more aesthetically pleasing version? If I was to say want "organic veg" then in a home environment how much could you really produce? Is there going to be more equipment than actual tank or fish? What scale are we talking about here? Is it like a trio of lettuce and enough sewerage pipe to plumb a 3 bed house? if you know what I mean?

I get confused myself and have difficulty getting my point across. I am not 100% against it just not 100% convinced yet that is all.


edit:

This is a link which to my eye makes all of it more understandable and potentially more aesthetically pleasing and practical. Other pics and drawings were not quite showing what I needed to see.

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/component/content/article/4/54-basics.html

I think when I said a tray and use of a hose which could be an external adapted so you could have the plants in planters outside. I think having a pond for this project would be a great advantage if serious about producing enough veg. I f it was just a little window box type size thing with some lettuce then above the tank would be fine providing you can supply enough light. Only thing is how many nutrients will be available for what scale. I don't doubt the putting the system together just what works effectively.

 

[Derek]

What plants you going to be using? There are a lot of aquatic plants which can be grown emersed just need to keep the humidity up.

 

[ccole]

I know the ideas are not theoretical and the link shows it can be put into practice in a home environment(I am aware of it used on large scales) but I think for myself if being used in the home it would have to be worth while and I would have to be persuaded a little more to the potential benefits if I was to try and recreate that in my home.

I think your stand point is totally understandable. I have only done about16 hours of research. The concept is easy fish+poo=organic plants/veg=better water=better fish..

In regards to theory
Theory= "a particular conception or view of something to be done or of the method of doing it; a system of rules or principles: conflicting theories of how children best learn to read. "

i think maybe Lorne with his best intention wants to be totally accurate. So for Lorne maybe we should from now on refer to this as the dicussion of aquaponics hypothesis. (o lala)

which is;
1.a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
2.
a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.
3.
the antecedent of a conditional proposition.

or we could just say theory, or maybe hold a poll on the subject and totally get off the point :dk::blink:



How worthwhile would it be? Is there a more aesthetically pleasing version? If I was to say want "organic veg" then in a home environment how much could you really produce?

I totally got what you ment by pretty, i think sometimes people want to play the big i am and make you feel like you are smaller than them by using bigger words. So dont worry about saying pretty- is the same thing just more to the point :yes:

The amount that can be produced is as big or as small as you like- i am looking at about 18- 36 lettices or simulare producting..i havent decided yet what exact plants as i am still researching.

Is there going to be more equipment than actual tank or fish? What scale are we talking about here? Is it like a trio of lettuce and enough sewerage pipe to plumb a 3 bed house? if you know what I mean?

lol- again totally with you and this is one of my main concerns. During last night and today i have bought a rack and am going to have a 90ltr tank to experiment with. I have family contact that are able to give me gutting and all the bits i need except aquatic equiptment (even the labour!) so recycling is important to me. If i was going to pay out for all the bits , i might as well go out and pay for 36 lettices every 3 months instead!:lol:

The amount of piping would be about 4 ft of pipe spilt into two 2 foot pieces with 90o connecters to form a circle. 1 pipe in and one pipe out. So not much really.

The idea get complicated when we start to think about lighting etc just in terms of if it is really saving/helping anything.Thats why i want to try just using the lights i have. If not I was thinking of taking the light off the tank and replacing that with one above the plants. Thus not using anymor elctric than i would normally.

I think in terms of fish to plants is about the same- if we forget about how meny fish we SHOULD put in a tank, you can put about 3x the amount in compared to NORMAL filtration.

I get confused myself and have difficulty getting my point across. I am not 100% against it just not 100% convinced yet that is all.

I see where you are coming from- the thread was to discuss how to impliment the idea so the points youu bring up are 100% and are helping me to make choices. Looking at things straight forward is just as important as talking indepth theory. :yes:

edit:

I think when I said a tray and use of a hose which could be an external adapted so you could have the plants in planters outside. I think having a pond for this project would be a great advantage if serious about producing enough veg.

Agreed. I didnt want to go outside because it wouldn't help the fish i have which is my first concern. This is more important than what i grow. The second reason for not going outside is that i dont have any way/ dont know anyway of getting power out there? (any ideas welcome...but i know i know if i do want to go ahead i should concult a electrician)

been a plesure Jess,
respect:yes:

 

[Lornek8]

Last post as i think maybe posts are confusing or giving the wrong impression.

I know the ideas are not theoretical and the link shows it can be put into practice in a home environment(I am aware of it used on large scales) but I think for myself if being used in the home it would have to be worth while and I would have to be persuaded a little more to the potential benefits if I was to try and recreate that in my home.

How worthwhile would it be? Is there a more aesthetically pleasing version? If I was to say want "organic veg" then in a home environment how much could you really produce? Is there going to be more equipment than actual tank or fish? What scale are we talking about here? Is it like a trio of lettuce and enough sewerage pipe to plumb a 3 bed house? if you know what I mean?

I get confused myself and have difficulty getting my point across. I am not 100% against it just not 100% convinced yet that is all.


edit:

This is a link which to my eye makes all of it more understandable and potentially more aesthetically pleasing and practical. Other pics and drawings were not quite showing what I needed to see.

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/component/content/article/4/54-basics.html

I think when I said a tray and use of a hose which could be an external adapted so you could have the plants in planters outside. I think having a pond for this project would be a great advantage if serious about producing enough veg. I f it was just a little window box type size thing with some lettuce then above the tank would be fine providing you can supply enough light. Only thing is how many nutrients will be available for what scale. I don't doubt the putting the system together just what works effectively.

Totally see where you're coming from. My previous post wasn't meant to downplay your concerns as they are legitimate and ones that I too have thought about in regards to this thread. It was more to point out that the concepts have been proven and that the issue you speak if can indeed be addressed by adapting what has been/is currently in practice. I too personally question the feasibility of the project as viewed by the op but as they seem intent to try I hope to provide what tools I can to help them along. Sorry if my post and intentions were not conveyed well.

 

[Lornek8]

i think maybe Lorne with his best intention wants to be totally accurate. So for Lorne maybe we should from now on refer to this as the dicussion of aquaponics hypothesis. (o lala)

which is;
1.a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
2.
a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.
3.
the antecedent of a conditional proposition.

or we could just say theory, or maybe hold a poll on the subject and totally get off the point :dk::blink:
[/B]

Not sure what this is all about? If it refers to me pointing out that this is aquaponics or the same concept, I really don't care what you call your project. Me refering to it as aquaponics is simply to guide those that don't see it towards a place where the work has already been done and prinicples proven. The conditions you are using might be different and may require some adaptation by there really is no sense in reinventing the wheel.

Like I said in my response to Jess, I am not convinced that the direction you are heading is achievable. I can see where the original post from Loaches.com might work on a small scale with limited plants but producing food veggies in the indoor environment without supplemental light using a display aquarium is a lofty goal. As you are risking nothing but time, money & effort, which is your choice, I see no problem in trying to provide what insight I might to guide you along. But then, hey, there are always skepics and naysayers. If you can make it work then i'll gladly eat crow and you can write up an article about it.