Aquaponics Plumbing Problems

Just when you think you have the plumbing in your aquaponics system is running right.

 

Not all plumbing problems can be avoided, but it`s a good idea to start with good quality parts.

Aquaponics Plumbing Kits 

Glenn Martinez demo at Greenleaf Farm

Glenn Martinez of Olomana Gardens and President of the Hawaii Farmers Union United stayed over on Maui after the Maui Farmers Union United meeting. He set up some aquaponics demonstrations at Bill & Marta Greenleaf's Farm in Kula.
Using Greenleaf Farm's aquaponics system as a working system and Olomana Garden's portable aquaponics systems, Glenn, Natalie Diaz-Cash and Adrian Liu, also with Olomana Gardens, spent a few hours talking to a number of people that took up the open invitation.

In light of holiday spending, severe weather and uncertain economic outlook, maybe a gift this year based on people growing food for themselves.
There are a number of places people can buy gardening gifts.
For a variety of Aquaponics related products, this is a site I am an affiliate for.

Aquaponics Source Gift Certificates.

Improvements to Aquaponics Plumbing

Murray Hallam, one of the leaders in aquaponics, demonstrated these EZ Release Fittings in his videos.
When it comes to plumbing in an aquaponics system, getting your pipe layout right BEFORE gluing is critical. One way to make life a whole lot simpler, is to use the fittings at the crucial points in your system.

Alan Berstein of the Aquaponics Source did a video showing how to use them in a system. A pretty good idea to check these out and have some on hand when building your system or to retrofit and existing system.

  Alan Demonstrates EZ Release Fittings

Pass The Mayo Please!

I really like using mayonnaise in sandwiches, dips, and as coatings with chicken and fish.

I'm somewhat of a fanatic about the taste of coconut. Also knowing that it's one of the healthiest foods to use in it's many forms, I was searching the recipes online and found this video.

I usually go back and forth between "normal" mayonnaise and veganaise.

I would love to hear from anyone that tries this recipe. Perhaps your own variations to it too.

Never eat the mayonnaise while still in the blender.....

Aquaponics in every home

A year ago, I jumped into aquaponics after being given a lettuce plant that was grown in an aquaponics system.

Aquaponic Lettuce

Not knowing much about aquaponics, I even mistakenly had this picture saved under hydroponics.
For those that don't know the difference. aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (raising plants in water without soil).

My lettuce became a center piece arrangement in my kitchen. Each day, I looked at that lettuce, I was spurred on to the internet and began researching aquaponics.

The Lettuce in it's new Aquaponics home

 Without dragging this post out too far. My lettuce gift, turned into a year long adventure into aquaponics that has taken me to the point of having multiple types of system spread between my home and a friends home. A lot of the knowledge, like many others in aquaponics, was learned through trial and error. From information read about or seen, mostly on the internet.

A new home for my First and Second Aquaponics Systems

 

First Aquaponics with Plants

 Eventually, I came across what many would think of a must have book for this type of aquaponics systems. It was the Aquaponics Gardening book by  Sylvia Bernstein.
Get a copy today!

Second Aquaponics System Startup

With a copy of Aquaponics Gardening always handy, I continued working on my systems and began joining a number of forums online. There are about 5 or 6 forums spread around from Australia to the US that are quite popular.
Sylvia Bernstein created the Aquaponics Community Forum, which I joined and this led to becoming a member of the Aquaponics Association.

Second Aquaponics System with Plants and Fish

First Aquaponics System Planted

The Aquaponics Source has just announced the addition of Aquaponics Gardening Course.

This online course is based on Sylvia Bernstein`s popular Aquaponic Gardening: A Step by Step Guide to Growing Fish and Vegetables Together.

The online course is discounted through August 2012 and there is a special package that combines the online course, with a free copy of the book. Find it here.

First Aquaponics System Fish Tank View

Greenhouse View of First and Second Aquaponics System

Second Aquaponics System Flourishes

I think many people are attracted to building aquaponics systems for various reasons and it would be great to see them in most yards and even inside homes. Building them from scratch and learning all the ins and outs is fun and almost an addicting part, but I would suggest that anyone even considering it, might want to get Sylvia`s book and even online course to really know what is involved. It can save a lot of time, money and uncertainty in the long run.

New Aquaponics System idea takes shape

I would also suggest that people become a member of a forum. There are a number of them out there. The aquaponics source community forum has over 7000 members at this point and growing, so it's a pretty good one to start with.

My Rack Mount Aquaponics in the Drive way

The Old Jacuzzi becomes a Fish Tank and the latest Aquaponics System

Whether your new to aquaponics or have been into it for awhile, joining the Aquaponics Association would also be a great move. Beyond being a member and it's benefits, I believe that as the world looks for solutions to food and environmental issues, aquaponics is standing out more and more. By being a member of an association for Aquaponics, it gives a much needed voice to the people doing it and tells the politicians, governments, financial and business communities, that aquaponics is a serious way to produce food and here to stay.

Don't have the space outside or just want to enjoy seeing your aquaponics system. Here is the designer AquaBundance system that would compliment any home.