The Alpha Beta Project - A Miniature Aquaponic Farm

Welcome to the Alpha Beta Project

As a quick "how we got here", I will paste a post from another thread...

But in short, this is a miniature aquaponic farm... I am growing veggies on top, DWC style, and there is a Beta fish living in the water, The Alpha Beta...

I will feed him well, and his job is to shit a lot, so the roots can use those nutrients, in turn cleaning the water for Alpha Beta...

I am sure I will have to clean the tank and change the water often, but I am very curious about the potential... veggies and fish... that is a meal...!!!

No don't worry I am not going to eat the Alpha Beta...!?!?!

But I am thinking for the future...

So here is the post that started it all...

Jou said:

I was thinking of some type of Water Culture system...

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GypsyBush said:

So you are going to laugh at me now... I am still laughing at myself...

I went by a garage sale and saw one of those single fish aquariums, and for $3 I took it home, with a little light/hood and an airpump...

Well, let's see what I come up with next... LOL...

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camaro630hp said:

i lov all the home made thangs u do good shit

i have herd u can put fish in the water and u will never half 2 use nuts

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GypsyBush said:

REALLY????

I thought about getting a Beta in there...

Now I guess I have to...LOL

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GypsyBush said:

Fun Eh?!?!?!? I'm on my way to PETCO.... LOL....

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GypsyBush said:

Well, can you spot the domino effect...???

So I did go to PETCO and I did get a Beta... a male crown tail beta I have named Alpha Beta...LOL

So I guess I now have an Aquaponics set-up... though I have no intention of eating the fish...

Please do tell me what you think...

I am not sure if you can see from the pictures, but I have Arugula growing at the bottom of the aquarium, UNDER WATER...!!!

I am not sure how that is going to work out when it is time to clean the tank... I guess I will have to remove pebble by pebble to free the roots..!?!?!???

Click to expand...

I will update often... so c'mon in... pull up a chair and hang out for a while... there oughta be some unusual stuff happening here... in the "water farm"...

... I am STILL laughing at myself.....

But I am having fun... can't beat that...

Well, I'll be seeing you around... here .. and there...

Till then...

Be Well...

Gypsy...

This is golden!

I love the idea! Keep the pics and info coming!

Umm,

Wow That's simply amazing Gypsy. Fantastic idea you have there.. follows the same principles as a planted aquarium.. your just taking it to the next level. I used to be a huge "Fish Nerd" so I'm very well versed in fish, but also kinda knowledgeable in Aquarium chemistry, so if you need anything shoot me a pm buddy

Again, looks incredible and I hope it goes very well !!
-Tdot

Schmidty said:

This is golden!

I love the idea! Keep the pics and info coming!

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Well, Thanks Schmidty...! and welcome to the water farm...!!!

I will be updating often...

FarmingToronto said:

Umm,
Wow That's simply amazing Gypsy. Fantastic idea you have there..
... so if you need anything ...
... I hope it goes very well !!
-Tdot

Click to expand...

Thanks FT... I'll be picking your brain about the fish for sure...

First Update

This is the second day for Alpha Beta (the fish) in his new home...

He is still alive...!!!

I don't know much about Betas, but he does not seem particularly impressed by the bubbles coming from the bottom...

He does seem to like swimming amongst the roots...

I'll get some pictures posted a little later...

Cheers...

Gypsy...

that's awesome! very cool idea. props to you bro!

In another post...

camaro630hp said:

use a few gold fish u need more than 1 fish in the tank
it will work i have seen it work i will try 2 find the link 2 the vid

Click to expand...

Yeah I figured one fish is not much, but this small set up is just for my seedlings, which would normally just be in tap water...

But I am looking into getting one or two Bamboo Shrimp, to clean up after Alpha.... you know, the little uneaten food bits...

Sorry for moving the thread over here Camaro... I'll leave the other one for the school project...

See ya!!!

Gypsy...

GypsyBush said:

In another post...

camaro630hp said:

use a few gold fish u need more than 1 fish in the tank
it will work i have seen it work i will try 2 find the link 2 the vid

Click to expand...

Yeah I figured one fish is not much, but this small set up is just for my seedlings, which would normally just be in tap water...

But I am looking into getting one or two Bamboo Shrimp, to clean up after Alpha.... you know, the little uneaten food bits...

Sorry for moving the thread over here Camaro... I'll leave the other one for the school project...

See ya!!!

Gypsy...

Click to expand...

So, uh yeah... over here dude...lol

The Alpha Beta Project - A Miniature Aquaponic Farm

Hahahaha!!!!!

its allgood
b easy and good luck

GypsyBush said:

In another post...



Yeah I figured one fish is not much, but this small set up is just for my seedlings, which would normally just be in tap water...

But I am looking into getting one or two Bamboo Shrimp, to clean up after Alpha.... you know, the little uneaten food bits...

Sorry for moving the thread over here Camaro... I'll leave the other one for the school project...

See ya!!!

Gypsy...

Click to expand...

Very nice! +rep

diggitydank420 said:

Very nice! +rep

Click to expand...

Thanks man...

So for an update...

Alpha, the Beta is doing well... and has adjusted to his new home...

He has shown no signs of eating or tearing the roots, though he does enjoy hiding behind the longer ones...

So the plant part of the project is doing very well... I have moved 3 of the "pods" into the next bigger DWC set-up...

The roots were touching the ornaments on the bottom, and I had to make room for the next batch of seeds...

I put some really really really small seeds on the shoelace sprouter/cloner and after a few days, this green fuzz appeared... well the fuzz is a bunch of seedlings, really really really small ones... so I grabbed a pair of tweezers and carefully transplanted from shoe lace to "foam pod"...

Things are well at the water farm... Alpha seems happy and the first batch of seedlings (which were not started here) is out the door and on to bigger things...

Well, I will leave you guys with some more pictures...

And before anyone says anything... yes I know the water is starting to get cloudy... I want to know how bad and how fast things get ... just bear with me... but let's keep in mind that the fish's job is to fertilize the water, so if I change the water at the first sign of cloudiness, I might as well get rid of the fish...

Anyway... here we go...

Be Well...

Gypsy...

Oh, and I just took the dying clone that never rooted from the AG, and I will try out the water farm's abilities as a nursery...
We'll see what happens...

Peace...


"Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them." - A. Einstein...

I first heard about aquaponics when reading about a farm in Missouri, near where I lived. They don't mix the fish and plants, but use the fish water to irrigate the hydro system. Here's their site:

S & S Aqua Farm Bioponics System

Good luck with your beta testing.

Hey Potroast...
Thanks for dropping by...

So... yeah... I have seen (on the net) several types of systems...

One set-up had Koy in a tank and Lettuce on a float, in the same tank... (see picture)...

This is a fun project... and it will help in future endeavors...

Your comments and input are greatly appreciated...

Feel free to drop by anytime... the water farm is always open...lol...

Till next time...

Be Well...

Gypsy...

Freakin' crazy man... I definitely want to do something like this, having that as a seed starter is great. Perhaps just a tad bigger so I can fit 3-4 fish.

SocataSmoker said:

Freakin' crazy man... I definitely want to do something like this, having that as a seed starter is great. Perhaps just a tad bigger so I can fit 3-4 fish.

Click to expand...

Thanks man... You've been great help...

So Yeah... we'll see how well it all works... but so far, I'm loving it...

New update coming soon... so, stay tuned...

Gypsy...

UPDATE

So I am pretty amazed by the whole thing... doing a lot of reading on edible fish culture... all very very interesting...

I wanted a bit more room, so I went out and got a second 1 gallon tank... and a second beta... I promptly named him Beta Beta...

I figured that they could use some company (or dinner, depending on their temperament), so I also brought home a pair of Bamboo Shrimp...

So far, there have been a few nips here and there, but I think thei will be ok... and just stay out of each other's way (if that is actually possible in a 1 gallon tank)...

No names for the shrimp yet, I want to make sure they will not end up inside Alpha or Beta before I call them residents instead of food...

They are really cool and should help a lot with the clean up job...
They have these special "filtering claws" that strain the water as it flows by... it's really neat to watch them eat... ...

One of them has figured out that he can hang out upside down on the foam pods, amongst the roots... so cool .... lol...

Alpha's tank has 2 bagseedlings, 2 attempt rescues from a failed clone, chives starting to sprout, peppermint starting to sprout, and 2 unknowns starting as well... (the unknowns are "kitchen" herbs, but unidentified)

Beta's tank got a seed hatcher, where I placed 3 "Juicy Fruit" seeds and 3 "White Widow" seeds... (you know who you are, THANK YOU for the seeds... they will be well cared for)..

I made one big base and cut six "pods" out, in a way that I can slide them back in... you'll see the pics...

Oh, I also switched some of the water in Alpha's tank today... using the "fish water" to replenish the Mini Aeroponic Garden (after double checking the PH) and the other veggies in the DWC bubbler (see previous pics)...

We'll see how that works...

Ok... enough talk... here are some pictures for your entertainment...

Take care...

Gypsy...


"You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." - A. Einstein

very nice update thanks

Well here we are again...

A few more pictures...

And I should say that as a seed germinator, the water farm is great...

In less than 24 hours all 3 Juicy Fruit and all 3 White Widow seeds have cracked open and the tap roots are sticking out...

As roots establish, I keep moving things to the next step, the mini DWC...

Alpha is doing well and loves displaying for Beta... who in turn prances back and forth as if in high heels... lol

I keep a white paper in between the cages, but I let them at it once in a while... it's good exercise and after they work out their aggression and get tired they are usually pretty mellow... which the shrimp love...

Speaking of Shrimp, Bam & Boo have very different personalities...

Bam is always out, swims around and even chases Alpha around sometimes... constantly feeding, has has acquired this orangish brown color...

Boo on the other hand, is very reclusive... always under one of the ornaments... never out when the lights are on... I usually see Boo when I wake up in the middle of the night and turn a light on... I'll see this flash darting across the tank, headed for cover under the ornament...

A bit more on the yellow tone, I have wondered if I have a male and female...????

Well ... tell me what you think...








Cheers...

Gypsy...

I dig the creativness that comes from the herb,oh and what holds your ears apart.

subd. good luck bro make sure them fish don't get a taste for ganja lol.

Rix said:

I dig the creativness that comes from the herb,oh and what holds your ears apart.

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Thanks my Bru... appreciated the kindness...
Oh! and here is a quote for you...lol ...
"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." - A. Einstein E=MC2

AGSteve said:

subd. good luck bro make sure them fish don't get a taste for ganja lol.

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I hear ya... lol

But the fish are carinivorous, and the shrimp only eat the dead roots after a couple of chemical reactions have happened... plants are safe...!!! LOL

Thanks for stopping by guys...

The doors are always open...

Gypsy...