cdnmatt
September 30th, 2011, 12:21
Curious, anyone else here interested in aquaponics? If you don't know what it is, just Google it, or go here for a quick example:
[youtube:1adigdgp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS3sej53gx0[/youtube:1adigdgp]
Basically, very minimal startup costs, and the result is a mini eco-system that provides you with an unlimited supply of fresh fish and vegetables. Basically, the fish excrement is pumped up into the grow beds, the bacteria in the grow beds break it down into nitrates, which feed the plants. The bacteria and plants then clean the water, which filter back into the fish tank. All you have to do is feed the fish, and a tiny bit of electricity to pump the water into the grow beds, and to aerate the fish tank. You end up with a nice little cycle where the fish always have clean water, and the plants always have food, and round and round it goes.
Setting up a little test system in my patio now, to see how it goes. If that goes well, we'll setup a larger system in the village to (hopefully) provide the family with fresh fish & veggies indefinitely, for basically free. I know Kim's family is hurting, and I do want to help, but after living here this long, I've more than realized that just giving money doesn't help at all. They never use it wisely, constantly change their minds, every few weeks have a new big plan, etc. So money doesn't help, and I don't give anymore. Maybe 2000 a month, but that's it.
I think a good sized aquaponics setup that will feed 6 - 8 people could definitely help though. Just have to play with my test system, to learn from my mistakes, and make sure I know what I'm doing. Curious though, anyone else into aquaponics? Anyone ever setup a system in Issan before? Maybe for their Thai BF, or something similar? Seems like an excellent way to help.
[youtube:1adigdgp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS3sej53gx0[/youtube:1adigdgp]
Basically, very minimal startup costs, and the result is a mini eco-system that provides you with an unlimited supply of fresh fish and vegetables. Basically, the fish excrement is pumped up into the grow beds, the bacteria in the grow beds break it down into nitrates, which feed the plants. The bacteria and plants then clean the water, which filter back into the fish tank. All you have to do is feed the fish, and a tiny bit of electricity to pump the water into the grow beds, and to aerate the fish tank. You end up with a nice little cycle where the fish always have clean water, and the plants always have food, and round and round it goes.
Setting up a little test system in my patio now, to see how it goes. If that goes well, we'll setup a larger system in the village to (hopefully) provide the family with fresh fish & veggies indefinitely, for basically free. I know Kim's family is hurting, and I do want to help, but after living here this long, I've more than realized that just giving money doesn't help at all. They never use it wisely, constantly change their minds, every few weeks have a new big plan, etc. So money doesn't help, and I don't give anymore. Maybe 2000 a month, but that's it.
I think a good sized aquaponics setup that will feed 6 - 8 people could definitely help though. Just have to play with my test system, to learn from my mistakes, and make sure I know what I'm doing. Curious though, anyone else into aquaponics? Anyone ever setup a system in Issan before? Maybe for their Thai BF, or something similar? Seems like an excellent way to help.