New Raft Aquaponics System at Vancouver Island University
The latest aquaponics system contructed in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at Vancouver Island University (http://www.viu.ca/fisheries). Kirsti expl…
13 Responses to New Raft Aquaponics System at Vancouver Island University
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It’d be interesting to compare the two week growth from this raft system to plants from different set-ups
greenfish13
July 30, 2013 at 9:48 am
Two problems here. 1:Your system is too concerned with sterility.Remember aquaponics is about building an artificial ecosystem not just two crosslinked monocultures. In this vein u should be promoting algae which will help by adding 02 to the fish tanks 4 u. 2: The design is too complicated. Why have a whole tank just for seperating wastes when they naturally float to the bottom anyway? Why have the nitrifying bacteria in their own compartment when they will gladly work alongside plants?
madscirat
July 30, 2013 at 10:25 am
I wish the audio was better I know it was because of a cheap camera and a cement room and no external mic.
Otherwise she is a very good speaker and cute as well.
for the organics people I wonder what kind of chemicals break down and leach out of the styrofoam that is floating in the water?
copefarms
July 30, 2013 at 10:48 am
Just a comment on the algae growth. I understand that you wouldn’t want the system to become clogged, but I think you should look at algae as an asset rather than a problem. Algae is the fastest growing “plant” in the world and converts sunlight into tangible energy at a very fast rate. This energy could go into your system as a food source or “buffer”. Blocking any kind of light out of your system is counter productive, especially when using that expensive HID light 😉 keep up the good work
mopieo
July 30, 2013 at 11:04 am
what other types of fish/aquatic life can be raised efficiently in this type of system?
YouMockMe
July 30, 2013 at 11:10 am
Oops – meant Kirsti, not Kristi (fingers got ahead of me). Sorry ’bout that!
MarineHarvestCanada
July 30, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Good job Kristi – Hey, is that you that is on the VIU television commercial? (the person that opens the door that enters on to the beach).
MarineHarvestCanada
July 30, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Ammonia is taken up to some degree by the plants but a majority of the nitrogen needed by the plants is taken up after bateria break down the ammonia to nitrite and then other bacteria break the nitrite into nitrate.
FishAquaMalaspina
July 30, 2013 at 1:15 pm
yes whatever you add to the system goes throughout the system. The fish are not negatively impacted by the level of chelated iron in the revive solution. We keep the iron levels at a constant 2-3mg/l.
FishAquaMalaspina
July 30, 2013 at 2:08 pm
Yes indeed! This is a raft system which by definition needs a volume of water underneath the styro at all times to “float the vegetables”. Underneath the styrofoam are 4 airstones (in each grow bed) which keeps dissolved oxygen level high so the plants thrive.
FishAquaMalaspina
July 30, 2013 at 2:37 pm
the water should be running all the time????
guillermo fuentes
July 30, 2013 at 2:52 pm
Great video.Tanks for sharing
Timbak123456789
July 30, 2013 at 3:20 pm
that is a very cool concept I have read about these systems from a supplier called aquatech-eco or something like that,but to see it working that is AWESOME!! keep up the great work..
WPM31
July 30, 2013 at 4:07 pm