Why All The Rules Over Raising A Few Fish? 

The last post that we placed on this blog raised a few questions within the community along with a few heated words.  For the most part I understand that most people are fed up with all the "cant do, do you have a permit and get all your ducks in a row first." Its a pain and none of us really like fines or the fact we feel our lives are governed by laws. Seriously, I understand these feelings too.

Pointing out to people that each State have their own rules and regulations about raising and keeping fish is a responsible thing to do, especially when you have a community of nearly 14,000 people on Facebook. (None of the people in our community are paid fans, promotional coupon joins or any other way to get likes on the page. Our community is made up of real people with all organic searches who have genuinely joined the page.)

At this point, I feel I have a responsibility to give people the correct information they need, to make informed decisions about keeping and raising fish in their state. I am certainly not here to tell anyone what they can or cannot do and thats definitely NOT the point with aquaponics fish.

Bacteria, Viruses and Parasites

There are different bacterias, parasites and infectious diseases, regarding fish and farming. Mentioning these problems to people is also a responsible thing to do. (This month in the ASC Magazine we highlighted the EWS technology from OriginOil, which can help reduce these issues with aquaculture farms.) It is even possible that wild fish can contract diseases from other people flushing their poor dead goldfish down the toilet or releasing a fish into a local lake. If the fish were sick, that toilet flush could eventually cause the native species to become infected with bacterial problems.

No-one says your fish will have any problems but what if you did buy some fingerlings that were sick would you know what to do to treat them? This is why its a wise decision to check out the breeders credentials first.

NO...we are not trying to frighten you, we are only asking that you consider questioning your fish purchasing sources first. Many breeders have healthy clean fish and these are the people who are usually state board certified, BUT it will only take one under the table seller to make things difficult.

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia is a deadly infectious fish disease. It afflicts over 50 species of freshwater and marine fish in several parts of the northern hemisphere. VHS is caused by the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), different strains of which occur in different regions, and affect different species. This link will direct you to a PDF with more information about the infection.

In the end purchasing any fish for aquaponics, comes down to you. 

It is your aquaponics system, your fish and your responsibility. We have provided what we feel was good researched information for you to take the next step and make better informed decisions. 

We wish you many happy years in raising happy, healthy fish!

Warm Regards

Victoria 

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I have spent several days of flow testing periods trying to figure out how to make my swivel siphon work.

To summarize, I have one main pump to pump the water to 2 separate growbeds. Though my siphon setup is almost identical (meaning they’re within plus minus 1-2 cm of tubing in the siphon) the flowrates which is critical to start the siphon and the flowrates to kill the siphon varies between the two separate beds…not a surprise really…

Then I got into fine tuning my siphons. On the outflow of the pump, the flow is separated into three (3) diversion, one goes straight back into the fish tank (this is to reduce the overall flow to the growbeds) while the other two pumps water into the growbeds. Now, while it is very well known that you can control the flow from the pump to make it start and kill automatically, but at times it can grow frustrating, especially when one pump is flowing into two growbeds or more!

So, with the valves I have installed, an adjustment to one diversion will lead to changes in other diversions…all in all, you have to first know what exactly the problem is with the siphon, is it that your flowrate is too much to kill while being too little to start the siphon? Do some tests and you will find the answer…
.
Here is my innovative solution…which is to cut the tailpipe of the siphon at an angle…

This angled cut will make the siphon easier to kill…

Here is a picture showing that the angled cut and the angle of the tailpipe actually makes it harder for the water to fill up the pipe which translate into making the siphon harder to start while being easier to kill…

Next up is the angle of the tailpipe itself…click picture to view enlarged size…

I hope the picture tells a thousand words but do remember, while you make the siphon easier to kill it will also make it harder to start. However, I find that to start the siphon is almost always easier than to kill it. You just have to try it yourself and find that perfect balance!

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Get Involved In The Future

Over the past 2 years the ASC Magazine has been delivering a monthly magazine to readers from all over the world. The magazine has grown to the point where we need more help from industry leaders, business owners and the public. 

We have been publishing stories from backyard growers, commercial growers and gardening fanatics. The magazine has also become more interested in publishing white papers and studies from universities, educators and people with experience in aquaponics, aquaculture, agriculture and permaculture. This is something our readers have asked us for so we are giving them what they want. 

We are also including more stories and advertisements from greenhouse manufacturers, lighting specialists, solar panel companies, aquaculture suppliers, suppliers of all kinds of growing equipment and other similar companies. 

The magazine has reached a point where we are now sharing some of what we do with other interested people who want to help us spread the word and make some money on the side. 

We are inviting commercial growers, business owners and interested parties to become an affiliate for the ASC Magazine. 

The ASC Magazine is now offering the following incentives for Lifetime Conversions: 

• The magazine affiliate program will be offered through Clickbank ( a 3rd party verification company.  

• Your percentage of selling the magazine will be sent to you in the form of a check or direct deposit, directly from this company. They will let you know the options available to you.

• We will provide the banners and other tools (if need be) which will enable you to make money.

• The ASC Magazine will make up the pre-made E-Mails if you need help with that.

• The Minimum payout will be $20.00 per conversion of the Lifetime Subscription.

If you would like to learn more please E-Mail Us for more details:  Click Here 

This is a great opportunity to make money and help us spread the word to others. The ASC Magazine is going to keep on reporting the changes, advancements and industry leaders because Aquaponics is set to be one the futuristic businesses by the year 2030 according to Business Insider.

"Aquaponic fish farmer: In 2030, populations of wild fish are disappearing — so new production methods like aquaponics will step in to replace fish that we can no longer catch in the wild. Aquaponics combines fish farming with gardening, where plants grow over water to cover its surface, while fish live below. The plants return oxygen to the water, and the fish produce waste that provides fertilizer for the plants."

Happy Gardening Everyone

Victoria Kelley 

ASC Magazine Editor 

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Unlike conventional setup of aquaponics which utilizes a growbed filled with growmedia such as gravel or Leca, my leca is only placed into the growpots suspended on styrofoam slabs on top of the gutter. Thus from what Ive read, an external biofilter is required for such setup to aid in the nitrification of the water.

After two weeks of operating with the normal aquarium top filter, I wasnt satisfied with the water quality of my system thus I went to an aquarium shop to seek for help in solving my murky water. Part of the problem is that I havent cycled the water fast enough (pump is to small) and I dont have the sufficient amount of filtration material.

The owner of the shop suggested that I use a bigger filter and include lava rocks (will regulate pH) and other inert materials like ceramic tubes or bio balls for bacteriae to live in. This 3ft long setup will cost me RM165 excluding the pump which I already have. The filter tank alone cost RM110, oooh thats too steep for me as my fish tank only costed me RM130! Then I looked online and found that most pond filters can be DIYed and I also looked at some design. Most of them flows the water to the bottom of the filter then it overflows into the fish tank again.

Then I went to my hardware shop and found that I can get an RM9 dustbin with another slotted smaller bin  which costed RM5 to be used in my design. Bought some pipe fittings and I went again to the aquarium shop to get some lava rocks and more filter wools. This time the owner also told me that you could use Leca as well for the filter (to make bacteriae habitat). Great, I still have plenty of those!

All in all, the addition of the filter costed me RM80, half of which I wouldve spent on ready made item...Some sense of achievement flowed in when I saw that the quality of the water has actually improved! Usually I cant see the bottom but now I can. Yes perhaps its being contributed by the rain topping up my tank, but Im very positive that the filter contributes the most to rejuvenating the water quality of my fish tank!

Thanks for reading, now lets look at some pictures!

Youll see that most DIY filter is setup like this sketch I made of my design

Here is my external biofilter

The water which overflows into the tank will also aerate the tank during non-cycling hours

You can see the Leca contained in netsacks and to the right of the vertical pipe you can see the edge of the smaller bin, and also the lava rocks contained in netsacks as well...

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DIY Project For Everyone

People in the community have asked me if I sell aquaponics systems. The answer is no. I suppose if I wanted to I could. I figure there is already so much information on the internet and everyone selling systems that I really dont need to. I am more about bringing information and educational things to people like the ASC Magazine.

I am a DIY girl and I love scrounging. Where we live, is a fairly a small community surrounded by mountains so it has been a challenge finding what I need to build and put things together. I have a small aquaponics system in my greenhouse and like everyone else, I had to figure out where the leak was coming from and what the heck is wrong with the bell siphon. But I did it!

No hair pulling, I just had a few light-bulb moments, then tried again.  When all else failed I went and got my husband (ha ha ha). A cute smile always works when youve had enough. The most important thing I can say to people is to just do it! It doesnt matter if you have never owned a power tool before in your life. The fact that you are trying to figure out how to set up an aquaponics system, is a huge step. GOOD FOR YOU!

Putting a DIY system together doesnt have to cost you a lot of money either. The blue or white barrels can be found fairly cheaply.  IBC containers shouldnt have to cost an arm or leg either. 

Here are a couple for suggestions for finding usable ones. Remember you are always looking for FOOD GRADE SAFE CONTAINERS. You cannot use anything that contained contaminates, grease and oil, round-up or any other type of chemicals that will kill your fish. 

So what does food grade safe mean? It means anything that had juice, milk, water, cooking oil and things that we would normally consume. I am sure you get the picture. If you wouldnt put it into your own body, then maybe your fish wont like it either.

Where you can pick up barrels and IBC containers up from:

• Craiglist
• Pennysavers and dime newspapers
• E-Bay
• Local distributors of food ( back of warehouses)
• Small companies who recycle, clean them out and resell
• You might be able to find one from a larger restaurant

So how do you clean the containers out? 
I would only use a couple of different methods. Remember that fish are sensitive to chemicals and certain cleaners can leave a residue and kill your fish. My suggestion for cleaning is (and we did this with our IBC containers), a good power wash with water, let them sit for a day or two in the sun and then wipe them out with a little ammonia. Make up a water and ammonia solution. (I mean a little bit of ammonia. I am big on WHOA on the chemicals.)

Fish excrete ammonia from their gills and poop. You will need some ammonia for cycling your system when starting up, so it just made sense to me to use ammonia to finish the cleaning process.  I actually tell people what is the best ammonia to use in their aquaponics system in my book.

Even if the barrels are food grade safe you are just making extra sure the tanks and beds will be clean for the fish. You can also use a little white vinegar as an alternative to wash out the tanks.

I personally wouldnt use dish-washing soap as I have heard from so many others that have cleaned their tanks out. Here is a clue about anything you are not sure about in the way of chemicals DONT USE IT. That is my best recommendation.

Use your own best judgement in the case of chemicals. These are your fish and its your system. Common sense says you should  listen to that little voice inside and pay attention.

I wrote about chemicals in my book "Essential Fish Care In Aquaponics." Our fish rely on us to be smart enough to make good decisions on their behalf. They live their lives in our tanks, the least we can do is make sure they are happy and healthy. Seriously though folks, dont we already have enough questionable chemicals on the market now? Cant we try more moderate and safer solutions?

You can purchase a copy of the book off Amazon Kindle and you do not need a Kindle to read the book. There is a lot of good info and tips to help people. Download the best application for your device here to read Kindle books. 

If you would like to subscribe to our magazine and learn more tips from other writers and contributors, you can click on this link. We have both professionals, business owners and backyard aquapons writing for us. Everyone gets involved! Thats the way we are supposed to do it.

Happy growing!

Cheers

Victoria

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Sweet Home Aquaponics Meet Josh Goode

"Simplicity Is The Ultimate Sophistication." -Leonardo DaVinci

I learned in my work in aquaponics that a simple design is always the best. We see wonderful production and balance in a natural pond environment, thriving with fish and plant life. Its a beautiful sight to see a pond with a waterfall flowing fresh and oxygenated water for the fish and creatures that call it home. And lets not forget the abundance of plant life that grows outward from these pond ecosystems.

Out in nature when we find a thriving ecosystem and peel away the layers to find its source, this source being the re-circulating and recycling layered systems found near a waterfall and pond. 

The recycling abilities of living things working together in perfection. Fish and microbes producing and recycling waste along with all the plant life absorbing and further recycling so there is no more waste and a perfect balance is maintained...with food for all.

One thing I love about aquaponics is that we borrow that magic found in a pond environment and simplify it down into a platform to grow food for us. There are many designs that have been successful in aquaponics, my thought was to design an aquaponics system that is mostly automated and user-friendly. 

A design that someone with light construction skills can build themselves and most materials can be found locally. Then give the platform the ability to be "off the grid" and powered by the sun, replenished by the rain, and protected from all the hordes of critters out there. This article is about one of my favorite designs in aquaponics, the Solar Aquaponic Greenhouse.

The design is basic wood frame construction with pond liners for water-proofing, materials that can mostly be found at your local home improvement store. The pond is the base of the system with about 18 inches of water and a thin gravel layer along the bottom. The system in the photos is 8 feet long by 2 feet wide, so the pond when full of water is about 120 gallons. A good fish ratio is 1 fish per 10 gallons of pond water. So I put 12 Tilapia in the pond to get it started. Then a submersible water pump placed at the bottom of the pond will pump the water to the grow-bed above, bringing nutrient rich pond water to the plants. 

Bacteria break down the fish effluent and releases molecules that are then absorbed by the plants. Then the filtered water drains back into the pond, simulating a waterfall and oxygenating the pond water for the fish.

A small aquarium air pump with an air strip on the bottom of the pond provides further oxygenation for the fish. These two pumps are the only electronics needed to run the system and are powered by a solar panel/boat battery/inverter kit. These components are housed inside a small cabinet below the grow-bed to provide protection from the sun and elements. The solar panel charges a marine battery, a 500 watt power inverter is connected to the battery, and then both the water pump and air pump are plugged into the inverter, each with a simple 30 minute mechanical timer.

If you would like to read more about Joshs story and his cool aquaponics system, we have his full article in the May 2013 Edition of the ASC Magazine. 

You can purchase all the back issues here:

http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/magazine_back_issues/

Or 

Subscribe to the magazine by purchasing a lifetime subscription here: 

http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/aquanewsletter/

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I went to a fish farm earlier today in Hulu Langat Batu 14 and bought some tilapia and jelawat fry…after equalizing the temperature of the water in the tank and the water in the bag, I went ahead and introduced the fry into the fish tank…may they grow healthily!

Water pH: 7.8

EC: 0.18

Fishes: Tilapia (30), Jelawat (30)

Tilapia fry

Jelawat fry

Drain out the water, dont want to headstart the algae!

In you go!

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Produce In The 21st Century

Lately I have been watching the world from the position of, we need to get moving faster with the contamination in our food! 

I seriously applaud all the urban farmers and teachers who are out there showing people how to get back to basics. We seriously need to know how to do this for ourselves and our families. I cannot stress enough, how important it is, to teach your children how to grow food. They are the future and we cannot leave them to rely on a system of food, which has a very dubious track record. 

I personally no longer trust the agricultural industry has my families best interest at heart. I am going to stick with the Urban Farmers and small farms that grow food with the old fashioned hands on method. At least they know how to grow potatoes out of an old sack, or combine fish and produce together to feed the family. They use homegrown methods without all the fancy hype and cell splicing. 

From My Prospective 

I see noses growing every time I have to hear the speech about "in the best interests of the future." The only interests I see are profits and lavish lifestyles from the people who give the speeches. Who decided for my family what their best interests are, when companies no longer have to label GMO? What happen to my rights to have a say and choose?  

Big agriculture have given us Terminator Seeds, GMO, Round-Up and other wonderful chemicals which can cause eventual death on wildlife, insects and humans. Lets name a few poisons that agricultural companies (Monsanto) have played a part in inventing shall we: Agent Orange, DDT, Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), Dioxins, Atomic Bombs, Nuclear Weapons and Poisonous Gases. 

Engineered proteins and bacteria can be manipulated inside of the cell of a plant anyway the biologist wants. The gene will be manipulated to introduce bacteria.  Please do not give me the lecture about any of these being safe either, because there are flaws in this technology. The magic does not always work and science knows this but will pretend to convince humanity of something else. There are NO increases in yield and Monsanto knows it. Watch the video below and learn from someone who is educating us all on GMO. This video is VERY EYE OPENING!

"The trans-genes from GMO can spread from crops to soil organisms and into the bacteria in the soil. It can also spread to the bacteria in your gut. There are several studies that show if you eat engineered crops, the bacteria from them will find their way into your gut. Toxic proteins are a lot more than we know. In a nutshell, we dont know what we are doing." -Dr. Thierry Vrain

"Most of the major crops have been created." -Dr. Thierry Vrain

GMOs Explained: Dr. Thierry Vrain "The Gene Revolution"

 “A nation dominating the world by its technology will soon become a tyranny that will be hated by those who are tyrannized." -Oliver Stone

Where is the future of food is going? 

If our water is poisoned, our soil is depleted and our seas are radiated what are we supposed to eat? Only one thing I can see that will be able to help bring food to nations in a safe and productive way...Aquaponics. 

So what actually can aquaponics do in the way of feeding people? I personally believe if you allow every small community to grow their own food supply by using aquaponics, it can change lives, feed communities and the education will be worldwide. I get so passionate about people having enough to eat. It is one of my greatest driving forces in this world and I believe aquaponics can do that for all of us. 

We are in trouble folks and we have to start doing things differently, without toxins, without protein crystals and without growth hormones.  

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Learning From The Past To Carry On Into The Future

When the ASC Magazine first came out in March of 2013, we started off with community members contributing stories about growing through aquaponics and soil grown foods. We were extremely happy with the different responses from local people who had an eagerness to write about their growing experiences. We didnt care which part of the world you lived in because by telling your story, there was that camaraderie to help other people. 

Since that time 2.5 years ago, the average person has become painfully aware of the need to grow their own food because of preservatives, additives, glyphosate, fluoride, ethoxyquin and other chemicals being found in our food and water. 

While some people have the knowledge and skills to grow just about anything they can, other people still need to learn and this is where our magazine comes into play. I personally have found some of the best lessons in growing come from people who tinker around in their backyards or greenhouses. 

It takes all kinds of people to grow food anywhere they can and there are many great lessons that can be taught from local people. These are community members willing to step up and help others learn. For many good reasons this is probably where food in the future will be headed. 

More people now realize big agriculture has become a dominant and greedy eyesore on the landscape, so they want the knowledge in how to grow their own food.

We have become very aware the food we are eating from grocery stores is less nutritious and more chemical laden, so it will be the local people, backyard tinkerers and community growers who will be teachers for the future.

People desperately want safe, toxic free, naturally grown foods to eat and they know big Agro is NOT giving it to them. When you have the backing of congress supporting big Pharma and big Agro, it makes the decision to grow your own food a whole lot easier.

In all seriousness folks, I dont know anyone who wants to eat food laced with poisons. Do you? 

Thats why the ASC Magazine is so important for everyone. We promote local growers, local teachers and community leaders. 

Here is a story from our very first edition about a teacher named Bryan Vincent King who is doing this very thing with his students. He happily became an Urban Farmer and his students have benefitted immensely through his knowledge.  

So have you become a part of the ASC Magazine yet? 

Below is a link to the lifetime subscription. Its a ONE TIME Fee and then you receive in your mailbox on the 10th of every month, a magazine teaching you how to grow through aquaponics, permaculture, agroforestry and other viable methods of growing SAFE, pesticide free, FOOD.  

http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/aquanewsletter/

If you would rather not subscribe but would like to purchase back issues you can do that as well: 

http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/magazine_back_issues/

The ASC Magazine believes in paying it forward to benefit all people. This also means businesses, schools, educators and the awesome backyard growers. 

"Pay it forward is an expression for describing the beneficiary of a good deed repaying it to others instead of to the original benefactor. The concept is old, but the phrase may have been coined by Lily Hardy Hammond in her 1916 book In the Garden of Delight."

So what does that mean to you? Well I suppose that is up to you...tell us your story because we listen and then we publish your article to other people. They will read what you have to say and will be inspired by it and possibly teach your skills to someone else. Get involved and pay it forward...

http://aquaponicssurvivalcommunities.com/article-submissions

Brightest Blessings

Victoria Kelley

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Start Growing Your Own Food Now

As things really start to degrade across the USA, one thing becomes apparent; people need to make sure they have their own healthy food supplies readily available. 

I read somewhere that Monsanto is about to receive this years  “Nobel Prize of Agriculture.” 

How can this be? The way Monsanto creates seeds makes the very protein inside of the seed toxic to everything, including the human gut. 

If you havent seen Dr Thierry Vrains  video on this subject about gene mutation I suggest you watch it. He should know about seeds because he was once a scientist himself who studied nemotodes in the soil and the genetics of seeds.   The video is about an hour long but well worth the eye opening education he teaches. 

The only way people can really make sure their family are eating better foods is to grow their own. No matter what you see labelled in the stores, USDA Organic labels can mean just about anything now. Im not trying to scare anyone but rather give people the facts. 

Just because you hear something from an official representative, doesnt mean its true. How many times have we been told something from our local, state and federal representatives only to find out we have been lied to? Think about what is being told to you, do some of your own research and then draw upon a conclusion you feel is right for your family. 

Check out this site directly from the Federal Register about the National Organic Program-Sunset Process: Click Here

So what can a person do to make sure their food is safe? 

Aquaponics is a fantastic method of growing,  where a person can feel safe in knowing they are eating healthy foods. There are some things upfront you should know before spending money. 

I would strongly encourage people to educate themselves first about the biology and technology needed to maintain a succesful system. Too many times people jump in head first and quickly become frustrated with the process of aquaponics. 

Its not hard to manage aquaponics but dont spend wasted money, you  may need later for purchasing kits and fish. You dont need to spend a fortune to have a successful system either. Aquaponics can be interesting and educational for everyone. For the most part you can make the set up process fun for you and the kids. 

Figure out where you are going to be keeping the system first like a greenhouse, basement or garage. Then ask yourself some of these questions before setting up any system:  

• How many people in the family will you need to feed?
• How many grow beds and fish tanks will you need to sustain the family?  
• What are the average temperatures in your area? 
• Does it get really cold or hot where you live? 
• What fish species will you be raising?
• Can you get a healthy supply of local fish? 
• Do you understand the science, biology and basic health care for fish?
• What is the right sized water pump needed?  
• Will you be using PVC or HDPE and whats the difference? 

If you havent already read the Essential Fish Care In Aquaponics I suggest you take a look. The book gives readers a good understanding of the basic science and biology needed to raise healthy fish. It also goes over subjects like natural feeding, ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, water and oxygen which are also important. There are 13 good reviews and many people have found it to be a very useful guide to have around. With about 65 pages its not a long read but a rather a worthwhile one. 

We also encourage people to sign up to receive the ASC Magazine each month. We will send you a  great online E-Magazine filled with information and stories from people who are growing food in the aquaponics industry. 

We also have a regular staff of people who are teaching others about natural products, permaculture, technology and other ways to grow food. 

The ASC Magazine is dedicated to teaching people how to become more sustainable. It is a good deal at $2.97 a month. The cost alone, makes this magazine an awesome price.  It will cost you less than one cup of coffee at Starbucks.  

You can subscribe here: Click this link 

Start growing your own food now. It is the only real way you can be sure of what you are eating. Take a look at some of the information on the community website when you have a free minute. Read some of the other information there we encourage all people to know about GMO and building real sustainable communities. 

Warm Regards

Victoria Kelley 

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Over the next few weeks the ASC Magazine will be posting sections of articles written by our writers and businesses who have contributed to the aquaponics industry and the ASC Magazine. 

This article comes from our February 2015 Edition of the magazine, Written by Vlad Jovanovic: 

Matt Bell Asked:

Hello everyone, Im fairly new to aquaponics I just ran my tests and here are my results.

Ammonia level = .25ppm

Nitrite level = 0ppm

Nitrate level = 160 ppm

PH = 7.5

Are these levels normal, or even the ballpark?

Well Matt, I suppose that would depend on what inning you are in :-) But yeah, you are definitely in the ball park. Its good that your Nitrite and Ammonia levels are at or near Zero. You may (or may not, depending on how hard your top off water is) see your pH slowly start to come down. Itll be good to get the pH below 7.

 It might also be wise to figure out what your Nitrate level actually is. By that I mean, the API Nitrate test only reads up to 160 ppm. Everything above 160 ppm pretty much reads as being 160. So your Nitrate level may actually be 240 or 500 and you wouldnt really know it, it would just read 160. 

What you can do is perform the test with twice the amount of water (10 ml instead of 5 ml). Or use the standard 5 ml of system water in the test tube, but only add half the amount of the reagents. Meaning, 5 drops from each bottle (per 5 ml of water) instead of 10 drops from each bottle. 

With either of these two methods, you are in essence doubling the upper readable limit of the nitrate tests to 320 ppm. If you perform this diluted version of the Nitrate test, and you compare the color of the test tube, to the chart...and it looks like 100ppm (for instance) this would translate to actually having Nitrates present to the tune of 200 ppm (make sense everyone?).

You can move this upper readable limit even further than 320 ppm, if need be, just by further dilutions (but hopefully that wont be necessary). Excessive nitrates are neither very healthy for our plants, or for us human to consume. 

As far as levels being normal...If we were to define what is "normal" as a matter of prevalence, or statistical occurrence; then yes, having excessive Nitrates in an AP system could be said to be "normal". It seems fairly common from what Ive seen, for AP systems to have an excess of nitrogen (and at the same time be deficient in other plant essential elements). But let us, for a moment, step away from defining what is normal only by what is common, or prevalent. Otherwise, we may say things like "obesity is normal" (because it is so prevalent), or "having heart disease is normal" (because it is so common), or "it is normal for our food to be made and modified by the worlds largest pesticide maker" (because it happens to be the condition that we find ourselves in)...and other statements like that.  

Let us instead define what is normal in terms of what would provide conditions for "normal" plant growth/health, and "normal" fish growth and health. In this case, what I think would be "normal" for an AP system to do, is to provide the conditions necessary for the near optimal genetic expression of our plants and fish (in terms of fecundity or productiveness). 

Plants Need These Things To Grow Healthy

I. What do plants need to grow?

a). Water

b). Air

c). Nutrients

d). Structure (root anchor)

e). Light

f). Adequate temperatures (both root and leaf)

g). pH at root zone (slightly acidic) 

h). *Soil *? (equates to substrate)

II. What comprises good soil (or substrate)?

a). 25% Water 

b). 25% Air

c). 45% Mineral Matter (rock, sand, silt, clay)

d). 3% - 5% Organic Matter (at various stages of decomposition)

III. Plant Essential Elements

a). Major Elements - N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S (expressed in percent %)

b). Micro Elements - Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, B, Mo, Cl, (expressed in ppm, or mc/kg)

c). Beneficial Elements Si, Ni etc...

d). Organic molecules vs. mineral ions (microbial action vs. ionic dissociation)

e). Cations vs. Anions-Soil offers greater buffer for imbalance than water culture (show pH chart)

IV. The Role of Microbes in freeing up different plant essential elements from organic molecules...

Learn more...

If you would like to read more of this article, please consider subscribing to the ASC Magazine: http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/aquanewsletter/

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Evergreen Aquaponics With Sasha Grove

Many people in our society are just beginning to acknowledge the detriment the industrialized food system has been to our health and food security. Foods grown in depleted soils, from suspect seed, treated with chemicals and preservatives, trucked enormous distances to the final destination on the family table, are contributing in unfortunate ways to the health of our nation. The current economic climate is restricting the choices of the average family by limiting their available resources for quality foods.

A widespread economic crisis could lead to mass food shortages. Aquaponics can be part of the solution for access to quality food and will enhance health and food security of the family and local communities.

While there are many proposed solutions to the ever increasing threat of obesity and chronic disease, the greatest impact can come from the food we feed our families. Many families are seeking to know what steps to take to become healthier. An obstacle to deciding on a course of action is the conflicting agenda driven information about nutrition coming from so many directions. 

Yet, it is generally agreed that sugar and other refined carbohydrates such as white flour are a major culprit leading to obesity. Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and moderate amounts of meat based foods are necessary for a healthy diet.

The plan to avoid many nutritional pitfalls it derailed as we realize the near impossibility of avoiding canned and other prepackaged foods at the supermarket, which often list sugar or even corn syrup as one of the top ingredients, as well as numerous chemicals and preservatives. We assume that purchasing as much fresh food possible will be enough. Yet, even this can be and inadequate solution. The average distance food travels to get to your dinner table is 1800 miles. Much of this produce has been treated with chemicals or other preservatives, for the purpose of enhancing its ability to stay firm and colorful long past its normal shelf life. The nutrients that were in the plant when it was harvested have been significantly reduced.

As families become more and more concerned with the quality and availability of their food supply, home gardening is making a comeback. Home gardening has always been an American tradition.

If you would like to read more about this article...

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Chooka Parker And His Contribution To Our Community

I have the great privledge in knowing an amazing young mind. Chooka Parker was only 17 years old when he became a finalist in Australias Got Talent. You see Chooka has never had any formal training in playing the piano and creates the music as he goes. He won an award (The Peoples Choice Awards) as a pianist and composer in 2012 for his beautiful music. This is his website: http://chookaparkermusic.com/

He sounds like a combination of Mozart and Beethoven mixed up with some Jazz. Chooka has those amazing qualities that leave us with our mouths open and wondering how this actually happens. There is no doubt in my mind that he is a prodigy. The first time I listened to his music it bought tears to my eyes because it touched my soul. The sounds have this healing effect when you close your eyes and just listen. The judge on the show had the same effect when she heard him play in front of the audience too. He was 16 when he played this piece of music, watch and be amazed... 

A few months ago I asked Chooka if he would consider creating a piece of music for the ASC Community. He said "Yes" and it was one of those moments you never forget. Did he just agree to create some music for us?

Chookas mother Kerry asked me "Victoria what do you want him to think of as he plays?" 

I replied "Think of water, fish, food growing and the sun shining." 

The music is almost 10 minutes long but worth the listen. I am still amazed and proud to share this amazing creation of sound with people. If you have some stress today, close your eyes and just listen. Let the sounds wash over you. Hear the fish swimming, the water moving and the food growing. 

The Vision

The vision we now have is to educate children and adults worldwide about sustainability and growing their own food. The Educators site will be up and running in 2014 with a twist on education regarding farming and all kinds of sustainability. Adam Cohen will be the director for education materials that come into the site. Adam has a degree in Marine Biology and runs his owns aquaponics business (Green Phoenix Farms) so we know he will do a great job with the site.

What we want to encourage other people to get involved. 

If you have a business or know something about farming with aquaponics, permaculture, DIY, and other forms of sustainability let us know. We want to involve regular people in the education process too. This is an opportunity for the educator / business owner to earn some extra money while promoting their own business in the process.

It is a way to enhance teaching in a school like environment while being in the comfort of your own home. The student will be able to benefit from your experience and knowledge too. Whether the student is 10 or 70 years old there is room for everyone.

We also believe our kids desperately need to know more about how food grows and everything involved with science, biology, Eco-Systems and where it all fits into their future. Teaching more education like this to schools globally can change our world. We need more farmers for the future and our kids are the key.

Interested? 

Let us know if you are interested in becoming a part of the educators site. We are looking for educators, business owners, farmers, gardeners, DIY, experience in solar, wind, aquaponics systems, thermal mass heating systems, etc. You can drop us an E-Mail at:  venusrizing@gmail.com

Have a great day everyone!

Tune in to the magical sounds of Chooka Parker today :-)

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Aqua Abundance and Spencer Curry

Spencer Curry is an owner-operator with Fresh Farm Aquaponics. He is also a writer for the ASC Magazine. Spencers articles come with a lot of enthusiasm and love for this industry. We are very proud to feature this column in our magazine every month. Spencer is showing people of all ages what can be done with all of that youth and energy. We think he is quite a remarkable young man. 

Hi everyone welcome back to Aquaponic Abundance!

Article taken from the ASC Magazine March 2015

Last time we talked we went over the specific winter techniques that I’m using on my farm, FRESH Farm Aquaponics.  Were located in South Glastonbury, Connecticut.  

Currently we have more than a couple feet of snow piled up around our greenhouse.  Despite night temperatures well below freezing, our 25 koi are happily swimming in balmy 65 degrees water with daily air temperatures of 75-80?.

We went over how we heat the water (with a Jacuzzi heater), our mini-greenhouses, and the lights we use to accelerate growth during the darker months.  Be sure to check out last month’s article for more information.

This month the light starts to come back and the days grow longer.  Our plants are starting to perk up and grow, little by little.  

The aquaponics system is a marvelous tool for season extension.  Even without using grow lights, there are a number of benefits to starting your season off early with an aquaponics system.

Season Extension with Aquaponics

There are many reasons aquaponics is so wonderful for season extension.  Aquaponics systems use heat more efficiently, the growing media is always workable and they make use of the little light available most effectively.

Most farmers in our region are busy hibernating at this time of the year.  Fields are under thick blankets of snow.  Greenhouses are expensive to heat the traditional way, most farmers around here use wood boilers or oil burning ovens to keep their greenhouse air warm.  

But as we covered in the last article, it is far more cost-effective to heat the water in the aquaponics system than heating the air in a normal greenhouse.  For one, the heat from the water eventually radiates up to the plants leaves.  

This is similar to how the heat of the Earth normally radiates up from the soil into the undercarriage of the plants.  By heating the water, you heat the roots and plants and the air, all at a fraction of the cost of heating the air by itself!

Eager to get planting but held back by a snowy March?

Luckily, aquaponics growing media is also always workable.  The growing medium never freezes.  There is no need to wait for soil to thaw out.  There is no need to shovel snow or wait for it to melt.  

No need to battle early spring weeds or any of the other headaches typically associated with working the land after a hard winter.  That means that you can get your plants in the ground as soon as the seedlings are ready.  

Finally, aquaponics provides such a rich environment to your new seedlings that they are able to best utilize whatever light there is available in these early months.  In normal soil conditions, plant roots must expend energy on extending themselves throughout the soil in search of nutrients.  

However in aquaponics, the roots are flooded with vital nutrients, water, and beneficial bacteria.

There is no need to expend resources on root growth, so all energy is directed to actual plant growth. When a plant has so much of its needs cared for, the only limiting factor is the light.  That means that whatever light is available, your aquaponics systems will make the best of it!

If you would like to read more about the Aqua Abundance Article...

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Joel Salatin and Educating Our Kids

This November the ASC Magazine will be highlighting an article written by Joel Salatin. Joel is a best selling author, international speaker and owner of Polyface Farms.

After meeting up with Joel at the Aquaponics Association Conference I asked him if he would be interested to write an article for our magazine.

Joel said "Yes I think I can do that," and wrote us a fantastic article about creating a bio-mimicry food system. He is a very friendly man and some of his E-Mails back and forth, had me laughing really hard. I love that down to earth, keep it real in people...

I have been a longtime fan of Joels because many of his methods for growing food and raising farm animals I personally agree with. Heck, I grew up with chickens, ducks, horses, cows and sheep. We had a creek filled with Yabbies that we often caught and bought home for dinner. We had an abundance of wild rabbits that helped put food on the table too.

Looking back on my own childhood, I think I can honestly say these were some of the best educational years of my life. Thats why in the November ASC Magazine we have asked a couple of schools to show us what they are doing in the way of educating kids about aquaponics and farming.

When you think about it, a child can learn very important lessons in regards to old fashioned farming and aquaponic growing. Below are just a couple of good points in favor of educating children this way:

Biology...learning about physical make-up of fish and animals.

Science...The understanding and importance of microbes, nematodes, oxygen, nitrogen, soil, water, plants, ammonia and how everything works together in nature.

Technology...water pumps, water flow and all kinds of electronic devices for aquaponics and farming equipment.

Mathematics...children learning how many seedlings they may need to plant in a square foot area. How many fish will someone need to grow produce in their aquaponics systems versus fish tank water volume. Sounds like math to me.

English...Learning to write better by keeping a diary of daily events and happenings. Keeping a record of agricultural endeavours can be very fulfilling. This can teach kids to write great stories and even turn out to be authors. Now imagine that...

Our kids can reap the rewards of better education through teaching them about simple things that many of us may have  forgotten. In just one generation most of us have become unaware of how to farm and grow food. What our parents and grandparents once did out of neccessity is now almost unheard of. We absolutely have to bring that back to our children and education is the key...

Full Circle and the Rhythm of Life

Humanity has just about gone full circle with the back to basics for living, eating and educating. There are many people deciding to go back to the land because they see the long term benefits. 

When we are gone who will be there to show children how to grow their own food? I have a beautiful little grandson who is 4 months old and I want him to know how to look after himself when I am no longer here. Arent our kids worth it?

Most people are waking up to the fact that growing their own food is once again a neccessity for living healthy. So why not join the every growing array of people from every corner of the earth, who are learning, growing and enjoying the magazine every month?

The ASC Writers

We have a great team of writers who do an amazing job regarding their articles. I have been very proud of the different writing styles. These are dedicated people who are trying to make a difference with their own form of educating the public. We write on alternative growing, organic foods, education with aquaponics, permaculture and solar.

The ASC Magazine can now stand on its own merits for helping to educate and informing a whole new generation of people.

Subscribe Here to the magazine. If you choose not to subscribe but would like to purchase back issues of the magazine you can do so here: Get The ASC Magazine Back Issues

Warm Regards

Victoria

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The EWS Technology From OriginOil

This month in the ASC Magazine we are highlighting an amazing story from OriginOil. 

Sometimes in the world, there are incredible inventions which can change lives for the better and increase business production. OriginOil wrote an amazing article for the ASC Magazine about their EWS technology. 

Nicholas Eckleberry is the inventor of the EWS technology along with being co-founder of OriginOil. Nicholas has authored or co-authored thirteen patent applications in the field of algae production and commercialization.

So exactly how what does this technology work? 

It takes filthy ammonia, bacteria ridden water and turns it into usable clean water. The water from pictures in the article went from green to clear, which is great news if you want to have healthy fish. We received a photograph from the company showing a man drinking the water after it had been cleaned. 

For the aquaculture industry this can easily revolutionize how they keep their ponds clean. The majority of our fish now comes from aquaculture farms. The problem that many farmers face are serious problems with ammonia, bacteria and other nasty things in the water. Many fish die and it can create a huge problem for the industry. The EWS technology can eliminate these issues. 

OriginOil are already showing the world that we can use algae as a form of oil and now they are showing the aquaculture industry, they have a solution to the problems with keeping fish ponds clean. The technology is quite remarkable. 

If you would like to read more about Septembers cover article please click on the link within the cover picture or you can go here

I could also see how this type of technology could help third world countries have clean drinking water. It can take out bacteria and parasite problems that countries like India have with their water. I can see all kinds of great uses for the EWS technology. 

As a matter of fact I was contacted by a man from India who wanted to know more about this type of system for his town. He had seen a highlight of the article and he was very interested to know more. Most of us will never know how precious a clean drink of water is in the western world, but yet it is still a huge problem in places like India. 

Warm Regards

Victoria 

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Whats the difference between Open Pollinated, Hybrid and Heirloom?

 

Taken from the ASC Magazine August Edition 2013

Tom introduced a discussion detailing characteristics of hybrid seeds. As we all consider varieties for the season, it is common to wonder about the difference between hybrid and open-pollinated varieties when choosing varieties that are right for you. First, let’s make sure we’re all speaking the same language. 

Open-Pollinated Varieties 

Are those, which if properly isolated from other varieties in the same plant species, will produce seed that is genetically “true to type.” This means that the seed will result in a plant very similar to the parent. Beginning in the early 1900s, plant breeders worked to develop new open-pollinated varieties, using techniques to create a more pure, and thus uniform, genetic line. 

Heirloom Varieties 

Are named open-pollinated strains which either pre-date or are unaltered by the earliest open-pollinated breeding work. If open-pollinated varieties are allowed to cross within the same species, the resulting seed will be a hybrid.  

The modern era of plant breeding started when biologists rediscovered Gregor Mendel’s study of genetics. By the 1930s, many hybrid sweet corn varieties were available in the US. 

Hybrids

In commercial seed production, hybrids come from the careful and deliberate crossing of two different parent varieties, each with traits desired for the offspring. Seed from a hybrid variety can be saved, but will not be true to type.

At High Mowing Organic Seeds, we are of the opinion that both open-pollinated and hybrid varieties deserve a seat at the table. As discussed below, each has its benefits: 

The Benefits of Open-Pollinated Varieties

Save your seed: The most obvious benefit to using open-pollinated seeds is the option to produce one’s own seed supply. Some crops, including beans, peas, tomatoes, and lettuce, are self-pollinating, and thus do not even require much isolation for seed saving. Furthermore, by selecting the best plants from which to save seed, anyone can adapt specific variety strains to their region or microclimate. 

Less Costly: For a number of reasons, open-pollinated seeds are invariably less expensive than hybrid varieties. For every hybrid, there are actually two distinct lines of genetics that must be maintained, not to mention the careful task of production, which can get quite costly.

Flavor: Few can ignore the superior flavor of many open-pollinated varieties. Many breeders who specialize in creating hybrid varieties for large-scale commercial growers tend to focus on qualities other than flavor, such as storage ability, uniformity, and characteristics more pertinent to processing. Suffice it to say that since the onset of modern hybrid plant breeding, flavor has not been a priority. 

If you would like to read more about this article...

You can purchase all the back issues of the ASC Magazine here:

http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/magazine_back_issues/

Or 

Subscribe to the magazine by purchasing a lifetime subscription here: 

http://aquaponics-how-to-guide.info/aquanewsletter/

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