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Aquaponics and Aquaculture Perennial Garden
Aquaponics and Aquaculture Perennial Garden
Details
Commenced:
01/07/2014
Submitted:
09/01/2016
Last updated:
23/03/2017
Location:
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, USA, Phoenixville, PA, US
Phone:
email [email protected]
Website:
http://www.permscape.com
Climate zone:
Cool Temperate





Followers
Christina Stevenson Denise Grant Nathan Dow
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Aquaponics and Aquaculture Perennial Garden

Project Type

Residential, Commercial, Demonstration, Educational

Project Summary

Our ongoing mission is to create a sustainable indoor four season food supply that can be replicated in an average basement or garage. Our approach is constantly evolving. Years of research are unearthing successful innovative techniques. We grow multiple crops, fodder, and a high density of aquatic protein (fish, clams, lobster, and shrimp) in a relatively small and scalable recirculating aquaculture system. The system is sized to fit into a basement, garage, or greenhouse. There are many free plans of such systems available on-line as well as many free videos on youtube. The organic and metabolic waste products from our aquaculture system are converted by bacteria. Nitrosomonas bacteria takes NH3 (un-ionized ammonia) and NH4 (ionized ammonia) from the fish waste and converts it into NO2 (nitrite). This is in turn converted into NO3 (nitrate) by Nitrobacter Bacteria. The nitrate is circulated through plants and they strip out the nitrates. The clean water is then returned to the fish tank. We use a bioreactor, clay media beds, and the roots of the plants themselves to host the beneficial bacteria. Any solids waste from cleaning the media is fed to composting worms, or used for nursery operations and crop fertigation. The fish food, which is processed by the fish to grow aquatic biomass, is nearly all that is needed to produce bioavailable concentrations of dissolved nutrients that mimic any chemical fertilizer concoction available from a hydroponic growing supply store. The only inputs needed in addition to the fish food are chelated iron and electricity to run the system. The system uses less than 1.536kwh of energy daily and can be run off of a small solar panel. The system detritus is fed to our freshwater lobsters, shrimp, and worms. Or, it is composted to constantly create new living soils for our outdoor gardens.

Project Description

Aquaponics systems function as a mini-ecosystem and are extremely productive. Check back for more updates.

Updates

Goji Berries in my Aquaponics System

2016 Goji trials were a success. We were able to grow Goji berries from cuttings into fruit in the Permscape.com aquaponics research system in Pennsylvania. We also grew them outside as companion plants. Looking forward to 2017

Posted over 7 years ago (0 comments)

Hugelkultur raised bed in a suburban neighborhood

Hugelkultur raised bed in a suburban neighborhood - They work!

Posted over 7 years ago (0 comments)

Photos of Vegetables growing in Aquaponics in 2016

I finally got around to posting some photos of the outside aquaponics garden in 2016. We are building raised soil beds this year (2017). They will be entirely fertilized by the aquaculture project tanks. Updates will follow.

Posted over 7 years ago (0 comments)

Photos of various fish and plants in the aquaponics system during 2016

Assorted photos taken by John Stevenson of Permscape.com - Aquaponics System – Fish and Plants 2016

Posted over 7 years ago (0 comments)

Mushrooms in Aquaponics

Posted over 7 years ago (1 comments)

Vermiculture and Aquaponics - Recycling fish waste and creating rich soil, vegetables and protein with worms

Recycling fish waste to grow soil, worms, and plant fertility.

Posted about 8 years ago (3 comments)
Courses Taught Here!
Project Badges
Residential Commercial Demonstration Educational
Administrators
John Stevenson - Admin
Team Members
Christina Stevenson - Team Member

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