Success and Failures of an Evolving Backyard Aquaponic

Success and Failures of an Evolving Backyard Aquaponic System Workshop on Adapting Aquaponics Systems for Use in the Pacific Islands Bradley “Kai” Fox, Ph. D. Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawai‘i

Introduction • About me • Food sustainability and security – Aquaponics training • Backyard system – NOT scientific experiment • Talk: trial and error – Never had a garden before

Why Pursue Diversified, Sustainable Agriculture? • Hawai‘i is isolated • Import at least 90% of produce – Cost of oil increasing • Food safety • New generation of scientists, farmers, and consumers • The right thing to do www 2. hawaii. edu/%7 Edkapp/

Integrated Agriculture is Ancient Technology • Hawaiian – Lo‘i • Asia and Europe – Fish-duck ponds www. chongolio. blogspot. com www. fao. org/docrep/field/003/ac 264 e/AC 264 E 09. htm

What is Aquaponics? • Aquaculture: farming of aquatic organisms under controlled conditions • Hydroponics: cultivation of plants in nutrient-rich soil less systems • Modern aquaponics: ~25 years www. aquasquare. com/nutrition. jsp www. dailyadvance. com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs

Advantages of Aquaponics vs Traditional Soil Farming • water use (~2%) • effluent waste • Daily feeding supplies nutrients • Small footprint • Organic www. calwater. ca. gov/delta/photo_gallery/activities/Farming. html

Types of Aquaponic Systems • Ebb and flow (reciprocating) – Hydroponic support media (gravel, clay balls, cinder, etc. ) www. selfsufficientlife. net/category/aquaponics/ • Raft aquaponics – Polystyrene sheets • Three components – Rearing tank – Biofilter – Hydroponic component UVI

Example System Design Fish Tank Water Pump Wa ter Water Biofilter Hydroponic Grow Beds Water

My Issues with the UVI Model • Biofilter – Efficiency: keeping nutrients IN the system – Concept applied in upcoming talks • Aeration – Cost/efficiency of air compressor • Need for a sump? • My goal: build a scaled-down UVI-like system, supplement food at home

Construction of Original Raft System November 2008 January 2009 December 2008

Potential: -324 sq/ft (footprint) -120 sq/ft (grow area) -720 net pots -~100 lbs tilapia -~1500 gal

New System Design Fish Tank Wa te r Wat er D r (Re a turn in to T ank ) Water Hydroponic Grow Beds Water Bypass (aeration) Water Biofilter (bead filter) Water Pump

Manoa Lettuce February 8, 2009 March 8, 2009

Other Crops Tomato Summer Squash Strawberry Red Radish Mint

Other Crops Peas, Edible Flowers Leeks, Habanero Pepper Japanese Cucumber “Jungle” Green Onion

Kalo March 30, 2009 March 10, 2009 September 30, 2009

Still Not Working Right… • Too much large solid waste (sludge) is accumulating in grow beds • Losing nutrients in back flushing the bead filter • Want to try solid media (can grow different plants)

Construction of “Hybrid” Ebb/Flow. Raft System

“Hybrid” System Design Water Hydroponic Grow Beds Fish Tank Wa te r Wat er D r (Re a turn in to T ank ) Pre-filters (rain gutter w/cinder) Ebb/flow bed Water Bypass (aeration) Water Biofilter (bead filter) Water Pump

Kalo September 29 th, 2009 October 30 th, 2009

Other Aquaponic Kalo Systems Friendly Aquaponics www. friendlyaquaponics. com/taro. html Lyn Howe www. aquaculturehub. org/photo/flooded-taro? context=latest

Future Systems James’ System Bottle Cap-ponics

What I’ve Learned • By-pass works – Aeration with water pump… “ 24 -cent solution” • Still need solid filtration (MANY possibilities) • Alternative feeds – Choose your fish wisely…natives? – Polyculture (prawns), ornamentals, crayfish • Alternative energy • Still a lot to learn • This is good fun and ANYONE can do it!

Acknowledgements • Clyde Tamaru and Harry Ako • Friends – Roland Kanno and Jeff Zidek – Mark Quitan • Tim and Susanne Friend • Travis Hughey (Barrel-ponics©), Murray Hallam, and Back. Yard. Aquaponics. com

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