Prototype Aquaponics Project (Charity Chapel) Update

Well kids, here's the latest...

Rob visited the system this afternoon and found that some young neighborhood kids (6-10yrs old) have been playing and vandalizing the system. We found footprints in the grow bin gravel, a drain pulled out, our water chemistry kit had been opened and thrown on the ground (fortunately only two sticks were left so no big loss but the one Rob brought for Chlorine and Bromine were gone), we also found a dead fish in the sump tank however we figure that the fish (the smallest one that we had just added) had probably committed suicide, and a cat had found it, then the kids found it and pushed it into the sump. Most of the water valves were shut off too. Overall it took just a few minutes to correct and realign the system.

We will need to seriously think about a different model for access if this doesn't stop. The addition of a green house around the grow bins and some lattice work/fencing around the pavilion will work.

We also took water chemistry (I had purchased another kit) and they were still in tolerance. pH and AK were higher than last time but that might be due to the system being nearly shut down for several hours. Nitrites are 0 while Nitrates are low, say 5. We are converting and using!!

The fish appear to have something wrong with them. We are guessing that its "ick." This can be treated with a little... copper sulfate I think, but if we are going to pull the big cats out anyway, in prep for the fingerlings we can just do it early and allow the ick to die off. It is a type of protozoa that needs a living host to survive. If we pull the fish out and wait a couple weeks the ick will die out with out spending or adding anything. We could also drain the tank and replace the water but why go to the time and expense if its not needed. Rob has recommended adding some hydroponics food while we are treating the ick to keep the plants healthy. With just a small addition of liquid food it should be used up and out of the water by the time we are ready for the fish.

The plants appear to be getting slightly greener so the addition of the three other catfish (though just two now) seems to be working. We also picked about 30 green beans from about 14 plants. Young cucumbers can also be seen on the vines, and the corn is about 10" tall.

The worm bins seem to be OK. I dug through the cool moist bedding and encountered several VERY active worms. We noticed that Grow bins L-1 and L-2 have begun to accumulate solids ao we took about three medium sized worms from the worm bin and added the to each bin. Literally within 3 seconds they were already partially dug into the gravel and with about 6 seconds they were gone! It will be interesting to see how they acclimate to the bins.

Overall the system is still working as designed, and it seems to be tolerant of small children. I know that the neighbors- especially kids -may be a challenge but we will need to walk a line in this area. Winning the neighbors over, walking the line between access, safety and security are practical lessons that we will need to learn.

Blessings- Tony