Hey everyone, nothing beats nature, it truly is my passion and that I say with confidence. I am currently in the process of getting involved with bee keeping which I am rather excited about have made a few posts already and shall continue to do so. I have also been involved with Aquaponics for many years now. I recently visited an old customer of mine who is in the process of building what is said to be one of the most comprehensive systems in South Africa. The last time I visited him the the main tanks had just been installed and testing was commencing, the visit on this occasion was really exciting he has now put plants into some of the grow-beds and has around 100 kgs of Rainbow Trout in one of the main tanks!
The main factor making this system so extraordinary, it is said that Rainbow Trout do NOT survive in Pretoria South Africa as the summer temperatures climb too high 40 degrees and above at times, which would put the water temp easily at up to 28-32 at which point the Trout would never survive.
I personally had a system I built in my garden with around 200 Rainbow Trout which I successfully kept for 2 years, so it can be done. What makes this system so unique is it will have a natural cooler that even in the heat of summer will keep the water below 18 degrees, which is perfect for Trout. Rainbow Trout are a cold water fish, the colder the better in some Countries survive in frozen rivers, under the ice which ease!
Below we have the sump tank, which now has the water pump installed turned on and fully operational! This is a 30 000 litre per minute unit and runs the WHOLE system which is extremely efficient and cost effective indeed, coupled with the fact that this whole system will be running off Solar Power, albeit currently off the main Government grid, that gladly, will all change in a few months. Nothing quiet says 'efficient and off grid' like Solar Power!
Close up looking inside the Sump Tank at the pump (that red unit) as well as the Ebb and Flow 110 mm water pipes! This unit has a 40% shade cloth covering it. Personally in my systems I never allowed ANY sun on any area of water as excess algae growth deprives the water of oxygen which is bad for both the fish and plants as well as heating the water up substantially all very bad facets in any aquaponics system. You always want the highest possible dissolved oxygen levels and lowest possible water temperatures for ultimate plant growth and fish health!
Here we have an overview of another hothouse going in, with the sump tank on the left. The one hot house currently in operation is a grow bed DWC (Deep Water Culture and Ebb and Flow) unit. This one will be a NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) refer to my previous aquaponics posts for more on that. Summarized, an NFT system comprises of 110 mm pipes with 75mm holes drilled into them, to house the leafy vegetables, with water cycled through!
This has always been my favorite part of Aquaponics the beautiful, exciting, veracious Rainbow Trout, what magnificent animals these are. This one is around 400 grams already and has grown to this size from under 200 grams in just 6 weeks. Correct feeding, food protein content and quality as well as optimal water conditions all contributing factors!
Here we have the tank viewed from the side. That net at the top is to prevent the Trout jumping out and is around 400mm high, not high enough in my opinion as they are able to jump much higher than that. They actually found a fish from this tank in the empty tank next door in the morning, the only way possible for him to have achieved that is to have cleared this net.
My last post on this system around 6 weeks ago this hot house was still under construction, had no water or plants. As you can see we now have mint planted in two of the Floating Raft grow tanks. The color of this mint a lush deep green, Aquaponics, truly a perfect growing technique for mint, as well as dozens of other vegetables and plants, these pictures a perfect illustration thereof.
The input pipe has many little holes drilled into it as this helps with the oxygen levels in the system, the higher the better as previously mentioned, it looks rather pretty and is extremely peaceful too listening to the sound of water with the added bonus of negative ions moving water emits been extremely healthy, which explains one of the main reasons one is filled with sense of calm around moving water, have you experienced that too?
Side view from the outside looking in with a 40% shade cloth keeping it cool allowing for free movement of air!
This is the swirl filter (vortex filter) 1 per 2 fish tanks, which is designed to remove solids before the water is pumped into the vegetable beds!
This tank currently also has fish in. That horizontal pipe is what is known as a 'skimmer' it is designed to remove all oils and proteins from the water surface, simple yet ingenious!
A general overview of the inside of the first hot house, new seedlings both chives and mint a very popular commercial crop for South African retailers such as Woolworths whom currently purchase this produce!
The NFT pipes ready to be installed into hot house number 2
The outside of the Trout Farm housing all tanks and fish!
Hot house 2 still been built, this should be complete and operational within 6 weeks!
I took a few video's too of this system I shall be posting to 
The miracle that is Aquaponics, no better way to grow food, both protein and vegetation exists, just the way nature intended!
Cheer$;)