aquaponics plans
I make plans for things all the time. Sometimes I'm able to pull it off and sometimes not; I think I'm running about 50/50 right now. I'm excited about this new tank idea because it's very doable. Here are the steps and estimated time frame for getting it done.
1) reorganize the basement -- the area that I'm putting the tank in is full of stuff that needs to be hauled to the opposite side of the basement. This will take several hours and I'll have to strong-arm Luke into helping.
2) purchase supplies -- I'm getting 100 ft. of galvanized wire fencing, extra because I want some for a project over in the garden area, fan-fold ridged insulation, and 4 mil plastic sheeting. Total cost of about $200. I should have the money for this in about four weeks.
3) construction -- it's pretty straight forward; cut out a circle for the bottom of the tank, cut the fencing and wire it together, cut the insulation, and lay in the plastic.
4) plumbing -- the tank will need a sump pump and timer, and water lines to feed up to the growing beds. I'll have about 50 sq.ft. of growing bed, but haven't planned out exactly what I'll be growing there. I'll need another $200 for the pump and water lines.
5) garden beds -- I'm going to make raised beds right on the ground. I'll need 1x6 boards for the sides and more of the heavy-duty plastic to line it. Hopefully, I can find scrap wood for this. Then the beds will need to be filled with pea gravel I think (that's what I'm going with for now) -- so for 50 sq ft of surface area that's 1 foot deep, I'll need 50 cubic feet of pea gravel, or 1.8 cubic yards.
Actually, sitting here thinking about it, I just figured out how I'm going to design the beds. I'll have one long bed running east-west along the back of the house and another C-shaped, raised bed in the greenhouse. I'll have a used leaf-gutter hanging above the raised bed for lettuce or spinach. Or maybe strawberries, I dunno.
1) reorganize the basement -- the area that I'm putting the tank in is full of stuff that needs to be hauled to the opposite side of the basement. This will take several hours and I'll have to strong-arm Luke into helping.
2) purchase supplies -- I'm getting 100 ft. of galvanized wire fencing, extra because I want some for a project over in the garden area, fan-fold ridged insulation, and 4 mil plastic sheeting. Total cost of about $200. I should have the money for this in about four weeks.
3) construction -- it's pretty straight forward; cut out a circle for the bottom of the tank, cut the fencing and wire it together, cut the insulation, and lay in the plastic.
4) plumbing -- the tank will need a sump pump and timer, and water lines to feed up to the growing beds. I'll have about 50 sq.ft. of growing bed, but haven't planned out exactly what I'll be growing there. I'll need another $200 for the pump and water lines.
5) garden beds -- I'm going to make raised beds right on the ground. I'll need 1x6 boards for the sides and more of the heavy-duty plastic to line it. Hopefully, I can find scrap wood for this. Then the beds will need to be filled with pea gravel I think (that's what I'm going with for now) -- so for 50 sq ft of surface area that's 1 foot deep, I'll need 50 cubic feet of pea gravel, or 1.8 cubic yards.
Actually, sitting here thinking about it, I just figured out how I'm going to design the beds. I'll have one long bed running east-west along the back of the house and another C-shaped, raised bed in the greenhouse. I'll have a used leaf-gutter hanging above the raised bed for lettuce or spinach. Or maybe strawberries, I dunno.