WiseOne wrote:
Apologies if this is off topic, but for those of us living in apartments with no private outdoor space: has anyone tried aquaponics? I am itching to give this a try, although it's probably a few months down on the project list.
From what I've read, it's possible but tricky to build a DIY system with a lot of trial-and-error involved, but kits are crazy overpriced. I'm willing to buy a set of plans though. I'm hoping that the aquarium can double as human and cat entertainment, which would require relatively clear water and at least one uncovered side.
I really love the idea of it being entertainment for the cats!
I guess this bears repeating: If you grow vegetables with roots exposed to a water table, the vegetables and/or fruits will have a flat taste. It will taste even flatter than the tasteless tomatoes sold commercially. Is it worth the bother? Not in my book. Roots are amazingly persistent and will try their damndest to seek out and grow like a snake into a water table.
Also, the idea of growing vegetables in fish tank water sounds disgusting. Have you ever smelled aquarium water? Vegetables grown in
clean water have a flat taste, but aquarium water? Gag me with a pitchfork! I could be wrong about that, but I'm not willing to find out.
Its the minerals (and probably the entire microbiome) in soil that give vegetables/fruits its taste. OTOH, The Grove Ecosystem is pretty cool for an overpriced concept (it uses clay pebbles not soil):
https://grovelabs.io/
There is an lower cost, alternative solution for indoor or winter growing. You could use a smaller 14 or 18 gallon tote design for a sub-irrigation planter, but rather than have the overflow hole be open for water spillage and oygen intake which is fine for being outside, you can use the hole for supplying the water itself by using a L elbow into a grommet as well as a water level indicator (so you know when to add more water). So long as you have space to hang a proper grow light over it, it can be done. Off the top of my head, I'm not sure how oxygen gets into such a tote, though. It won't be as pretty and there won't be any fish for the cats, but you'll get flavorful tomatoes at least.