2009 aquaponics journal

Issue #55 4th quarter, 2009

®
Issue # 55 Aquaponics Journal www.aquaponicsjournal.com 4th qtr, 2009

Experiencing
Aquaponics
at UVI

New Aquaponic Ventures in Wisconsin

Yandina Aquaponics Project Launched

Developments in Plant Lighting

Plus...
Editor’s Note
Industry News
Q and A by Dr. James Rakocy
Aquaponics Around the World
Happenings

Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (fish farming)
and hydroponics (growing plants without soil).
1


Editor’s Note:
2009 has brought some new developments to aquaponics and some exciting
The Aquaponics Journal is
changes for our company, Nelson and Pade, Inc. Aquaponics continues to
published quarterly by
gain momentum and recognition as we introduce this concept to more and Nelson and Pade, Inc.
more individuals through this journal, our website, promotional efforts, Montello, WI, USA
workshops, consulting, books and other materials. The demand for the copyright 2009
services, systems and supplies that Nelson and Pade, Inc. offers is growing all rights reserved
and, as a direct result, so is our company. We are happy to announce that
we have recently purchased a 12 acre property in Montello, WI with office Electronic Subscription:
and warehouse space. System assembly and order fulfillment, as well as $29/year
the daily operations will take place here. As I wrap up this issue, we are
preparing our new business location for our use and beginning the process Printed Subscription:
of moving. This new location will provide us a platform to continue grow- $39/year - within the US
ing in a well-organized and structured manner and space we need to con- $49/year - Canada, Mexico
tinue serving our new and existing customers. $69/year - All other countries
includes First Class postage
Also, in response to our growth, we have expanded our staff and welcome
Kathleen Paynter in customer relations and Dusan Vystrcil as an aq- For subscription or advertising
uaponics technician. Our workshop and training opportunities are grow- information, please contact:
ing as well and in the next issue I will be announcing new programs and
other news about these developments .

Two other notes in the new category: Nelson and Pade, Inc. has a new logo
and in early December we will be launching a completely new website with Nelson and Pade, Inc.
even more information than ever. We have added new aquaponic systems PO Box 761,
and supplies to our product offerings and more information to help you Montello, WI 53949, USA
learn about aquaponics. 608-297-8708
Fax: 866-815-9734
Until next time,
Rebecca e-mail: info@aquaponics.com
www.aquaponicsjournal.com
www.aquaponics.com

Editor, Co-Publisher:
Rebecca L. Nelson

Co-Publisher
John S. Pade

Contributing Authors:
Lisa Forsthovel
Ron Mitchell
Rebecca L. Nelson
John S. Pade
Dr. James Rakocy
Geoff Wilson
2


In This Issue
Feature Articles
20 Wisconsin Home to Two New Aquaponic Greenhouses
Rebecca Nelson introduces readers to two new, innovative aquaponic
greenhouse businesses in Wisconsin.

23 Restaurant Serves Fish… Fresh!
Geoff Wilson shares his experience at a seafood restaurant in Malaysia and
how he believes it might be a theme for aquaponic growers.

24 Experiencing Aquaponics at UVI
In an article she wrote during an Internship at the University of the Virgin
Islands Agriculture Experiment Station, Lisa Forsthovel explains what
brought her there and what she is learning as a result.

26 Developments in Plant Lighting
An expert in controlled environment systems and plant lighting, Ron
Mitchell explains new developments in highly efficient, low energy lighting.

28 Yandina Project Launched
After much planning, the Yandina Community Demonstration aquaponics
project has been launched in Queensland, Australia. Geoff Wilson explains.

32 Australian Couple Venture into Aquaponics
Geoff Wilson contributes this story on Murray and Gail Hallam, an
Australian couple who have become suppliers of aquaponic systems.

38 Acclimating Fish to Your System
In this installment of the “Do It” how-to column, Rebecca Nelson explains
how to acclimate fish to reduce stress and increase success.

Departments: On the cover:
2 Editor’s Note Lisa Forsthovel showing
4 Industry News off some of the lettuce
14 Aquaponics Around the World she planted while intern-
16 Q and A by Dr. James Rakocy ing at the University of
the Virgin Islands.
34 Back Issue List
See related article on
38 Happenings page 24.
3


Industry News
50% of Fish Consumed is Now Farm Raised
Global—Aquaculture, once a fledgling industry, now salmon, are a major source of these omega-3s, which
accounts for 50 percent of the fish consumed globally, are effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular
according to a new report by an international team of disease, according to the National Institutes of
researchers. And while the industry is more efficient Health.
than ever, it is also putting a significant strain on ma-
rine resources by consuming large amounts of feed “The huge expansion is being driven by demand,”
made from wild fish harvested from the sea, the au- said lead author Rosamond L. Naylor, a professor of
thors conclude. Their findings are published in the Sep- environmental Earth system science at Stanford Uni-
tember 7th online edition of the Proceedings of the versity and director of the Stanford Program on Food
National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Security and the Environment. “As long as we are a
health-conscious population trying to get our most
“Aquaculture is set to reach a landmark in 2009, sup-
healthy oils from fish, we are going to be demanding
plying half of the total fish and shellfish for human con-
more of aquaculture and putting a lot of pressure on
sumption,” the authors wrote. Between 1995 and
marine fisheries to meet that need.”
2007, global production of farmed fish nearly tripled in
volume, in part because of rising consumer demand for
In 2006, aquaculture production was 51.7 million
long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Oily fish, such as
metric tons, and about 20 million metric tons of wild
fish were harvested for the production of fishmeal.
“It can take up to 5 pounds of wild fish to produce 1
pound of salmon, and we eat a lot of salmon,” said
Naylor, the William Wrigley Senior Fellow at Stan-
ford's Woods Institute for the Environment and Free-
man Spogli Institute for International Studies.

Naylor and her co-authors pointed to several fish-
feed substitutes currently being investigated, includ-
ing protein made from grain and livestock byprod-
ucts, and long-chain omega-3 oils extracted from
single-cell microorganisms and genetically modified
land plants. “With appropriate economic and regula-
tory incentives, the transition toward alternative
feedstuffs could accelerate, paving the way for a con-
sensus that aquaculture is aiding the ocean, not de-
pleting it,” the authors wrote.

Fishmeal and fish oil are important staples at farms
that produce carnivorous fish, including salmon,
trout and tuna. But vegetarian species, such as Chi-
nese carp and tilapia, can be raised on feed made
from plants instead of wild-caught fish. That's one
reason why farm-raised vegetarian fish have long
been considered environmentally friendly.
4


Industry News
New Aquaponic Venture at Landfill Site in Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont, USA—New innovation is coming to the site of one of the first landfill-based methane generators
in the US. A Burlington company plans to turn the Brattleboro methane facility into a collection of mutually beneficial
businesses including aquaponics. The facility will be a model of efficient resource management.

In the early 1980’s methane collection equipment and a methane generator were installed at the Brattleboro landfill and
electricity produced from methane was sold to the local power company. In 1995 the landfill was closed and the then
outdated generator disconnected. At that point, the Waste District began burning off the methane.

Don McCormick, founder of Carbon Harvest Energy and previous owner of Laughing Duck Farm, a small aquaponic farm
that operated in New York, plans to revive the concept of utilizing the methane rather than burning it. Carbon Harvest
Energy has a contract with the 19-town district and plans to spend $1.8 million dollars modernizing the plant. An aq-
uaponic greenhouse that will utilize the methane for heating will be built on the landfill site. Nutrients from the culture
of fish will be used to raise vegetable crops. This integrated system utilizing waste heat will likely inspire other busi-
nesses to take advantage of their resources and full responsibility for their waste.

Urban Food Initiative in Toronto Includes Aquaponics
Toronto, Ontario, Canada—The award-winning PACT Youth Crime Reduction Program, a business-led charity has created a
holistic set of life-skills and environmental projects for high schools in Toronto to create an environmental culture, ensure
healthy communities, and further the goal of prevention through engaging youth. PACT, which works to build peace in urban
communities in partnership with the courts and schools, is officially launching "Grow to Learn" an urban food initiative that
helps create an environmental ethos at schools across the city while ensuring a sustainable source of produce to food banks
across the city. Planning began in late 2008 and starting in June 2009, students, teachers, volunteers and PACT leaders had
converted bare grass into veritable food gardens at two schools - Sir Sandford Fleming in Lawrence Heights and West Humber
Collegiate Institute in Rexdale.

The outdoor classrooms have vegetable beds, fruit orchards, naturalized perimeters of native shrubs, perennials and berry
bushes. The organic produce grown in the two schools is already being donated weekly to local food banks in their surrounding
neighborhoods and used in the schools' PACT cooking programs. The PACT Greenhouse Initiative, works with "Grow to Learn"
to promote food security, teach relevant skills to at-risk youth, champion a sustainable food production system and facilitate
innovative design. This initiative will design, build and operate portable, off-the-grid greenhouses capable of providing fresh,
organic produce to local food banks year-round.

The first phase, presently underway, involves the research and design of a cutting edge prototype greenhouse.

* The second phase will engage, empower and educate at-risk youth as they participate in the team-based greenhouse con-
struction program. A focus on alternative energy and green building techniques will open up the options for students to pur-
sue a higher green/environmental education and to enter the growing "green collar" job market.
* In the third phase students and neighborhood volunteers will be trained in greenhouse operation and the agricultural
method of aquaponics. Aquaponics, the use of a closed ecosystem to grow both plants and fish, is a sustainable food produc-
tion system that is ideal for urban centers.
* The final phase involves the collaboration with local food banks to ensure that the nutritious food donated makes it to the
tables of those in need.

PACT also has a "Build" program that ensures handy youth have an opportunity to be employed building garden sheds and
fencing for each garden. For further information: http://www.pactprogram.ca/
5


Industry News
Nelson and Pade, Inc
Receives Agribusiness Ohio Students
of the Year Award Explore Aquaponics
Middletown, Ohio, USA—
Montello, WI, USA—Nelson and Pade, Inc, a company that Students at D. Russel Lee High
provides aquaponic technology, systems and supplies, was School will get a whole new
named Agri-Business of the Year at the Tri-County Economic hands-on approach to science
Development Summit, which took place in Montello, WI, Oc- this year in a green environ-
tober 29, 2009. mental science class.

Bill Wheeler, Teacher Kevin Thacker said
Executive students will be learning aq-
Director of uaponics by conducting labo-
the Tri- ratory studies in a green house
County De- that has a tank of 350 gallons
velopment of water and 100 pounds of
Corp pre- tilapia powered by 60 watts of
sented the electricity. The bacteria pro-
award. duced from the waste of the
tropical — and edible — fish
Rebecca Nel- will fertilize a garden. Some
son, Nelson new vocabulary words they
and Pade, will add to their list include
Inc., spoke at Left to right: Kathleen Paynter and Rebecca hydroponics — the cultivating
the Summit, Nelson, Nelson and Pade, Inc.; Bill Wheeler, Tri- of plants with roots in oxygen-
sharing infor- County Economic Development Corp. ated water instead of soil —
mation about and aquaculture —the com-
aquaponics and the role Nelson and Pade, Inc. has played in mercial raising of fish in tanks
developing this industry over the past 20 years. for food or stocking.

Nelson comments, “It is an honor to be recognized for our ef- Not only will students learn to
forts in aquaponics and sustainable agriculture. This technol- manage a self-sustaining eco-
ogy is redefining agriculture, allowing aquaponic growers to system, he said other groups
produce premium quality crops close to the marketplace. Aq- will benefit from the experi-
uaponics can be a profitable venture, a fascinating hobby, a ments. Culinary Arts students
hands-on learning tool in school or a source of protein and will be able to cook the fish
vegetable crops in a village anywhere in the world.” and the vegetables grown, and
the day care children will be
Wisconsin is a state known for a strong agriculture industry. able to come by and watch the
With Nelson and Pade, Inc.’s presence and several new com- fish swim through a small win-
mercial aquaponic operations, it is now dominating the aq- dow in the tank.
uaponics industry.
6


Aquaponic This is the book
about aquaponics
Food that you’ve
Production been waiting for!
raising fish and plants
for food and profit

Released July, 2008
218 pages, 37 color and 14 grayscale photos and drawings

This informative and comprehensive book covers aq-
uaponics in a detailed yet reader-friendly manner. The
text is complimented with over fifty drawings and photos,
most of them in full color. For a complete description,
chapter list and sample pages, visit www.aquaponcis.com.
ISBN: 978-0-9779696-1-6

Published by: Nelson and Pade, Inc, July, 2008
Visit www.aquaponics.com or call 608-297-8708

Introduction to Aquaponics Video
Contents:
Now available on Introduction to Aquaponics
History and Applications
• VHS (12 chapter video)
$29.95 System Components
System Designs
• DVD (12 chapter video) Daily Operation
$29.95
Water Quality Dynamics
• DVD PLUS Fish and Plant Selection
$49.95 (12 Environmental Conditions
chapter
Additional Information
video plus
complete set Greenhouses
of 2008 Aq- Environmental Control
uaponics Considerations for a
Journal back
Commercial Operation
issues

Nelson and Pade, Inc.

www.aquaponics.com PO Box 761, Montello WI 53949
608-297-8708

7


Industry News
“Naturally Grown” an Alternative Backyard
to Organic Certification Aquaponics
Certified Naturally Grown is a non-profit alternative certification program Receives
tailored for small-scale, direct-market farmers using natural methods.
Nearly 700 farmers from 48 states are enrolled to use the Certified Natu-
Sustainability
rally Grown label. Award
When USDA's Organic program was implemented in 2002, many farms Success, Western Australia—
earning more than $5,000 per year were forced to make a difficult choice: Backyard Aquaponics was an-
either pay high certification fees and complete mounds of paperwork to nounced the winner of the Sus-
become Certified Organic, or else give up using the word "organic" to de- tainability Award in the small busi-
scribe their produce and/or livestock. ness category of the Cockburn
Council “A Better Tomorrow” Sus-
Believing that neither choice was very attractive, some farmers created tainability Awards.
Certified Naturally Grown to provide an alternative way to assure their cus-
tomers that they observed strict growing practices. CNG strives to Established in 2007, Backyard Aq-
strengthen the organic movement by removing financial barriers to certifi- uaponics uses a philosophy of a
cation that tend to exclude smaller direct-market farms, while preserving closed system and sustainable
high standards for natural production methods. food production while minimizing
the input of water, power and nu-
For more information on Certified Naturally Grown, visit trients.
www.naturallygrown.org
The style of food production
(vegetables, herbs and protein
sourced from fish) uses 90 per
cent less water than crops grown
Special Offer! in soil – the food plants clean the
water by absorbing nutrients pro-

All 55 issues of
duced by growing fish and clean,
aerated water is then re-circulated
back to the fish.

Aquaponics Journal Educating the community through
a website and e-zines, the Back-

for $99 yard Aquaponics range now in-
cludes books, DVDs and a regular
magazine and has expanded to
This is a limited time offer include three food-growing system
Visit www.aquaponicsjournal.com solutions.
Or call 608-297-8708
for more information Backyard Aquaponics is located in
Success, Western Australia.
www.backyardaquaponics.com
8


Industry News
Midwest Value Added Ag Conference
and Local Food Summit
Eau Claire, WI, USA—On January 21st and 22nd, 2010, at the Ramada Convention Center in Eau Claire, WI, the
Wisconsin Local Food Summit and the Midwest Value Added Agriculture Conference will again be joining efforts
to provide educational sessions and networking opportunities that can really make a difference for farmers, pro-
ducers and their advocates. The theme for the upcoming event is Road to Opportunities and the organizers are
committed to providing opportunities for those in attendance to increase the value of the products they grow
and raise.

This event is geared towards farmers, ag suppliers and distributors; agricultural educators, service providers and
agencies; farmers market managers and vendors; local food buyers and advocates as well as sustainable agricul-
ture enthusiasts. Rich Purdy, President of River Country RC&D noted that adding value to local products
strengthens our local economy and makes it and producers more sustainable.

The conference and summit breakout sessions are organized into six topic area tracks: Bio-Energy, Building a
Regional Food Community, Business Management, Marketing, Value Added Production and Local Food Project
Updates. The food served throughout the conference will be from local sources.

This year, for the first time, the conference and summit will be preceded by the Value Added Agriculture College
on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010. The college will consist of half and full day workshops. The topics include:
Post Harvest Handling for Vegetable Production Quality and Success; Making Decisions About Local Food Sales
Opportunities Using the Holistic Management Framework"; Practical Agroforestry and Permaculture: Creating
your Disaster Proof, Perennial Farm; Shaking the Federal Money Tree; Food Safety on the Market Farm; Wiscon-
sin Acidified Canned Foods Training for Small Food Processors; and QuickBooks 101.

Bridget Holcomb, a member of the Wisconsin Local Food Consumers Choose Local
Network steering committee and Associate Policy Direc-
tor for the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute noted that Minnesota, USA—A recent University of Minne-
"this conference demonstrates how local foods are not sota survey published in the American Society for
just a fad. This is economic development and a bright Horticultural Science's Hortscience found that, of
spot in our current economy. Through this conference we 365 attendees at the Minnesota State Fair polled,
are continuing to look for ways to expand this market to consumers said they were willing to pay a pre-
help our farmers and the state." mium for both organic and local produce, and that
they'd be willing to pay about the same amount
The hosts for the 4th Annual Wisconsin Local Food Sum- for each. But when it comes to actual purchases,
mit and the 12th Annual Midwest Value Added Agricul- consumers say they buy local much more fre-
ture Conference are: Wisconsin Local Food Network, quently, with 54% saying they always or most
River Country Resource Conservation and Development times purchase local food, compared to just 21%
Council, Inc. and Hiawatha Valley Resource Conservation who say the same of organic food.
and Development Council, Inc.
Part of the reason seems to be in what people
To learn more about the conference and summit go to: value most about the vegetables and fruit they
http://www.rivercountryrcd.org/valad.html purchase: That they are fresh, safe to eat and
healthy.
9


Industry News
Manhattan School for Children Building Rooftop Greenhouse
The Manhattan School for Children - PS333 is building a rooftop environmental education
center and food production facility on the Upper West Side of New York City. The center will
use hydroponics' greenhouse technology, powered by renewable energy, to grow food in the
heart of the city. The rooftop learning laboratory will provide a unique facility for the hands-
on learning of science concepts including environmental sustainability, food production and
nutrition.

The Problem
Our growing population combined with today's high levels of consumption is putting extraordinary pressure on
the environment. Urban areas increasingly depend on massive amounts of water, food, energy, construction ma-
terials and other resources for our daily use. This is only one piece of today's global environmental problem that
has to be addressed by local actions with long-term solutions.

The Solution
The Greenhouse Project at Manhattan School for Children - PS333 is a pilot program
to construct environmental science laboratories on the rooftops of NYC public
schools. The idea was conceived by a group of NYC parents and educators, who dis-
covered that environmental science education is lacking within the NYC public
school system, and that many schools have vacant roof-tops which could serve as
ideal spaces for hands-on learning facilities.

A Greenhouse Project Laboratory will typically be built as a traditional greenhouse
to accommodate an urban farm and environmental science laboratory. Grade school children will grow food,
while learning hands-on about nutrition, water resource management, efficient land use, climate change, biodi-
versity, conservation, contamination, pollution, waste management, and sustainable development.

To facilitate a hands-on learning environment, the greenhouse will include solar panels, a hydroponics' growing
system, a rainwater catchment system, a weather station and a kitchen corner.

In addition to enhancing the school's science curriculum, the Greenhouse Project will enrich the arts and social
studies curricula as well, by relating nature to culture. Students will learn the relationship between humans and
the environment and will gain a greater appreciation of sustainable development and its direct relationship to
cultural diversity.

In addition to serving the daily academic needs of the student population the greenhouse will serve as a site for
teacher education and professional development through school day collaborations with neighboring institu-
tions, as well as after school and weekend workshops for teachers and students. These activities will help to ex-
pand the scope of its reach while offering the perfect environment for educational research.

10


Industry News
The Curriculum About PS 333
The Greenhouse Project Laboratory provides the context for hands-on, project based The Manhattan School
science education. Science content addressed in the curriculum will include topics in for Children (MSC) PS
biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, and the living environment. 333 is a K-8th grade
public school founded in
While the main focus of this curriculum is to enhance the sciences in the school, its the early 1990s through
scope is much bigger than just science. We will be using themes such as food, cul- a cooperative effort of
ture, health and the environment. We will be integrating these four themes, looking parents, teachers and
at where our food comes from and how it is produced, how culture shapes our staff members of New
choices and our behavior, the relationship between our choices and our health, and York City's Community
the links between our food and the environment. School District 3. It is a
school of choice open to
In order to solve interdisciplinary problems, students practice a variety of skills and children who are zoned
strategies, including gathering and processing information and making connections to district 3 serving ap-
among the common themes of mathematics, science, and technology. Process skills proximately 700 stu-
include scientific thinking, utilization of science tools and technologies, scientific in- dents from diverse back-
vestigation, and effective science communication. grounds, cultures and
physical abilities. MSC is
an empowerment
The Components school as well as a men-
Touch-Screen Display of Energy and Weather Systems
tor for the Department
Solar Panels: Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Cells
of Education collabora-
Rainwater Capture Systems
tive community. It is
Evaporative Cooling System
modeled on the philoso-
Nutrient Film Technique
pher John Dewey's con-
Helical NFT
cept of a community of
Vine Crop System
learners and Howard
Aquaponic System
Gardner's understanding
Compost Station
of multiple forms of in-
Raised Soil Beds
telligence and styles of
Integrative Pest Management System
learning.

The Design

Proposed new www.thegreenhouseproject.info
greenhouse
The Greenhouse Project
at PS 333
P.O. Box 20303 (PWF)
New York, NY 10025

11


Industry News
Urban Aquaponics Conference, Brisbane, Feb 2010
Brisbane, Queensland, Aus- Aquaponics in LED-lit (Light
tralia—The world’s first ur- Emitting Diodes) operations
ban aquaponics conference deep inside buildings. The
will now be held in Brisbane technology operates 24
on February 18 and 19, 2010, hours a day, uses solar or
by the Aquaponics Network other sustainable energy, and
Australia (ANA). The Urban extends the aquaponics tech-
Aquaponics Conference is expected to attract around 250 nology to the kind of “protected agriculture” likely to be
attendees, mostly from Australia and 14 neighboring coun- required if and when climate change weather turns violent.
tries.
The Urban Aquaponics Conference next February is a West-
Urban aquaponics is practicing aquaponics on rooftops or ern Pacific lead-up to the “Cities Alive Australia” World
inside buildings in “protected” food production using solar Green Infrastructure Congress in Brisbane, Queensland from
energy and recycling of nutrients from clean urban organic October 17 to 20 in 2012, organized by Green Roofs Austra-
matter. lia Inc. GRA Inc has chosen four major themes for its World
Green Infrastructure (“Cities Alive Australia”) congress.
The conference venue is the Brisbane Technology Park con- They are:
ference centre on Miles Platting Road in Eight Mile Plains, • Climate change action planning.
about 20 kilometers from the Brisbane airport. The confer-
• Non-municipal water supply management.
ence will have four main streams over two days. Cost to
ANA members is $250 (Australian Dollars) a day, and non- • Much-enhanced solar power advancement.
members $350 a day. The content and display streams are: • Food from the roof (including aquaponics).

Integrations of aquaponics systems with green walls, green Aquaponics and vermiculture technologies are expected to
roofs, solar and other sustainable energy sources, rain-water become a strong feature of green roofs and green walls de-
harvesting, storage and use, recycling of “grey water”, and velopment in Australia through research by the Central
recycling of clean organic matter for fish feed via vemicul- Queensland University and by other Australian universities
ture/insect culture. and companies. “Food from the roof” is about to start on
Australian and North American rooftops as a technology
Aquaponics teaching units in high schools – to significantly soundly based on hydroponics, aquaponics, aquaculture,
improve the standard of science teaching, plus the number aeroponics, vermiculture and insect culture, with added
of young people able to know and manage hobby hydropon- benefits from improved management of non-municipal wa-
ics at home. This is expected to better equip homes for re- ter, and enhanced solar power.
sponses to climate change – in which urban organic agricul-
ture without waste, clean organic matter recycling, water These themes are considered to be important for the
harvesting and recycling, and energy conservation, will be world’s wider development of green roofs and walls that
key objectives. Many of the 2,500 high schools of the West- become major climate change responses for all nations. The
ern Pacific are expected to develop an interest in aquaponics October 2012 “Cities Alive” congress in Queensland, Austra-
for significant improvement in science teaching. lia by WGRIN and its Australian member, Green Roofs Aus-
tralia Inc, is planned for around 2,500 attendees from Aus-
Aquaponics equipment, feeding and management ad- tralia and overseas.
vances suited to Australia and other hot-dry countries with
temperate, sub-tropical or tropical climates. A special as- Contact : Geoff Wilson, Director, Aquaponics Network Aus-
pect will be the various hobby systems of the world that can tralia , A networking, information and education division of
produce less-expensive, high-protein fish and crustaceans, Qponics Pty Ltd (ACN 106 580 536)
plus high-value fresh vegetables or fruits, for home tables at 32 David Road, Holland Park 4121, Queensland, Australia.
modest cost. Phone +61 7 3411 4524 Mobile: 0412 622 779.
Email: wilson.geoff@optusnet.com.au
12


13


Aquaponics . . .
Rebecca Nelson and John Pade, aquaponics consultants and publishers of the Aquaponics Journal,
get frequent inquires from people around the world who are interested in developing aquaponic
and hydroponic projects of all sizes and for all kinds of applications. “Aquaponics...Around the
World” is a part of every Aquaponics Journal so our readers can see what
others are thinking and doing in aquaponics and controlled environment agriculture.

Girdwood, AK, USA—
The Girdwood Alaska
Backpackers Inn, a
newly renovated eco-
friendly hostel that Buffalo, NY, USA—Jesse
accommodates Meeder's project at the
budget-minded travel- Massachusetts Avenue Pro-
ers, offers guests ject's Urban Youth Farm
spinach, herbs and promises to supply a
vegetables grown in neighborhood that now has
an aquaponic system. little access to fresh food
www.hostelgirdwood. with locally raised tilapia
com and fresh herbs and vege-
tables. Jesse’s aquaponic
system is housed in the
garden’s adobe and straw
bale greenhouse on Buf-
falo’s West Side. Rain wa-
ter is collected to replace
what evaporates or is used
by the plants.
www.mass-ave.org

San Rafael, CA, USA—The
2009 Bioneers Conference,
with a focus on sustainable
solutions to the world’s prob-
lems, featured aquaponic sys-
tems on display to emphasize
the important role that aq-
uaponics serves in providing Denver, CO, USA—A proposed project in a
fresh food while carefully Denver neighborhood will use aquaponic
managing resources. technology in an inner-city greenhouse to
www.bioneers.org provide fresh food to the residents who,
now, don’t have access to a grocery store.

14


. . . Around the World
New Ideas, New projects and Happenings

Cyprus—A group of 5 agriculture engineers are working to establish the first extension service in North
Cyprus. With funding from USAID, they plan to implement an aquaponic system. Team Leader,
Gerhard Zechner, plans to introduce aquaponics as a means of growing food and earning profit.

Brisbane,
Queensland,
Australia—
Aquaponics Net-
work Australia is
increasing its
efforts and ex-
panding its
reach in the
world of aq-
uaponics. Direc-
Viterbo, Italy - tor, Geoff Wil-
Edoardo Pantanella son, is currently
is in the PhD pro- planning the
gram at the Univer- Urban Aquapon-
sity deela Tuscia, ics Conference,
focusing on crop which will take
quality in aq- Nigeria, Africa—Engineering Ministries place in Brisbane
uaponic systems. International (EMI) a non-profit Christian in Feb, 2010.
Since July, 2009, he development organization made up of
has been running architects, engineers and design profes-
experiments on sionals who donate their skills, is devel-
raft aquaponics oping a master plan for the develop-
and pond aquapon- ment of a sustainable farm/school that
ics using organic will educate Nigerian Farmers in sustain-
substrates. able aquaculture and aquaponics.
http://emiworld.org/

15


Q and

A
By
Dr. James Rakocy
Dr. James Rakocy, who answers
questions concerning aquaponics
in this column, is the Director of
the University of the Virgin Is-
lands Agricultural Experiment
Station and has been doing re-
search in aquaponics for over 25
years. If you have a question for
Dr. Rakocy, please e-mail us at
info@aquaponics.com.

Can you explain the difference between denitrifying bacteria and anaerobic ones. When talking about

Q nitrates and bio-digesters, there are 2 paths we can take, anaerobic or aerobic; it is said that aerobic
digestion will blow off a lot of your nitrogen and that anaerobic is better in that it will help conserve the
nitrogen... well what is the difference then between denitrification and anaerobic bacte-
ria...denitrification will turn your NO3 into NO2 and N2 gas and of course other things...as an end result, you lose
nitrogen. How can anaerobic digestion prevent this from happening...or should I say, how can we prevent denitri-
fication in our anaerobic digesters?

A
The correct comparisons are nitrifying bacteria vs. denitrifying bacteria and aerobic bacteria (requiring
oxygen) vs. anaerobic bacteria (requiring the absence of oxygen). Nitrifying bacteria convert toxic am-
monia to toxic nitrite followed by the conversion of nitrite to relatively non-toxic nitrate. Nitrifying bac-
teria are aerobic bacteria. They require oxygen. Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate to nitrogen gas
when oxygen is absent. Denitrifying bacteria are anaerobic bacteria. The nitrogen gas gradually diffuses into the
atmosphere. Therefore, when aquaculture effluent is digested anaerobically, all of the nitrogen in nitrate ions is
eventually lost to the atmosphere. A small amount of ammonium and nitrite ions remain as the only source of
inorganic nitrogen. Let me give you an example. Before we installed denitrification channels in our biofloc sys-
tem, nitrate-nitrogen levels reached peak values of close to 700 mg/liter. These levels of nitrate can affect fish
health and growth, and that is why we added a denitrification process. Prior to adding the channels, we tested
the efficacy of denitrification. Sludge was placed in an un-aerated tank for 2 days. It quickly became anaerobic
and nitrate-nitrogen levels decreased to 0 mg/liter.

Aerobic digestion is the best method for preventing the loss of inorganic nitrogen. If the aquaculture effluent is
aerated vigorously to maintain some dissolved oxygen in the sludge, the conversation of nitrate ions to nitrogen
gas by denitrifying bacteria will be slowed but not stopped. Anaerobic conditions may occur within the center of
the sludge particles, which will lead to some denitrification.

16


Dr. Rakocy,

Q We have something growing in our raft tank that looks
like insect larvae of some sort. I have attached a photo
(top, right). There are tiny reddish worms that emerge
from the casings shown in this photo. I don’t see them in the fish
tanks, but maybe the fish eat them. Can you help me identify
this? Is it harmful to my plants, fish or bacteria?
Thanks, Sarah

A
Dear Sarah,
What you see are the chironomid larvae, the larvae of
midges (non-biting gnats). The picture shows silt-
covered tubes that protect the larvae during the day.
At night they come out of the tubes to eat organic matter. The
larvae hide inside the tubes because they are bright red in color
and a favorite food for fish. Chironomid larvae grow in waters
that are rich in organic matter. Their life cycle is a month long,
going from egg to larva to pupa to adult. They are sometimes
mistaken for mosquitoes, but they do not feed as adults. After
pupating, adult midges emerge at sundown, gathering in swarms
at water’s edge or near lights and produce a humming sound
that can be heard several feet away.

The underside of aquaponic rafts is an ideal growing site for chi-
ronomid larvae. Although they do eat nitrifying bacteria, I be-
lieve their density is generally not high enough to significantly
impact the biofiltration capacity of the raft or harm the system.
They confer a benefit to aquaponic systems by consuming or-
ganic matter, incorporating it into their bodies and then remov-
ing it from the system by flying away.

Chironomid larvae, also known as blood worms due to their
bright red color, can attain high population densities in deep de-
posits of organic matter as long as there is sufficient oxygen in
the water. If the aeration is turned off and oxygen levels de-
crease, the larvae leave their protective cases and can be cap-
tured with a net and used as fish feed. Frozen blood worms can
be purchased and fed to valuable aquarium fish or the larval
stages of valuable food fish. The emphasis is on ‘valuable,’ be-
cause blood worms are expensive, about $25 for a 1 kg (2.2 lb)
frozen package. The pictures on the right show frozen blood worm cubes being thawed in preparation for feeding
to fish.

How much dissolved oxygen is required for plant growth? Do the bacteria need the same amount of

Q dissolved oxygen, or more? What is the ideal DO level in the raft tank? Some raft systems that I read
about do not aerate the raft tanks, only the fish tanks. Is this a bad idea?
Thanks, Pete Hammond, The Big Island, Hawaii

Dear Pete,

A This is a good question. If aquaponic raft tanks are not aerated and dissolved oxygen levels decrease to
levels less than 5 mg/liter, plant growth will be compromised. If the system is fed heavily and solids
removal is inefficient, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (the sum of all the oxygen consumed by
17


organisms within the hydroponic tank) Hello Dr. Rakocy,
could be so high that the water will be- Please could you suggest how much calcium hydroxide to add to an
come anaerobic, which will cause death aquaponics system to raise the pH from a level of around 6. The
of the roots and plants. Even if solids re- system is comprised of a 2700 liter fish tank and 10 sq meters of
moval is efficient, a considerable amount grow beds. I had been using calcium carbonate quite successfully
of dissolved organic matter enters the but am currently really struggling to get the pH up. This could be
hydroponic tanks and exerts a high BOD. due to the weather warming up here in Australia and an increased
As for bacteria, dissolved oxygen levels rate of nitrification.
should be at least 2 mg/liter. Thank you, Trish Cameron

To use un-aerated hydroponic tanks suc- Dear Trish,
cessfully, the system could be stocked Calcium carbonate dissolves very slowly and cannot be relied on to
and fed at lower rates (which means less maintain pH of the 7.0, the recommended pH for aquaponic sys-
production) or the water retention time tems. Calcium hydroxide dissolves much faster, but complete dis-
in the hydroponics tank could be de- solution requires some time (days) and a system that ensures
creased so there is less time for the oxy- maximum exposure of the culture water to the surface area of the
gen to be consumed (which requires ei- compound. We use a base
ther a higher water pumping rate or addition tank in the UVI aq-
smaller hydroponic tanks) or the water uaponic system to gradually
temperature could be lowered (colder add high pH water to the sys-
water holds more dissolved oxygen). tem. If the calcium hydroxide
was added directly to the fish
High oxygen levels in the hydroponic tanks, there would momentar-
tanks promote maximum plant growth ily be ‘hot zones’ of very high
and water treatment (purification). I have pH water that could burn the
seen raft hydroponic operations (no fish, gills of fish if they swam
just plants) inject liquid oxygen into a wa- through them. When calcium Base Addition Tank
ter distribution system under the rafts to hydroxide is added to the base
create oxygen levels slightly above satu- addition tank, some of it dissolves immediately, but most of the
ration (levels that are higher than that compound settles to the bottom of the tank. A small side stream
which occurs naturally). The saturation flow from the water pump outlet delivers culture water to the
level of dissolved oxygen at 75ºF is 8.2 base addition tank, which is thoroughly mixed by continuous aera-
mg/liter. tion. The calcium hydroxide gradually dissolves. Occasionally we
stir up the calcium hydroxide at the bottom of the tank with a
The UVI system has a small air stone (3 short section of PVC pipe to create more contact with the water.
inches by 1 inch by 1 inch) every 4 ft in The base addition tank effluent enters the sump, where it is
the hydroponic tanks. As water flows greatly diluted (no pH spikes) and immediately pumped to the fish
through a set of two 100-ft hydroponic rearing tanks.
tanks in 3 hours, a total of 48 air stones
increases dissolved oxygen from 4 mg/ The practical way to determine how much calcium hydroxide to
liter (influent value) to 7 mg/liter add is through trial and error. If the pH goes down rapidly, add
(effluent value). Furthermore, the current more base until you can maintain pH 7.0. Try not to exceed pH 7.0
created by these air stones ensures good because some essential nutrients precipitate out of solution at
mixing of the nutrient solution among the higher pH levels. There will be some variation in the rate of pH de-
thick tangles of plant roots and produces cline, and you are right that at higher temperatures in the summer
a pronounced film of nitrifying bacteria biological activity speeds up (including nitrification). You may need
on the underside of the rafts above the to add base every day. And remember that we alternate the addi-
upwelling currents caused by the air tion of calcium hydroxide with potassium hydroxide to supplement
stones. I strongly recommend that deep the system with both calcium and potassium ions.
channel hydroponic tanks be aerated.
Let me give you an example of an extreme case we once experi-
18


enced. We were raising tilapia fingerlings in small (10
ft in diameter) tanks using biofloc technology. We

Rakocy
fed four times daily, aerated heavily and removed
excess solids twice daily. The feeding rate and nitrifi-
cation rate were so high in this tank that we had to
add base after every feeding. A measurable decrease
in pH occurred hourly. Aquaponic systems require
base less often, never more than once a day. & Associates
Another situation we sometimes experience is that
pH remains stable for weeks at a time and no base is
required, which indicates that excessive denitrifica- A network of
tion is occurring in anaerobic zones somewhere in consultants for:
the system. The process of denitrification produces
alkalinity and negates the need for base addition. Aquaponics
When fruiting crops are raised, we increase denitrifi-
cation in the filter tanks by cleaning them less often.
Aquaculture
Denitrification reduces nitrate levels and promotes Hydroponics
fruiting. However, if denitrification is excessive, no
base addition is required, which could lead to cal-
cium and potassium deficiencies. In this case, clean
the filter tanks more often and check for and remove
any anaerobic sludge deposits in the hydroponic
component. Your nose will guide you because
anaerobic zones give off foul smelling gases. AJ

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19


Wisconsin Home to
Two New Aquaponic
Greenhouses
By Rebecca L. Nelson

Two new aquaponic greenhouse Dairy (owned by Vrieze). This
projects, A Future Farm in Northern dairy is home to 1200 cows and
Wisconsin and KP Simply Fresh in uses the latest technology to
the Southern part of the state, dem- keep the cows healthy and
onstrate that aquaponics is a devel- happy. At Baldwin Dairy an
oping industry in the dairy state. anaerobic digester converts the
Known for rolling green hillsides cow manure into methane gas.
dotted with Holstein cows, Wiscon- Previously the methane was
sin has a rich agricultural history burned off but now it will be
and an innovative and bright agri- used to heat the 1/2 acre green-
cultural future. house. It was initially calcu-
lated that the number of BTUs available from the
Although started at different times, both projects manure from 1200 cows has the capacity to heat
will be coming into production at nearly the same just over 24,000 square feet of greenhouse space.
time, in early 2010. A Future Farm, in Baldwin, The design of the aquaponic greenhouse takes
Wisconsin began planning the project in May of advantage of the available methane and other re-
2008. The downturn in the economy slowed the sources the dairy provides.
project’s progress but, now, it is full speed ahead.
With the greenhouse nearing completion and the Vrieze and Meyer, have spent a great deal of
installation of the aquaponic systems started, this time and effort refining the energy system that
aquaponic greenhouse will soon be fully opera- utilizes methane gas as the primary energy input
tional. for heating the air and water in the greenhouse.
This energy system will make aquaponic food
KP Simply Fresh, in North Freedom, has made production in a controlled environment green-
steady progress since spring of 2009, moving house a highly sought after add-on to existing
from planning to construction mid summer and dairies.
now they are ready to stock the fish tanks in their
newly built greenhouse. Nelson and Pade, Inc is collaborating with A Fu-
ture Farm on using the energy system design they
Both projects are being guided by Nelson and have developed to fuel aquaponic projects on
Pade, Inc. and are using Nelson and Pade’s Clear other dairies in Wisconsin and throughout the
Flow Aquaponic SystemsTM United States.

A Future Farm is owned by John Vrieze and In addition to aquaponics, A Future Farm is also
Steve Meyer. Their new greenhouse is just over exploring other ways of utilizing the methane gas
20
1/2 acre and it is located adjacent the Baldwin


and diary “waste” resources. Coffee roast-
ing, creating bio-fuels and growing algae
may all be incorporated into the operation.

A Future Farm is 30 miles east of Minnea-
polis, Minnesota, a large metropolitan base
of customers seeking out locally grown
produce and fish. Steve Meyer has already
gotten confirmation from buyers who will
take everything they are growing in the
greenhouse, which will include nearly
400,000 heads of lettuce and 40,000 lbs of
fish per year.

KP Simply Fresh is owned and operated
by Norbert and Donna Meunier and their
son, Christopher. The Meunier’s are true
entrepreneurs and have owned a variety of
businesses. Their new 5,000 square foot
aquaponic greenhouse takes advantage of
much infrastructure they already have. The
concrete pad, extra buildings for the fish
nursery, packing and storage, a well and
electrical service were all on site.

The Meunier’s will sell their fish and pro-
duce in the nearby communities of Bara-
boo, Madison and the Wisconsin Dells.
Plans for an active agri-tourism program
and room for expansion indicate that this
greenhouse is just the beginning for KP
Simply Fresh.

From the nursery room to the greenhouse,
everything is top notch at KP Simply
Fresh. The nursery was stocked with 1/2
gram fingerlings a couple of months ago
and another batch of fish was delivered
more recently. These fish are now ready to
move into the main grow out system in the

Top: John Vrieze, John Pade and Steve Meyer
during the early planning of the 1/2 acre
greenhouse. Middle: A few of the 1200 cows
at the Baldwin Dairy. Manure from the cows is
converted to methane gas in an anerobic diget-
ster. The methane will be used to heat and
provide energy for the aquaponic greenhouse.
Bottom: The greenhouse, nearing completion.
21


greenhouse, the beginning step in
establishing a commercial aq-
uaponic system.

There is also interest in aquaponics
in Wisconsin at the state and county
levels. State representatives and
county officials have expressed in-
terest in aquaponic food production
to help revive agricultural enter-
prises by incorporating aquaponic
greenhouses which can grow fresh
fish and vegetables and deliver to
local markets.

The Wisconsin Extension program
has 3 aquaculture extension agents
who are very supportive of Nelson
and Pade, Inc.’s methods, systems
and workshops.
Wisconsinites are very loyal to lo-

cal farmers and support the “Buy Local” programs. Some
grocery stores go so far as to list the number of miles fresh
vegetables travel. The local growers get recognition from
the store owners and the customers who are looking for
food that has a low environmental impact and high level of
freshness due to being grown close to the marketplace.
Since an aquaponic greenhouse can be built close to or
within urban areas, it is an excellent method of growing and
supplying fresh food. Many people in Wisconsin are already
recognizing this.

I will continue to write about these projects as well as others
Top: The KP Simply Fresh aquaponic just beginning in Wisconsin. I think the future for aquapon-
greenhouse. Middle: The interior of the
ics is very encouraging and Wisconsin is poised to become
KP Simply Fresh greenhouse during the
installation of the aquaponic systems.
a leader in aquaponic food production.
Bottom: Christopher Meunier showing the
access to the valves below the decking sur- Information: Nelson and Pade, Inc: www.aquaponics.com
rounding the fish tanks in the KP Simply A Future Farm: www.afuturefarm.com
Fresh greenhouse.. KP Simply Fresh: www.kpsimplyfresh.com AJ
22


Restaurant
Home
growers
can have
this

Serves Fish same
experi-
ence if

Fresh!
they
choose
their best
local fin
fish,
crusta-
ceans
By Geoff Wilson. and mollusks. And they can do it as (a) a learning experi-
ence for commercial production later and (b) as one of the
I believe that future aquaponics will be based on fin best ways to dine at home -- on fresh, high-protein, tasty
fish, crustaceans and mol- food that provides
lusks – perhaps even in much better health if
same-tank systems. This is the chosen species are
my personal view of the conveyors of the right
opportunities now strongly Omega-3 oils.
under way in certain parts
of the world – especially in But I have resolved to
Asia and in Asian restau- try to return to the Tan-
rants in non-Asian coun- jung Aru Seafood res-
tries. taurant in Kota Kina-
balu. It was eating
The accompanying pictures pleasure.
were taken in the Tanjung
Aru Seafood Restaurant in That is exactly why
fast-developing Kota Kina- emulation of this busi-
balu in Sabah, Malaysia, ness idea is in the best
which I visited in August as interests of commercial
part of a tourist group. aquaponic growers
around the world. See
The restaurant served su- if you can get a local
perb seafood. It was fresh- restaurant to do the
cooked from about a dozen same. Show the restau-
of so half-cubic meter, glass rant owner this article
tanks holding three kinds of and these pictures – or
fin fish, several species of send them a copy.
crustaceans and several spe-
cies of mollusks. All were Such a moment could
raised or caught locally. deliver a sound finan-
All were deliciously fresh. cial prospect for all
aquaponics produce,
And all that I could think of especially if the restau-
was that this experience rant owner can promote
was deep proof that the them as “organic” (if
soundest market for com- the fish and crustaceans
mercial aquaponic growers are fed only accepted
is going to be similar res- Top: Tilapia are most popular at 38 ringitt (about US$10) organic feeds). I’m
taurants which take great per kilogram. Bottom: A customer choosing a live fish to be starting to travel down
care to serve the best – and cleaned and cooked at the Tanjung Aru Seafood Restaurant in that important
take care to pay for its regu- Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia, road. AJ 23
lar supply.


Experiencing
Aquaponics
at UVI
By Lisa Forsthovel
My name is Lisa and I live in Victoria, British Co-
lumbia, Canada. I have been a working as a Regis- dents there had started a project in aquaponics,
tered Nurse since 1996. I am certified in Pediatric called barrelponics. As a project, I made a desk-
and Geriatric nursing specialties. My mother is top aquaponics unit using Nelson and Pade Inc’s
originally from the Philippines and our family has book Aquaponic Food Production. I was suc-
been raising tilapia previously in pond systems and cessful in growing purple basil under artificial
now in net pens in a lake. lighting in hydroton (clay beads) sitting above a
thirty gallon aquarium stocked with six goldfish.
Although I am a nurse I have interests in both aqua-
culture and horticulture. As hobbies I have bred Later that fall I attended the first annual Aq-
bettas and cultivated orchids. My interests brought uaponics Conference in Guadalajara, Mexico
me to Malaysia and Thailand where I learned more where I met Rebecca Nelson and John Pade. I
about different aspects of aquaculture and horticul- visited my first aquaponics facility, Aquaponia,
ture. I visited the Kuala Lumpur Orchid Garden in on a tour during the conference. My interest in
KL, Malaysia and stayed at Rajamangala University aquaponics was growing (no pun intended) and I
of Technology in Trang,Thailand where they culture was eager to learn more.
warm water finfish.
This summer I took the Tilapia and Aquaponics
I wanted to learn more about rearing tilapia and Short Course taught at the University of the Vir-
bring this knowledge back to the Philippines to im- gin Islands in St. Croix. The comprehensive
prove fish husbandry practices in our family busi- course teaches the principles of commercial aq-
ness. This past year I took courses in fisheries and uaponics and biofloc tank culture systems. Dr.
aquaculture at Vancouver Island University in Jim Rakocy suggested that I could gain hands on
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. This was the experience by returning to the University of the
first time I heard about aquaponics. One of the stu-
24


Virgin Islands as an intern for three
months and run their Commercial Aq-
uaponics System (CAS). This idea was
very appealing and I arranged to come
back in mid-August. Prior to returning to
St. Croix I made a trip to visit Morning-
star Fisherman’s facility in Dade City,
Florida and a separate trip to visit Dr.
Nick Savidov’s aquaponic system at the
Crop Diversification Center in Brooks,
Alberta and MDM Farms in Rumsey, Al-
berta where Mark and his family rear tila-
pia and have an aquaponics system.

In mid-August I started my internship at
UVI with help from the aquaculture
team. My first week included planting
over 32 varieties of seeds to transplant
into the CAS. Some of these plants have
been grown before, some have not. My
duties include feeding the tilapia three
times a day and checking water quality. I
maintain the system by cleaning the or-
chard nets twice a week. I transplant
seedlings into the system and monitor the
plants while recording information like
growth and pest pressures. I have
learned that the fish and plants are at the
mercy of the elements. There was a
tropical storm the first week of Septem-
ber and then there are the daily occur-
rences such as intense mid-day heat,
wind and rain.
Top: Week One - Seedlings in trays in the greenhouse to be
I harvested my first crop from the CAS, later transplanted into the CAS. Bottom: Week Six - Fruits and
which was tarragon sprouted from cut- vegetables growing in the CAS.
tings grown in the greenhouse. Fish, fruit
and vegetables grown in the aquaponic system are sold on campus at the University Farm Store along
with other crops grown by the Agricultural Experiment Station (AES). On October 18, World Food Day,
I look forward to having visitors see the different varieties of fruits and vegetables currently growing in
the CAS. It is very satisfying to watch the fish and plants grow over time. I am grateful for the opportu-
nity to be here and am finding this experience most valuable. I hope to take the knowledge learned from
running the CAS back to Canada. The climate is cooler in western Canada compared to St. Croix, so I
will have to modify growing in a greenhouse system.

I could not have achieved the results with the CAS without the guidance and knowledge of the UVI
Aquaculture team, Dr. Jim Rakocy, Charlie Shultz, Jason Danaher, Don Bailey and Frankie Carino.
Thank-you guys! I would like to keep you all updated at the end of my 13 weeks experience here
AJ
at the University of the Virgin Islands. Stay tuned.
25


Developments
in Plant
Lighting
By Ron Mitchell

Over the last 10 years I have seen much
advancement in lighting technologies;
more efficient ballasts, reflectors and
color corrected lamps. Until recently the
most economical and effective agricultural
lighting has come from HID (High-
intensity discharge) lights.

The two most widely used HID light sys-
tems are High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and
Halide lamp systems powered by mag-
netic ballasts. Basically, HPS lamps give
off more red light and are more suited to
light flowering crops. Halides produce
more blue light and are the best light to
use for foliar growth. Advancements in
lamp design and materials have produced
HPS lamps that give off more blue light
and Halides that give more red light. The
lighting industry calls these “full spec-
trum” lamps. The biggest downside of
using an HID system is the high energy
consumption. With energy rates rising
and the need to cut fossil fuel use, con-
sumers are looking for a more efficient Top: Metal Halde Plant light with digital electronic ballast
and green alternative. and digital bulb. Bottom: LED (Light Emitting Diode) Plant
Light
26


The State of the Art in HID lighting is now a sys- a constant range between 73º to and 76º and hu-
tem that has a digital (electronic) ballast and digi- midity from 40% to 60%. I had the controls set to
tal lamp. A high quality certified digital ballast exchange the air in the room every 15 minutes.
matched with a digital lamp can produce 50% Keeping the environment controlled in a room like
more usable light to your plants while using 8% this turned out to be much easier when using a light
less energy. source that didn’t add so much heat to the room.

While I have been watching all this HID technol- I planted 8 lettuce varieties in 1.5 inch rockwool
ogy unfold over the years, I have been following cubes. Varieties planted include: Little Gem, Win-
the development of a far better lighting technol- ter Density, Red Romaine, Lollo Rossa, Dark Red
ogy; LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lights. LED Lollo Rosa, Green Grand Rapids, Lollo Bionda and
lights have been around for many years but only Red Salad Bowl.
recently have they
been available in a On day 2, I lit the rock-
powerful grow wool cubes with 1 –
light at a reason- 300w LED grow light
able price. The and let them grow for
300 watt LED 15 days in my hydro-
grow light that I ponic nursery. On day
recently tested 15, I separated the
used 2.4 amps of blocks and planted 196
energy compared lettuce plants into NFT
to a 1000 watt HID channels that measured
system using 9.6 10 ft. x 10 ft. Over the
amps. This LED lettuce I hung the 4 –
light uses 75% less 300w LED lights and
energy than the ran them 18 hours a day
HID. A typical for 15 more days.
1000 watt HID
produces 3,750 The results were amaz-
BTUs of heat (very ing. All the varieties
hot!) yet the low grew vigorously, form-
temperature emitted from the 300 watt LED is ing bright colored full grown heads. All 198 heads
hardly detectable when holding your hand under- were ready to harvest in 15 days after transplanting
neath the light touching the glass lens. You can’t into the NFT system. The texture and taste of the
do that with an HID. lettuce was crisp, juicy and full of flavor. Hon-
estly this was some of the best lettuce I’ve ever
I recently obtained 4 – 300w LED grow lights grown. As for the shelf life, I picked them three
and I ran a simple test to see if these lights could weeks ago and we are still enjoying their fresh
grow quality produce. The manufacturer of these taste and quality.
lights claim “they produce the perfect blend of
light suitable for all stages of growth.” When Ron Mitchell has been lighting greenhouses for
they are lit they give off a bright magenta glow. over 30 years and designs lighting layouts for com-
NASA has been using them for many years to mercial and academic growers in greenhouses and
grow plants in laboratories and in space yet I was growth chambers all over the country. His practi-
still skeptical that I could grow plants as well un- cal knowledge in this field has come from years of
der these LED’s as I had with the same amount growing specialty vegetables and developing sys-
of 1000w Halide lights. tems for controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
Ron can be reached by email at:
For my test I used an insulated growth chamber ronloan@pacbell.net www.mitchellcea.com
with no external light and kept the temperature at 27

2009 aquaponics journal

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2009 aquaponics journal