Description
Book SynopsisThe Aquaponic Farmer is a complete practical guide to understanding, constructing, and operating a family-farm scale commercial cold-water aquaponic system for raising trout and vegetables. It details a commercial Deep Water Culture system, with step-by-step design, construction, and management principles, based on actual production numbers.
Table of Contents Acknowledgments
Preface: A World Without Weeds
Introduction: The State of the World
Chapter 1: What Is Aquaponics?
A Primer on Aquaponics
A Very Brief History of Aquaponics
Aquaponic Ecomimicry
Aquaponics, Permaculture and Sustainability
Aquaponic Plant Systems
Deep Water Culture Systems
Drip Tower Systems
DWC or Drip Towers - Our Recommendation
Plant Sites and Light Availability
Bacterial Surface Area
Available Oxygen
Filtration
Our Conclusion
Backyard vs Commercial Systems
Chapter 2: The RCA System
The Purpose of This Book
Avoiding Our Mistakes
A Note on Reading Before Building
A Note on Metric vs Imperial
A Note on Currency
A Note on North
Property Considerations
Zoning
Sun Exposure
Characteristics of the Land
Access to Power and Water
Prevailing Winds
Waste Disposal
Long-term Land Rights
Living On Site
The Greenhouse
Size
New vs Used
Types of Covering
Recommended Features
Heating the Air
Cooling the Air
Heating and Cooling the Water
Heat Pump
The Raincoast Aquaponics Greenhouse
Greenhouse Layout
Troughs
Trough Design Principles
The RCA Troughs
Rafts
Fish Tanks
Filtration Systems
Mechanical Filtration
Biological Filtration
RCA Filtration Systems
Radial Flow Separator (RFS)
Combination Filter Box (CFB)
Ultraviolet Sterilization
Supplemental Lighting
Germination Chamber
Seedling Area
Water: The Lifeblood of the Farm
Water Temperature
pH
Water Quality Management
Aeration
Pumps
Tower System Pumps
Effluent
The Sump
The Drain Down Effect
Workbench
Cistern
Power Consumption
Chapter 3: Principles of System Design
The Golden Ratio of Cold-water Aquaponics
Cold-Water vs Warm-Water Aquaponics
Using the Golden Ratio
Step 1
Step 2
A Note on Tower Systems
A Final Design Note
Chapter 4: Constructing the RCA System
Site Preparation
Greenhouse Construction
Foundation Installation
Arches Installation
Endwall Installation
Covering Installation
Roll Up Sides Installation
Hanging Components Installation
Circulation Fans Installation
Heater Installation
HID Light Installation
Electrical and Internet Installation
Internet Installation
Sump Construction
Sump Construction
Waste Tank Excavation
Trough Construction
Ground Preparation
Trough Construction
Side and Middle Wall Construction
Endwall Construction
Assembling the Walls
Final Placement of the Troughs
Trough Liner Installation
Trough Plumbing Installation
Inlet plumbing
Drain plumbing
Side to Side Plumbing (U-turn)
Estimated Parts List for Trough Construction
Raft Construction
Painting the Rafts
Source Water Installation
Aquaculture Subsystem Installation
Layout
Installing the Main Waste Pipe
Installing the Fish Tanks
Building the Standpipe Assemblies (SPAs)
Installing the Radial Flow Separator
Installing the Tank Manifold
Connecting the Tank Manifold to the Radial Flow Separator
Constructing the Combination Filter Box (CFB)
Installing the Moving Bed BioReactor (MBBR)
Installing the Filter Screens
Installing the Combination Filter Box
Installing the Underground Plumbing (Trough Side)
Installing the Aeration Pipe
Aeration Blowers Installation
Air Stone Installation
Pump Side Plumbing Installation
Installing the UV Sterilizers
Installing the UV to Fish Tank Plumbing
Calculating the System Head
Selecting the Pumps
Heat Pump Installation
Cistern Installation
Seedling Table Construction
Workbench Construction
Walk-in Cooler Installation
Germination Chamber Construction
Chapter 5: Tools of the Trade
Shade Cloth
Backup Oxygen and Power
Monitoring System
pH Controller
Dissolved Oxygen Meter
Water Testing Kit
Seedling Trays and Domes
Substrates
Dibbler Plate
Net Pots
Totes
Packaging
Salad Dryer
Scales
Knives and Scissors
Fishing Nets and Tank Covers
Cleaning Brushes
Washing Machine
Chest Freezer
Hot Water System
Stainless Steel Counter/Sink
Constructing the Wash Down Sink
Feed Storage
Chapter 6: Managing the Ecosystem
Bacteria
Nitrifying Bacteria
Mineralizing Bacteria
Bacteria and UV
Mineral and Nutrient Content
Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates
Other Plant Nutrients
Chemical Testing
Sample Water Location
Plant Observation
Nutrient Recycling
Water Quality and Management
pH
Two pH Management Methods: Buffering vs Hydroxides
pH Management
Water Temperature
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
Optimum Water Quality Parameters
Chapter 7: Cycling the System
Filling the System with Water
Cycling the System
The Importance of Calcium in Cycling
The First Cohort of Fish
The First Year of Operation
Full Capacity
Chapter 8: Raising Fish
Fish Species
Feed Conversion Ratio
Fish Sourcing
Record Keeping
Fish Transport
Fish Tempering and Quarantine
Tempering
Quarantine
Fish Feed
Feeding Your Fish
Sampling
Feeding Technique
Fish Tank Rotation
Tank Cleaning and Sterilizing
Fish Health
Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment
Salt Bath Treatment
Lab Analysis
Purging Before Harvest
Harvesting Fish
Chapter 9: Plant Production
Plant Selection
The Plants We Produce at RCA
Seeds
The Growth Cycle
Direct Seeding
Multi-stage Production
Planting Seeds
Germination
Seedlings
Transplanting into the Troughs
Raft Placement and Rotation
Transplant Schedule
Thinning and Spacing Plants
Maturing Plants
Plant Inspection
Watering in the Greenhouse
Harvest, Packaging and Storage
Harvesting Methods
Washing Plants
Salad Mixes
Portioning
Packaging
Harvest Clean Up
The Production Cycle
Nutrient Deficiencies
Nitrogen
Calcium and Potassium
Iron
High Ammonia
Chapter 10: Plant Diseases and Pests
Pythium
Powdery Mildew
Fungus Gnats
Aphids
Cabbage Loopers
Earwigs
Pill Bugs
Slugs
Birds
Rats
Mink and Marten
Bears
Plant Disease and Pest Management
Cultural Controls
Environmental Controls
Heating/Ventilation Cycle
Sticky Traps
Predatory Insects
Using Pesticide and Fungicide Sprays
Lethal Concentration Calculation
Re-entry Interval
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Foggers
Chapter 11: Standard Operating Procedures and Protocols
Daily Log
Weekly Tasks
Notes for Phase 3
Weekly Seeding Chart
Crop Log
Fish Sample Log
Cohort Log
Monthly and Seasonal Tasks
Replacing UV Bulbs
Logs and Protocols
Chapter 12: Marketing and Sales
Aquaponic Advantages
Year Round Production
Ethical Plants
Ethical Fish
Aquaponics is Sexy
Potential Markets
Farmers Markets
Restaurants and Retail Stores
Wholesale Distributors
Farm Gate Sales
Market Comparison
The RCA Sales Model
Promoting Your Farm
Chapter 13: Creating a Business Plan
Construction Costs
Property Acquisition
Labor Costs
Site Preparation
Greenhouse
Power
List of Initial Costs
Ongoing Operational Costs
List of Ongoing Operation Costs
Income Estimates
Income Estimate Table
Final Thoughts
Resources
Sources
Glossary
Acronyms
Index
About the Authors
A Note About the Publisher
