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[4Etznab]

Hey D.T.
 Just something you might want to check before getting to much further. Make sure the silicone you are using is food grade or you might get some nasties floating around in your fish tank and food source. I know that some Silicone's contain toxins.

[Day_Tripper]

I got the silicone from a guy at a local pond store.  I talked to him about what I was doing and he had set up several aquaponics tanks.  I don't think he'd do me wrong.

The pump I bought before was too strong.  I bought another today and it's missing parts.  So, I have to go back there again tomorrow and see what I can do.  If that doesn't work, I'll go back to the pond shop.  Both of these places are local so I don't mind spending money there.

Eventually I'll get this up and running, then I'll take some pics or video or something to post.

[Day_Tripper]

I finally have it all set up.  I bought 10 goldfish today, but only 9 made it home.    The system is set up.  It is set to flood my rocks and seeds 3 times a day for about an hour.  I've put a few seeds in and hopefully they'll start sprouting soon.  A couple of cats have been very curious about this system.  Hopefully neither of them will kill any of the fish.  I'm a little concerned about one of the cats.  She was a good mouser when she lived at Joel's place.

I tried feeding the fish tonight, but I guess it was too soon.  None of them seemed hungry.  I guess the stress of moving from the pet store to my tank stressed them out too much to be able to eat.  I'm like that too.  When I'm stressed, I can't eat.  I'll try feeding them again tomorrow.  Hopefully they'll live through 'til tomorrow.

I have a few pictures.  I tried to add them as attachments, but they must have been too big.  I'll have to get a flicker account and post from there.  I may just wait until something green starts growing.  At the moment there really isn't much to see.

I have a lot of stuff I could use for a second system.  I'm really considering setting up another system right next to the first one.  I'd need another pump, cat box, aquarium rocks, plug ins, extension cord, oxygen pump, fish.  But, I have another bucket that would work as a tank, I have the gravel for the plants, I have the hose and I think both systems could use the same timer.  But, before I get ahead of myself, I need to make sure this first system works.

[Day_Tripper]

My fish finally ate tonight.  I just got them Saturday and tonight was the first time I threw food in and they surfaced to eat.  Yay!    I was worried.  I did more research on fish and learned that I should have only introduced 2 fish at a time to allow the good bacteria to build up before getting more fish.  Too late now.  But, it looks like I'm going to have to clean their tank every couple of days until the plants actually start growing.  I threw in a clove of garlic, a piece of ginger root and I think I'm going to add a potato since I have some that are trying to grow in my cupboard.  Maybe those will take root faster than the seeds and help get things going quicker.

I'm pretty sure I am going to build a second one next to the first.  I have most everything now, except the pump, another oxygen pump, fish, aquarium rocks, and cat box.

[Day_Tripper]

I know it seems like I'm blogging here or I'm just insane and talking to myself, but this is too cool.  I'm definitely setting up a second system.  I just planted the seeds and the fish on Saturday and already, today on Tuesday, I see a bean beginning to root, a lettuce has green on it and a second lettuce is beginning to root.  I didn't have this kind of success so soon last year with my dirt garden.  And, I don't have to fight slugs this year!

This could become very addicting.

And just think of all the free seeds you can get; tomatoes, strawberries, mustard seeds, cucumbers, melons, zucchini, peppers, potatoes, garlic, etc.  Just make sure they're organic and not gmo.

Most of the cost to do this is just the startup, well, that and the electricity.  Now, if I could figure out a way to power it with solar or gravity, I'd be all set.

I still need to throw in a potato or two.  I've read that root vegetables grow on top of the rocks.  This is going to be fun to watch.  I'll have to get a flicker account or something so I can show you guys pictures.  But, I'm still waiting until there is more green happening.  I'm excited.    This is supposed to be much quicker than a traditional dirt garden.  And so far, that is being proven to be true.

[Day_Tripper]

One of my fish died this morning.   That is probably my fault for adding too many fish too quickly.  The next time I'm only adding a couple of fish at a time.  And only after I see a few seeds spouting.

I threw in a few more seeds today.  I'm impatient.  Not enough things were sprouting quickly enough for me.

[Day_Tripper]

My 8 fish are still alive.  I have 4 gold fish, 3 black ones and one very pale one.  They're starting to surface when I walk in the room.  I guess they think it's feeding time.  Joel told me that gold fish will tend to overeat.  I just get worried because my boy cat likes to drink the fish water...yuk!  And he follows me to the fish tank and he wants to watch.  But, I'm worried when he wants to drink the water and the fishies are eating. 

I'll take pictures Saturday.  That will make 2 weeks.  I read the seed packages.  Germination is supposed to happen from 1 to 2 weeks...So it's about the same as a dirt garden so far.

[4Etznab]

Had to male another trip to the CCU knocked me down for a minute but I'm back now. I've missed you all. I'm glad to hear your project is going so well! 

[Day_Tripper]

Wait...is that an acronym for critical care unit?!

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!  FUCKER!  And you know, fucker means I love you, in biker terms.  

Seriously, eat right!  Eat your veggies!!!!  Raw preferably.  Make lot's of salads throw a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar on it, and maybe a wee bit-o-raw garlic and/or nuts and/or flax seeds.  Or, I like to make honey mustard dressing.  1 part mustard (maybe a table spoon) 1 part raw honey, olive oil (enough to blend) and maybe a little raw organic apple cider vinegar to break up the honey a bit.  Whisk that up and voila...it's a great salad dressing or dip for raw veggies.

Remember, raw garlic rocks, so does raw ginger root.  Both of them are natural antibiotics and can help to heal the body of many ailments.  Throw them on salads.

Speaking of ginger and garlic, I planted a garlic in my aquaponics.  She is doing well.  I also planted a ginger root which doesn't show green yet, but I think she may be growing a few roots (I moved some rocks and peeked ).  I'm thinking that when I set up my next system I'm going to go for "free" seeds.  I may even do dandelions, I love dandelions, the greens are great in salads and the roots make a great tea.  You know things like mustard seed, which I have in my cabinet, strawberries, melons, squash, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, etc.