HUY TRAN PENTAIR AQUATIC ECO SYSTEMS, INC.

Transcription

1 HUY TRAN PENTAIR AQUATIC ECO SYSTEMS, INC.

2 Introduction What are the types of Aquaponics systems? Methods being used: How each method works The pros and cons of each method The varieties of plants that work best for that method You can use most system types that are designed for use in hydroponics so long as proper filtration is given to the water prior to being delivered to the plants and you follow a cleaning regimen.

3 Deep Water Culture Method & How it works: A raft is floated on top of a water trough that is fed by the effluent from a fish tank. Holes are drilled at an appropriate spacing for selected plants Plants are placed in the raft for grow out. Pros: Ease of harvest. Easy to use gravity to feed the troughs. Easy to construct troughs. Generally requires a water pump with low pressure which can save $$ on electricity. Most research available to date, primarily from UVI Cons: Additional aeration needed. Certain crops don t do as well when their roots are constantly exposed to water.

4 Deep Water Culture

5 Deep Water Culture Method Varieties that Work Best: Lettuce and Leafy greens Squash Tomatoes Cucumbers Peas Okra There are many more varieties that will thrive in a raft system. Root crops don t generally do well but there are some of those that will grow in a raft: Radish, Turnip, Beet, Onion, etc

6 Ebb and Flow (AKA Flood and Drain, Media Bed, Wicking Bed) Method & How it Works: Water periodically floods and drains a tank filled with media throughout the day. The flooding provides nutrients to the root system while the drain period allows a large amount of oxygen to come into contact with the roots. Flood periods can be any where from once every 6 hours to once every 5 minutes depending on the environment, media and crop. Timer Used to irrigate the bed at a set interval Bell Siphon a mechanical means of flooding and draining a bed with the use of a siphon.

7 Ebb and Flow

8 Ebb and Flow (AKA Flood and Drain) Pros Ability to grow a wider variety of vegetables such as root crops and long term crops like fruiting trees and vines. Ability to incorporate worms into the aquaponic system. Cons Weight The media can be heavy. It can be difficult to wash and difficult to support depending on the weight and type of media used. Expense It can be expensive depending on the amount and type used. Clogging The media can clog over time if not cared for properly. Power outages can quickly lead to crop loss (not in wicking beds)

9 Ebb and Flow (AKA Flood and Drain) Varieties that Work Best: Leafy Greens and Herbs: Vining Crops: Long Term Crops: Root Crops:

10 NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) Method: Continuous flow, film, of nutrient in the plant culture tank How it Works: Plants are placed into small channels at an appropriate spacing. A Shallow stream of water is flowed from the higher end of the channel to the lower end where the water exits into a master collection channel and is re circulated to the sump.

11 NFT

12 NFT

13 NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) Pros Small area involved. Channels are light weight and mobile. Cleaning of channels between crops is easy. Can be used for many years. Cons Better suited for smaller plants (Though they do make larger channels for larger crops). Power outages or clogging of water line can quickly lead to crop failure. Initial cost can be high. Root disease can easily be passed to other plants in the same channel.

14 NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) Varieties that work best Leafy greens Herbs Smaller more compact plants/flowers, etc. Short term crops

15 Vertical Towers or Stacks Method Plant culture vessels are stacked on top of each other How it works: Plants are oriented vertically in a growing apparatus to maximize use of ground space. Can be filled with Perlite, coco fiber, vermiculite, etc. or used empty when used as an aeroponic device. They are watered from the top and gravity allows the water to flow down through the entire growing medium and then be re circulated back to the sump.

16 Verticals

17 Verticals

18 Vertical Towers or Stacks Pros: More plants in the same space as traditional plantings utilizing horizontal oriented planting schemes. Ease of harvesting. Cons: Better suited for smaller crops. If not planted correctly the top plants can shade the bottom plants and cause uneven growth rates. Clogging issues if not properly cared for. Varieties that Work Best: Smaller vegetables and plants like leafy greens, lettuces and herbs.

19 Dutch Buckets Method Drip media culture in Buckets How it works: A 3 gal bucket is filled with perlite, coco fiber or any other planting material and fed from the top with a drip stake. Drain fittings at the bottom that lead to a central drain line which flows back to the sump. There is a small reservoir of water in the bottom of the bucket to ensure the roots stay moist between irrigations.

20 Dutch Buckets

21 Dutch Buckets Pros: Simple to set up. Can grow a wide variety of crops (though you generally see larger crops being grown). The reservoir at the bottom of the bucket allows for a bit of extra insurance incase of a power outage. Cons: Upkeep on equipment is timelier. Media needs to be periodically replaced. Clogging can be an issue if not properly cared for.

22 Dutch Buckets Varieties that work best: Tomatoes Cucumbers Peppers Eggplant Okra

23 Auto Watering Pots Method Drip on demand, wicking media culture How it works: Plant culture system use float valves to regulate nutrient solution There is a small reservoir of water in the bottom of the bucket to ensure the roots stay moist.

24 Auto Watering Pots Pros: Simple to set up. Can grow a wide variety of crops (though you generally see larger crops being grown). The reservoir at the bottom of the bucket allows for a bit of extra insurance incase of a power outage. No return pluming Work well for decoupled system or as a retro fit to existing RAS Cons: Upkeep on equipment is timelier. Media needs to be periodically replaced. Clogging can be an issue if not properly cared for.

25 Perlite, Coco Fiber or Rockwool Slabs Method Drip nutrient to media bags or slabs How it Works: A sealed bag is pre filled with the media of your choosing. Seeds can be started directly in the slab or in a starter cube where they are later moved into a block, then set on top of a slab. The slab is irrigated from the top by a drip stake.

26 Rockwool Slab

27 Perlite, Coco Fiber or Rockwool Slabs Pros: Easy to set up. Ability to grow a wide variety of crops. Cons: Must periodically buy new media. Upkeep on equipment is timelier. Crop failure can happen quickly in a power outage situation.

28 Perlite, Coco Fiber or Rockwool Slabs Varieties that Work Best: Vine crops are generally grown such as: Tomatoes Cucumbers Squash Eggplant, etc. Okra and many others types. Lettuces and leafy greens can also be grown by this method though it is not generally economically feasible to do so.

29 Wicking Mats Method Wicking mats or media How it works: A piece of material is laid flat and allowed to wick or absorb the water in which it is in.

30 Wicking Mats Pros Self watering as long as you keep a small reservoir or stream of water running to the mat Perfect for delicate crops like microgreens, sprouts and animal fodder. Cons Must periodically replace material Can mold if left in stagnant water

31 Wicking Mats Pros Self watering as long as you keep a small reservoir or stream of water running to the mat Perfect for delicate crops like microgreens, sprouts and animal fodder. Cons Must periodically replace material Can mold if left in stagnant water Varieties that Work Best: All Sprouts and Microgreens.

32 Wicking Mat