Aquaponics
**New**
Our larger aquaponic system is currently for sale! If you're at all interested please feel free to reach out to us on our contact page for more details.
Great Lakes Aquaponics Facility
We have two outside aquaponic systems that consist of a tank for fish production linked to troughs for growing plants on floating rafts. The rafts are 4 x 8 foot sheets of polystyrene foam either 1 ½ or 2 inches thick with 2 inch holes drilled in the foam to accept 2 inch diameter net pots. Typical spacing between plants allows 48 -72 plants per raft. Each system is enclosed in a greenhouse for year round operation. Both systems operate in a re-circulating mode with aeration provided by spraying the water on the surface of the fish tanks. The outlets for all the systems are covered by screen mesh with the nearest storm drain approximately 30 feet away across a paved parking lot. The system outlets are also directed away from the storm drains. The fish tanks are covered with screens to prevent fish from jumping out of the tanks. Also the tanks are covered with shade cloth to limit algae growth in the fish tanks.
The first system is maintained between temperature ranges of 68 0F to 78 0F to give a warm water system under optimal conditions. The fish tank (300 gallons) is supported by 4 rafts for plant growth and water purification (Figure 1) and a 400 hundred gallon rainwater reserve tank. The long axis of the system is in an East –West orientation to maximize solar gain to the system.
The second system is maintained between 55 0F and 72 0F to give a cool water system under optimal conditions. The fish tank is supported by 10 rafts for plant growth and water purification (Figure 2) and an 800 gallon rainwater reserve tank. Both systems operate in a re-circulating mode with aeration provided by spraying the water on the surface of the fish tanks. The long axis of the system is in a South – North orientation to minimize solar gain to the system.
There are several large aquariums of over 100 gallons inside the building that are used for growing fish to fingerling size and as a demonstration of the principle of aquaponics in a closed system. There is a dedicated 100 gallon closed aquaponics system that is used for the evaluation of different growth media under similar light and temperature plant growing conditions (Figure 3).
Our larger aquaponic system is currently for sale! If you're at all interested please feel free to reach out to us on our contact page for more details.
Great Lakes Aquaponics Facility
We have two outside aquaponic systems that consist of a tank for fish production linked to troughs for growing plants on floating rafts. The rafts are 4 x 8 foot sheets of polystyrene foam either 1 ½ or 2 inches thick with 2 inch holes drilled in the foam to accept 2 inch diameter net pots. Typical spacing between plants allows 48 -72 plants per raft. Each system is enclosed in a greenhouse for year round operation. Both systems operate in a re-circulating mode with aeration provided by spraying the water on the surface of the fish tanks. The outlets for all the systems are covered by screen mesh with the nearest storm drain approximately 30 feet away across a paved parking lot. The system outlets are also directed away from the storm drains. The fish tanks are covered with screens to prevent fish from jumping out of the tanks. Also the tanks are covered with shade cloth to limit algae growth in the fish tanks.
The first system is maintained between temperature ranges of 68 0F to 78 0F to give a warm water system under optimal conditions. The fish tank (300 gallons) is supported by 4 rafts for plant growth and water purification (Figure 1) and a 400 hundred gallon rainwater reserve tank. The long axis of the system is in an East –West orientation to maximize solar gain to the system.
The second system is maintained between 55 0F and 72 0F to give a cool water system under optimal conditions. The fish tank is supported by 10 rafts for plant growth and water purification (Figure 2) and an 800 gallon rainwater reserve tank. Both systems operate in a re-circulating mode with aeration provided by spraying the water on the surface of the fish tanks. The long axis of the system is in a South – North orientation to minimize solar gain to the system.
There are several large aquariums of over 100 gallons inside the building that are used for growing fish to fingerling size and as a demonstration of the principle of aquaponics in a closed system. There is a dedicated 100 gallon closed aquaponics system that is used for the evaluation of different growth media under similar light and temperature plant growing conditions (Figure 3).
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
