Amazing Geodesic Dome/Aquaponics setup

[vacuum]

This is the future. It's already here. Fully documented.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ynBppcvKM

[aeondaze]

I had an aquaponics setup run off a 7000 L rain tank for about four years during a really dry spell in oz which was basically a drought. I've decomisioned it since rainfall has become above average and just have a regular vegy patch. If you want to save water then this is the way to go. It uses about 10 to 20% of the water of a normal vegie patch with the advantage that you get protein as well. Germination rates were phenomenal as was time it took, I just direct sowed into the gravel growbed.

I had access to mains power but did some calculations and realised I could run the whole thing off a 40W solar panel with a SINGLE deep cycle batery for storage. Because it operated on a flood and drain cycle the pump was only operating once every 12 mins or so for about two minutes, I mady my own crenelated discharge tube which sucked from the bottom and emptied out the whole bed once it activated the lock. I loved the system and will definately do it again as and when is needed. Next time I'll add more automation with level/flow sensors, motorised ball valves, an oxygen meter and conrtol it with a small microcontroller with an LCD to input certain parameters. You can basically build one of these things and set it up where you only need minimal maintenace during the growth stage ie pH/nitrate tests, trimming and harvesting and maybe pH balance one in a while. Ocassionaly you need to clear the roots in the grow bed to ensure full discharge from the grow bed, but it is possible to FULLY automate these things.