Hydroponics is better than Aquaponics?

Charlie

and expensive...

Aquastud

But grows better vegetables.

Mr Damage

........

Is there an emote for big cojones?...

EAGLEYE

i am using my hydroponics to grow all my fruiting veggies and my aquaponics to grow all my lettuces

and future spinich ( all greens that only need N)

hyroponics IS boring , but it IS easy and it does produce the BEST vegies

bryjjk

Personally, I was looking into a hydroponics system, but seeing I work away from home on a roster system, there was too much constant checking on the hydroponics required that put me off. It was a system that my family would find hard to upkeep and thus would not keep up the checks required.

I find the Aquaponics to be far simpler and user friendly and the family enjoys feeding the fish and seeing the results in the GB. All in all it is an easy system to setup and maintain with a minimum of checking required to have a successful system up and running at home. It has certainly caught on in our family' but at the start they were sceptical it would work and quite disinterested. Attitudes have certainly changed now in our family and the system is quite a talking point with family and friends.

hawaiinewbie

This is an interesting thread. I think both have its pros and cons. Also it depends on your needs and wants.

I'm becoming more and more convinced that if you are going commercial, having both is probably the way to go. Now if you going design a system that can use the fish water, and also chemicals, there's the winner. Control of disease and pests is a major issue. My thinking is first grow with AP. Then if you get hit with pests or fungus, divert fish water somewhere else, chloronate/spray pests, run hydro for a while, then later switch back to AP. That way you get a consistent production of produce.

If we're talking backyard its hands down AP. A local professor is really big on looking at the family factors. Having an AP system is great for a family with kids. Its fun and a great way for families to spend time together. I have to agree.

earthbound

EAGLEYE wrote:

i am using my hydroponics to grow all my fruiting veggies and my aquaponics to grow all my lettuces

and future spinich ( all greens that only need N)

hyroponics IS boring , but it IS easy and it does produce the BEST vegies

You might be surprised Eagleye, AP isn't just for leafy veg, I've seen some huge crops of tomatoes, capsicum, chilli, eggplant, peas, beans etc.

rsevs3

My capsicum has been by far the best producer in my AP. Closely followed by my chilli.

EAGLEYE

earthbound wrote:

EAGLEYE wrote:

i am using my hydroponics to grow all my fruiting veggies and my aquaponics to grow all my lettuces

and future spinich ( all greens that only need N)

hyroponics IS boring , but it IS easy and it does produce the BEST vegies

You might be surprised Eagleye, AP isn't just for leafy veg, I've seen some huge crops of tomatoes, capsicum, chilli, eggplant, peas, beans etc.

you might be right EB

as im a newbie to aquaponics i can definatly say only time will tell :mrgreen:

and im looking forward to every second finding out

earthbound

Sometimes people get too hung up on the nitrogen cycle and how that works, and ok, it is important to an extent, especially for the fish side, but it doesn't mean that an AP system is just about nitrogen.. Especially when you use a good quality feed.

Check out the fruits in Ryans system, very impressive stuff..

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=12589&start=105

RupertofOZ

Yep, I don't understand the "AP is only good for leafy veges" line either...

I've consistantly posted photo, after photo, of both my own systems... and those that I've installed... showing prolific growth of almost anything planted...

And so have many, many others....

I don't even know where the suggestion comes from.... :dontknow:

Charlie

There's plenty of proof here! :headbang:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6036&hilit=size+does+matter

Dave Donley

I made a point to grow only fruiting vegetables in my system in 2008, just to poke a stick in the only leafy vegetables line. Lots of tomatoes, a pumpkin, cantalopes, peppers, etc. No leafy vegetables.

earthbound

I think it's because people get obsessed by the nitrogen cycle..

Now a days when people come into the shop we don't mention the nitrogen cycle unless they show some prior knowledge or ask questions along those lines. It's just "plants clean the water for the fish, and the fish supply the nutrients for the plants."

EAGLEYE

i just choose plants that only require alot of N

. i am also not growing in a bed ...
i wouldnt say im obsessed with the N cycle although i just like the idea of not adding any extra sprays .
i have a great doc that you guys might like from my hyroponics its to do with ec readings .. and i know that ec is permently changing in aquaponics , but it does give a rough guide to whats i your water .
*steps away from computer to find the doc :-P

*
well i have it infront of me .... but i dont have a scanner . i will see if i can find it on the net...
cant find it and i have to go to work .ill try and get my lady to scan it at work for me tomorrow .

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