1 Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems Junior Assembly Manual 2008-2015 Colle Davis, All rights reserved Utility Patent Application Filed December 24, 2013. Section G - Fish Tanks and Introducing Fish into Fish Tanks Photo 1-5 x 40 Grow Tables for a Commercial Portable Farms Aquaponics System in Lagos, Nigeria. The gravel has just been washed and installed in Grow Tables built in a greenhouse. Please note the seedlings waiting to be planted AFTER the water has been installed in the Fish Tanks. PLEASE NOTE: Before you even begin to address the issues related to the Fish Tanks, make sure you thoroughly screen and wash the gravel before placing it in the Grow Table and before putting the water in the Fish Tank. The Fish Tank, referred to in this Section of the Assembly Manual and in Sections N and U in the Operations Manual, is actually a multi-part system consisting of a tank constructed of food grade material (generally plastic or rubber) that holds water, a covering of some kind to keep the fish in (from jumping out), the CAD Pump, two air stones and the return line from the ATV in the Grow Table. Collectively this multi-part system/component is referred to as the Fish Tank. And, if you live in cool to cold climates, we recommend insulating the tank and adding an aquarium heater to keep the water a stable temperature of 78 to 80 degrees F.
2 Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems use tilapia as the fish for our systems (tilapia is a common fish used in most all aquaponics systems worldwide because they are a hearty, healthy fish that grows well in a fish farm environment). They prefer water that is at least 78 degrees F which is far warmer than trout, bass or other cold-water fish enjoy. If you live in a warm climate, you may not have to keep the water warm year round. However, we live in Southern Florida and we still provide heaters for the Fish Tank during winter months because temperatures can creep into the 40 s at night here during winter months. Section G addresses ways you can keep the fish tank warm and at a consistent temperature for the health of your fish. Here is a brief YouTube Video about the fish we use in Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems: CLICK HERE. Photo 2 The water in the fish tanks is always clear (with only occasional floating fish poop/waste) and it s also always the color of tea, a slightly golden yellow/amber. In black tanks this is very hard to see. The fish in this tank are about 5 long and about 6 months old. As you can see, this tank doesn t have many fish in it because it s a very small Grow Table and there is no need for much fish waste nutrient load for the few plants that are in this small farm. Photo 3: Tilapia is a common fish used in most all aquaponics systems in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, some aquaponics systems use white perch and barramundi in their aquaponics systems but we do not have experience with either of these fish in aquaponics for a variety of reasons (including legality and availability).
3 Seafood Health Facts: Tilapia has progressively grown in popularity since 2002 when it first entered the top ten lists of the most frequently consumed seafood products in the United States. It is currently the fourth most popular type of fish behind tuna, salmon and Alaskan Pollock, and the third most popular aquaculture or farm raised seafood product behind shrimp and salmon. Since 2006, Americans have consumed over 1 pound of tilapia per person each year. Predictions suggest it will remain a popular selection due to its mild flavor and taste, versatility in preparation, and competitive prices. ALLOW ME TO REPEAT: To size the Fish Tank correctly, multiply the number of square feet in the Grow Table times two to calculate the number of gallons needed for the Fish Tank. The maximum loading capacity for fish in most aquaponics system is 1 fish per gallon of water. Here is our secret formula that everyone, everywhere interested in aquaponics is trying to discover and it is one of the key reasons for the success of our Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems so please, take 5 minutes to map it out in your mind: The maximum loading capacity for fish in the system is to never exceed 1 fish per gallon of water. And the second part of the formula is based on two fish per square foot of grow space. And you cannot exceed one fish per gallon so the fish tank always needs to be based on the maximum number of square feet in the grow trays to determine the size of the fish tanks and the number of fish. Even though the loading rate for fish appears to be the same as the Fish Tank sizing it is NOT. In the US and Canada, the most common Fish Tank used is called a stock watering tank or trough and they come in 3ft (85 gallon), 4ft (165 gallon), 5ft (265 gallon) sizes. In many tropical climates the use of roto-molded tanks is very common for roof storage of water and these come in a variety of sizes. These roto-molded tanks all have to be cut shorter and reinforced to fit under the Grow Table. The watering troughs also come in oblong shapes (see below) of similar capacity. These work equally as well and sometimes are easier to place under the Grow Table. We recommend 100 to 400 gallon food grade low-density polyethylene watering troughs. Most feed stores carry a variety of sizes. To give you an idea of size for the polyethylene troughs, visit this or other sites to see prices and sizes for their products: http://www.plasticmart.com/category/41/plastic-stock-tanks-water-troughs
4 Photo 4: Typical Plastic oblong tank Photo 5: Label on Fish Tank The formula to figure out the volume of any cylinder, such as your Fish Tank is this: πr 2 xh. Now in real world terms: The area of the bottom times the height (measured in the same increments) equals the volume of the cylinder in a cubic measurement. This does not work on the tank above. The bottom is much smaller than the top. Read the label and accept it as accurate. Here is an example from our own work. The plastic roto-molded tank we bought was exactly 3ft in diameter, so we used 1.5ft as the radius. This gave us 3.1417 (pi) times 1.5 x 1.5 (1.5 squared) or 7.07 sq ft. Then the area of the bottom times the height of the sides or 2ft resulted in 14.14 cubic feet. There are 7.48 gallons of water per cubic foot. So, 14.14 times 7.48 = 105.8 gallons. That is the size of the Fish Tank made from the 3 ft black roto-molded water tank. You simply have to plug in the numbers (measurements) and you will know exactly the size of the Fish Tank you have. The Insulated Fish Tank discussed in this Section G is again a multi-part component consisting of a stock watering tank, a lid with a window in it (used to cover an opening in the top of the insulated box), a fountain pump and the return line from the Grow Table plus an insulated box around it. Collectively this multi-part component is referred to as the Insulated Fish Tank. An insulated box (Photo 6) is built from plywood or flake board and reinforced in each corner with 2x2 s or 2x3 s for strength. The top of the Fish Tank insulated container is a very shallow, upside down box, just deep enough to create a lip to hold the insulated top in place. Or, it can simply be a flat cover made the same as one of the sides of the box. After the box is built, the insulation, rigid bead board, 1.5 inches thick is glued in place on the bottom, sides and top. If the Module is in a high traffic area the corners need to be protected with angle iron or the metal sheetrock corner pieces.
5 Photo 6: 200 gallon Insulated Fish Tank box with lid/cover Photos 7 & 8: (above) A wooden frame cover is used in greenhouse cover (plastic) to contain the heat, reduce the water loss from evaporation and to protect the fish. This transparent lid is easy to keep clean and provides ample sunlight for the fish. The exact measurements of the insulated Fish Tank box can vary because the stock tanks come in a variety of sizes that vary from the nominal listed size depending on manufacturer. The insulated boxes and the Grow Table will look much nicer and more finished if they are stained or painted. This staining/painting is a personal preference and helps preserve the wood, plus it looks beautiful but again, it s optional. The building of the insulated box in place in much easier than building it off site and carrying it to be put in place. The boxes are not heavy, but they are awkward. Building them near where they will be used does require them to be built offset from the Grow Table because the stock tank has to be placed inside before the top is put in place. DO NOT FASTEN THE TOP DOWN YET. Make sure the lid (movable component), not the top, is large enough for a person to have access inside the tank during feeding or harvesting activities. An opening of 18 x 24 inches is usually a sufficient size for the lid.
6 In order to keep the heat in the Fish Tank place the water trough/tank on a two inch piece of Styrofoam or similar rigid insulation. This prevents the heat from flowing out of the tank and into the ground. Photo 9: This is an example of installing bead board inside the fish tank to help maintain heat between 78 and 80 degrees year round. The wires go to the heaters. Photo 10: In cooler/colder climates (areas that night/day temperatures drop under 40 degrees to maintain a constant temperature), you can also add Styrofoam packing peanuts between the insulation on the walls of the insulated boxes and the fish tank. In addition to the insulated box, you will need to the install into the Fish Tank one or two aquarium heaters into the water in the Fish Tank. We have very successfully used two 150watt aquarium heaters and they are incredibly effective at keeping the water temperature constant at 78 to 80 F, even for 400 gallons of water. PLEASE NOTE these heaters need to be replaced about every 6 to 12 months because they grow crud and break. The Operations Manual (Section P) also has a variety of settings that can be adjusted to help maintain the temperature later in the season. Solar heating of the water is also a possibility. Information on solar heating of water is on the Internet and with a little research you will find inexpensive system to compliment the Portable Farms installation. In hot-to-severely-hot climates, arrangements must be made to cool the Grow Table to protect the plants. The water circulation can be used effectively to moderate the temperature of the water, gravel and air and this type of adjustment is addressed in the Operations Manual Section P.
7 ½ inch CPVC placed around the edge of the tank to stiffen the rim so tank doesn t distort. Photo 11-105 gallon Fish Tank made from a plastic water storage tank sitting in an insulated box. Please note the ½ inch CPVC pipe (Photo 11 - not easily seen so please look again - closely where the arrow is pointing) that has been used inside rim is to stiffen the tank s upper edge. You can also use regular ½ inch PVC for this, BUT be very careful about bending it too quickly, it may kink. Place the ½ inch pipe inside the rim so it is near the top and hard pressed against the sides. At the place it overlaps, make a mark and remove the pipe. Cut the pipe exactly on the mark, glue a union on one end of the pipe, glue the other end of the union, bend the pipe in a circle and insert the other end into the union and very carefully place the circle of pipe into the tank. Then with someone helping you, gradually bring the pipe up to near the rim starting on one side. Slowly work the pipe up to the top until it is level and approximately ¾ inch down from the top. Then at four places, equidistant around the rim, drill a pop rivet size hole through the tank and through the side of the pipe and fasten the tank to the pipe with pop rivets. The only hole in most readymade tanks is the one used to drain the tank. Place a reducer and valve on the drain hole so if you ever have to drain it for some reason you can easily accomplish this task. No holes are necessary in an enclosed Portable Farms tank installation. Installing fish into your Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems AFTER COMPLETE ASSEMBLY (NOT BEFORE): After you have completed the assembly of your farm and you have filled the Fish Tank and the Clarifier with water, turn on the system and allow the water run for at least one full day before you place your fish into the Fish Tank. This will give the water a chance to cure and to come up in temperature by being run through the warm gravel. We dissolve one 500 mg capsule of Vitamin C (pure ascorbic acid) into the water to eliminate the chlorine in the water. Coverings: To keep the fish confined to the Fish Tank, you will need to cover the Fish Tank with something. You can make the covering as simple as a screen or netting (in warm climates) over the entire surface or as elaborate as a complete insulted cover (in cooler climates). Tilapia are
8 very fast and entertaining (clown-like really) and they will jump out of the tank if you re not careful, especially during feeding so keep the tank covered to protect your fish. Photo 12: This Portable Farms installed in a tropical climate and we used a net to keep fish from jumping out and then laid one single acrylic sheet over the exposed tank to let the sunlight in the tank Photo 13 This plastic frame (greenhouse plastic cover on inside of frame and outside of frame so it s double layered) is an ideal Fish Tank cover to maintain the heat in the water and protect the fish. It s also durable and easy to wash (hose off) from time to time. We generally use a rag with diluted vinegar and water to clean the interior of the Fish Tank s lid as an additional cleaner. Again, the fish need to be confined, because they will jump out if given the opportunity. When they are tiny this is less critical, but install the Fish Tank cover as soon as possible. Releasing your fish into your Fish Tanks: Most tilapia are delivered in plastic bags. (Refer to Photo 14 below). Place the bag in the fingerlings (small fish) in the Fish Tank with the top open and one of your air stones in the bag to oxygenate the water. After an hour, place a quart of so of Fish Tank water in the plastic bag with the fish. After two hours, very carefully remove the air stone and gently release the fish into the fish tank. Hold the bag by the bottom corners and slowly pull the bag up out of the
9 water. Make sure all the babies are in their new home and not left in the bag. You can feed the fish - a very small amount of flakey fish food - right away. Photo 14 - Tilapia in Bag (These are a salmon colored Tilapia. Most are grey, some are white.) Photo 15 - Fish introduced to Fish Tank in plastic bag Photo 16 - Fingerlings after being released The health of your fish is the basis of health for your entire system. The Portable Farms is designed to grow very healthy fish. We had the lead veterinarian for Sea World work with PFAS LLC for two years and he would tell everyone that the fish in the Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems were the healthiest fish he had ever seen anywhere. After all, our system FLUSHS and cleans the Fish Tank (much like a toilet) two or more times per day to remove the waste and reoxygenates the water. Make your fish at home in the best possible environment and they will reward you in many ways. Caveat: Phyllis Davis offers this advice, TALK to the fish when you open the lid to the fish tank to create a quick bond with the fish. Say things like, Good fish. Look how big you re getting! Good fish. Yes, it sounds like baby talk but it WORKS and the fish respond by jumping when I feed them or even when I walk into the greenhouse. They know love when they see it. Just like all of us...