Aquaponics Version 2

After contemplating the initial design, I thought that the one plant tank was a little small. 

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This version uses the same one pump to send the fish water to a holding tank that sits atop the pump cabinet which waterfalls into two plant  tanks, each of which have a waterfall drain back into the fish tank which will be below grade.  The tanks will be trimed with 2x bench stock and slate stones as appropriate.

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Not a heck more work to double the planting space.  We are getting close to the final version

 

 

The SketchUp program that I designed this with is available free on-line and is really worth taking the time to download and learn.  My knowledge is rudimentary, but I plan to stick with it.

Aquaponics Design

This is the initial design that I produced with SketchUP.

The fish tank is on the left, and the fish poop and other effluent gravitates to the bottom of the tank where it is pumped to the plant tank. The plants, floating on styrofoam "rafts", absorb the organic fertilizer, and return clean, oxygenated water via a waterfall drain back to the fish tank.

The four foot deep fish tank will be three feet below grade with a foot above the ground. The two foot deep plant tank will sit on grade. Excavation will be the toughest part of the project and includes trenching to the house for the electrical conduits running to the water pump located at an enclosure at the end of the plant tank.

The tanks will be made of pressure treated plywood, reinforced with West System Epoxy and fiberglass fabric, and coated on the inside with a product called BrewCoat, which is designed to coat the inside of potable water tanks. The system will hold a combined 1,330 gallons and will be pumped with a 1000 gallon per hour water pump, that will be attached to a timer so that the water periodically circulates 24 hr/day.

The fish tank will be lined underground with polystyrene panels for insulation, and a grid floor with be set at the two foot level which will allow fish to go to the bottom of the tank to avoid cranes and raccoons, but will stop kids from sinking to the bottom of the tank if they fall in by accident (or on purpose).

Joanne wanted me to make some raised planting beds for vegetables, but we can have fish with our vegetables with this rig. I have the material budget at $1,100 and 11 man days will be required. And there is no particular credit to the man days even if a Mountain of a Man is doing the work.

The big contingency will be if I hit ledge when I dig the ditch for the fish tank.

If everything goes well, this system should be in place in the backyard by June, and we will stock it with Bluegill fingerlings and grow tomatoes and cukes. 
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I like the idea of the Bluegills because they are a hardy fish found in local ponds, and the kids may like to catch them for fun.  You could go with Koi or Goldfish if you wanted an ornamental fish tank, or you could stock with Tilapia or even Rainbow Trout if you wanted to raise the fish in the system specifically to harvest as food.
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Doug Maxfield, who used to have the second best Blog in cyberspace, northshorewaterman.com, before his last post some time ago, kept a largemouth bass, Bassford, in a tank in his living room for six years, so that is an option, although I would think that Bass could outgrow the aquaponics tank.

Sinkholes and Sequestration

So you hit the sack after a long day, and try to get in some z's.   You've locked the door and have your Smith and Wesson 380 close by in the nightstand, so nothing can really screw with you and your snooze.... right?
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Well, if you were that poor Bastard in Florida, shortly after you entered slumber, the freaking ground gives way under your house and you are buried alive.
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Man... talk about Bad Kharma!
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Word is that Nancy Pelosi says that the sinkhole crisis is due to the Republicans and Sequestration.

POTW Week 9 of 2013

So many things to think about lately.... what with aquaponics, weight loss, sequestration and other cutting topics on the agenda.  It's easy to lose your focus and forget about some of the really important things.... likely choosing the Peep of the Week.
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Granted I've been very lax at this obligation, but it's time to rededicate to this weekly feature that is so popular with Nanepashemet Peeps of all Persuasions.  It used to be that if I forgot to make the selections, so many of you would object that I'd almost feel a little bad.   But time and age have hardened me a bit, and I've become less vulnerable to your bitching and moaning.
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Anyway...
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ANNOUNCING.....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 9th week of 2013.

Mike Nestor
Jon Dolan
Chris Crawford
Dick Coppola
Nick Avagianos
Kim Hause

Now that that's all done, I think I will look out the window to see if everything is ok now that Sequestration has hit with all of its insidious consequences.  The Prez says that the shit is hitting the fan, and he wouldn't fib a little... would he?

Self Absorbent and Narcissistic

Peeps...
For the last two days it's been back and forth to New Haven County.   Lots of miles logged on the White F-150.  So I'm kind of wiped out as I write this, and have a ton of email to attend to.
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But it was worth it, and the last two days may go down in Nanepashemet Telecom history as a crucial business turning point.   At least the potential is there.
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Being a Mountain of a Man means that you can't get your hopes up too high, nor can you drag your ass through the doldrums.  You've got to keep that even middle ground.
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Then I get back and check on Facebook and I find that one of my old classmates from Lynn English High School posted, while I was pre-occupied in Connecticut,  that this Blog is self-absorbent and narcissistic.  
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Being open minded and kind hearted, I didn't take offense.   Just because someone is a Dick, that doesn't make him a bad person.    Damn... I've always admitted that this pathetic Blog is indeed pathetic, and normal adjusted people really shouldn't read it,  but those comments lingered in my mind and began to cut like a knife.  Might be time to go on a bender.
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Just because this Blog is all about me, ....what I think, what I feel, and what I do...  that doesn't make it self absorbent and narcissistic.... does it?   .....I don't think so either.  Granted, with the Mountain of a Man status that I have anointed upon myself, it does appear to be a bit pretentious at times....   But the truth cannot be held back.
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So many of you lack the ability to form your own opinions and live you own lives, that I have been forced to carry this formidable weight of giving you truth and direction multiple times a week.   Kind of like the way the Liberals do (I can't imagine how Barack copes.... maybe he and I can start a support group or something).   And the thousands, even dozens of hits that the Blog gets in a week is testament to the obligation I have to dribble out a little wisdom to the multitudes as much as possible.
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I can't be responsible for people slitting their wrists, or jumping off cliffs just because I've cut down on the daily posts.    What do you think this is????  Sequestation or Something?????     I have to "Keep Calm and Carry On" no matter what cutting criticism is hurled in the MOAM's direction.
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So Peeps.... you have to realize... it's all about ME... but only for the benefit of YOU.
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Except for You,   DICK.

Doug Said....

Haters gonna hate. Personally, I enjoy reading about your bowel movements and long car rides.

Revived Again

Last year, about this time, I revived my intent to integrate an aquaponic system into our rocky ledge side yard.  And last night, Dale Johnson brought over a cool Pond catalog which got me thinking about making  a spring run at it this year.   Kate's wedding might push this project off, or maybe not.

Aquaponic Revival

I've been thinking of reviving my Aquaponics project that I scoped out a few years ago.  There is something really cool about raising fish and vegetables in a interactive organic system.... plus it could come in handy if I survive the Mayan end of days. (Editors Note... we did.)

The standard fish is Tilapia, but I'd love to stock the tank with Bass.
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Must be spring fever.

1. Doug Said...Mar 15, 2012 06:31 AM

   Bass are surprisingly interactive pets...Rip Bassford; 2000-2006.
2. 
   Tuna Lips Said....Mar 15, 2012 08:54 AM

   Looks somefin' like the rig ole Shoo Fly had back in North Memphis days, fer growin' reefer indoors, outside of pryin' eyes and such. Ended up torchin' halfa block of triple deckers. He had to split town right quick, bench warrants, you get the picture.
   
   Ole Shoo. Never was much good with jackin' 'lectricity offa the neighbors meter.
   
   

A Letter from St. MOAM to the Corinthians

Peeps....
I was hoping to ease off of the Weight Loss Epistles, but with so many of you hounding the crap out of me by constantly asking about the current status, I guess I have the pathetic obligation to report.  Now I know what the Apostles must have felt like with all of their gospel letters and stuff.
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Anyway... I'm Down 20.7 lbs.
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That's alot for two weeks, but remember I got a huge jump start with the three day juice fast at the beginning.   My calorie counting LoseIt.com program calls for a loss of 2 lbs. per week if I keep to my daily net calorie budget, but I have been significantly under it by adding an hour on the pain machines daily, so have been averaging about 4lbs. loss per week.
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Adding the exercise means that I can eat pretty much whatever I want as long as I account for the calories and portion control.   But when you honestly ask yourself when you are reaching for a cookie if you are really hungry, more often than not, the answer is "No".
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So then you have a choice to make... the joy of the cookie, or the satisfaction of seeing the weight loss at tomorrow's morning weigh in.   The honest truth for myself is that I have felt no real hunger at all during this regime.  And the exercise has almost eliminated the pain in my legs and knees that I had previously conceded as attributable to aging.
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You might have noticed by now that I haven't disclosed to you my starting weight or my final weight loss goal... because it's none of your damn business.... but suffice it to say that the 20 lb loss is just a start and the goal is quite a few more lbs. down the road.
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Although, I'm wicked optimistic about making my target number before the warm weather comes back if the current trends hold.
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A good test for me will be tonight when Dale and Gail Johnson drop by for dinner.   If Dale doesn't call me "Big Guy" in the first five minutes or so, it will be a clear sign that this weight loss gig is working.

Sleep Over at Auntie Kate's house.

Hacks, Scammers, and Lowlifes

Peeps....
There are a lot of creeps, losers, and lowlifes out there who spend their time on earth trying to hack into our email accounts, on-line accounts and social profiles.  You would tink that these hackers could do something better than work their illegal attacks on us, but a Loser is a Loser.
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It seems like everyday that some of these sorry losers makes a run at my stuff, and  I always fend them off by myself with little effort.   For the most part, it is enough just to rebuff the hacks which is easy.
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But I ran into a highly successful company which gave me a reasonable proposal to not only perform cyber detection to identify the losers, but their legal department will also file suit and prosecute!   And they quickly ran down one of the perps who has been bothering me and started the process.  There is a good chance that I will get a judgement and make some money.
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Oh Baby!   Nothing I like better than going after scammers and low lifes.   This should be interesting.

Buttons and Zippers

Peeps...
You don't have to be a Mountain of a Man to realize that sometimes you tend to obsess on things.   But it helps to have a certain MOAM perception of these things.
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I mean, I know that I've been obsessive on this weight loss regime  of late.   But at least I haven't mentioned any fake Cherokee Senators during this rant, so how bad can it really be?
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Let's face it..... none of you gave a rat's ass that Elizabeth Warren lied to us and still was elected a US Senator by the sheep herd that is known as the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
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And I'm pretty sure that you really don't care that I've found the way to steady and attainable weight loss.  
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But do you really think that I give even a inkling of a shit about what you think????   Not even a little bit.
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The fact is, I have a pretty big business meeting coming up in a little more than two weeks, with a highly successful guy that I haven't seen since the late 1980's.   And I'll probably have to suit up for the effort.   Even though, I'm fifteen lbs. down from a week or so ago, it will take another ten or so in the next two weeks to give me a little zipper room in my Brooks Brothers make-a-deal suit.
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I've done the math, and know exactly how may calories I have to avoid in order to button up the pants in the time allotted.