Aquaponics 1 - thoughts on a cheap system

Hello all,
So i've kept fish in aquariums for several years now and at the same time tried to maintain a small herb garden. The last has been far from successful :-). So when I first read about the fascinating phenomenon called "Aquaponics", which combines these two hobbies, I was intrigued.
So I've decided to attempt to become an Aquaponical Dane :-).

I've a couple of quirky ideas regarding this:
1) I want my fish to stay healthy, the tanks to remain interesting, and make sure the fish are as happy as possible. This means I will keep plants etc within the tanks, although these will be competing with the plants we will hopefully be harvesting soonish.
2) I want the setup to be as cheap as possible. Hence I will not be buying any pre-made system nor any expensive parts. As a consequence I will probably have water everywhere in a few days time :-). 3) The project will have to be based on what I have already going on and what parts I can scrounge/ have stashed away.
4) I really want to see if I can keep costs to below 10-25$ in total.
5) Because of 2-4) there will be quite a lot of DIY, luck and curses involved in the project and if (when) things start to go wrong I'll need to find somewhere on the Net to gain help from...
6) I will be blessed with a very well cycled aquarium - theres a very healthy bacteria culture thirving in the tank, as well as a ton of micro and macro organisms living in the tank; Endler's Livebearers, snails, and Hyalekka azteca to name a few. Thus my problems will not come from keeping the fish alive etc, but from the Aquaponic system itself...

Wish me luck....

A fine example of Aquaponics frrom Wikipedia

For those not yet privy to the fascinating world of Aquaponics here is what information Wikipedia provides:

Aquaponicsis a sustainable food production system that combines a traditional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. In aquaculture, effluents accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity for the fish. This water is led to a hydroponic system where the by-products from the aquaculture are filtered out by the plants as vital nutrients, after which the cleansed water is recirculated back to the animals. The term aquaponics is a portmanteau of the terms aquaculture and hydroponic.
Aquaponic systems vary in size from small indoor or outdoor units to large commercial units, using the same technology. The systems usually contain fresh water, but salt water systems are plausible depending on the type of aquatic animal and which plants. Aquaponic science may still be considered to be at an early stage, relative to other sciences.

All the best,
Kasper

Fish Spotlight: Epiplatys annulatus (AKA Clown killi, Banded panchax, Pseudo-Epiplatys annulatus)

Hello all,

Used to have a small group of these wonderful little killies, Epiplatys annulatus. Alas they died one after the other over the course of half a year. One day I'll definately try them again, but this time in a larger tank and with much more 'cycled' content - I think they would really enjoy a heavily organic tank filled with insects of various types.

Pictures:

Epiplatys annulatus

Epiplatys annulatus

This is all Wikipedia has on this fish:
The Clown killi or Banded panchax (Epiplatys annulatus) is a species of African rivuline native to fresh water habitats in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in West Africa.

Here is a link to an article (in Danish) I wrote on this fish: http://www.akvariefisk.dk/species/show/?ArtID=15976

All the best,
Tokasper

Fish Spotlight: Betta Splendens - Siamese fighting fish

Hello all,
A few pictures of my fat male Betta splendens:

Betta splendens - don't mind the algae, this was just before I cleaned the tank :-)

Betta Splendens - Siamese fighting fish

Betta Splendens - Siamese fighting fish

Betta Splendens - Siamese fighting fish

If you should want to see where this blue beauty lives then this is its tank: http://fishtankdk.blogspot.dk/2012/12/cryptocoryne-country-20-l-nano-aquarium.html

Information from Wikipedia:

B. splendens usually grow to an overall length of about 3 inches, including fins. Although known for their brilliant colors and large, flowing fins, the natural coloration of B. splendens is a dull green and brown, and the fins of wild specimens are relatively short. Brilliantly colored and longer finned varieties (i.e. Veiltail; Delta; Superdelta; and Halfmoon) have been developed through selective breeding.
Properly kept and fed a correct diet, B. Splendens lives approximately 2-4 years in captivity but 5 is not uncommon. It is possible for them to live up to 10 years in rare cases.
The fish is a member of the gourami family (family Osphronemidae) of order Perciformes, but was formerly classified among the Anabantidae. Although there are nearly 50 other members of the Betta genus, B. splendens is one of the most popular species among aquarium hobbyists.
Betta Species also prefer a warmer water climate than other tropical fish - around 25-30 Degrees Celsius.(77-86 Degrees Fahrenheit)
Betta fish have an organ known as the labyrinth organ which allows them to breathe air at the water's surface. It is often wrongly thought that this organ allows Betta fish to be kept in unmaintained aquaria. This is a misconception as poor water quality makes all tropical fish, including Betta Splendens more susceptible to diseases such as fin rot.

The people of Siam and Malaya (now Thailand and Malaysia) are known to have collected these fish prior to the 19th century.
In the wild, bettas spar for only a few minutes or so before one fish backs off. Bred specifically for fighting, domesticated betta matches can go on for much longer, with winners determined by a willingness to continue fighting. Once one fish retreats, the match is over. Large amounts of money are wagered during these fights, with potential losses as great as a person's home.
Seeing the popularity of these fights, the king of Siam started licensing and collecting these fighting fish. In 1840, he gave some of his prized fish to a man who, in turn, gave them to Dr. Theodor Cantor, a medical scientist. Nine years later, Dr. Cantor wrote an article describing them under the name Macropodus pugnax. In 1909 the ichthyologist Charles Tate Regan, realizing that there was already a species with the name Macropodus pugnax, renamed the domesticated Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens.

Siamese fighting fish have upturned mouths and are primarily carnivorous surface feeders, although some vegetable matter may be eaten. In the wild, they feed on zooplankton, crustaceans, the larvae of mosquitoes and other water bound insect larvae. Typically, commercial betta pellets are a combination of mashed shrimp meal, wheat flour, fish meal, brine shrimp, bloodworms, and vitamins. These fish will also eat live or frozen bloodworms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, daphnia, small freshwater shrimp, and small fishes.
Hatching brine shrimp is a popular method used by many in the aquarium hobby to obtain live food for their Betta fish. Brine shrimp are the easiest live fish food to procure, hatch and cultivate and are particularly nutritious when the nauplii are in their early stages. Some aquarium fish are reluctant to accept dried or flake foods therefore live food is occasionally necessary.


All the best,
Tokasper

Fish Spotlight: Carinotetraodon travancoricus (AKA Dwarf Puffer)

Hello all,
A few pictures of my favorite little Dwarf Puffer:

Carinotetraodon travancoricus (AKA Dwarf Puffer)

Carinotetraodon travancoricus (AKA Dwarf Puffer) aquarium

The Puffer lives in this fish tank: http://fishtankdk.blogspot.dk/2012/12/puffer-tank-5-gal-nano-tank.html

Wikipedia provides the following information regarding Dwarf puffers:

The dwarf pufferfish, also known as the Malabar pufferfish, pea pufferfish or pygmy pufferfish, Carinotetraodon travancoricus is a small, freshwater pufferfish endemic to the River Pamba in Kerala, Southwest India. Maximum size is 22 mm (less than one inch), making it one of the smallest pufferfish in the world. Although closely related to marine pufferfish, they are not found in brackish or salt water, and reports to the contrary are based on misidentification

Both sexes are primarily yellow with dark green to black iridescent patches on the flanks and dorsal surface, but as with other members of the genus, sexual dimorphism is apparent in mature fish, with males being more brightly coloured than females. Males can also have a dark stripe down the center of their pale belly and iridescent "eye wrinkle" patterns that females lack.

Reproduction

Often dwarf pufferfish are plant-spawners, laying eggs in plants, including java moss in aquariums. Eggs have been seen to hatch after five days at 27 °C (81 °F), with fry initially feeding on infusoria, brine shrimp when they're a week old, and finally regular-sized food when possible. Dwarf pufferfish have also been known to scatter their eggs on the substrate hidden within vegetation. The eggs are fertilized externally. They do not guard their eggs or fry. After the eggs hatch, take out the fry; it is not recommended that you keep the adults and the fry together. A small tank of about ten gallons is acceptable.

Conservation

Dwarf pufferfish are not used as food but are traded as aquarium fish^. It has been classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List due to changes in habitat and overharvesting for the aquarium trade.

Diet

The diet of dwarf pufferfish in the wild has not been reported, but other members of the genus feed on zooplankton and various benthic crustaceans and molluscs. Food items of specimens maintained in aquaria appears to be similar. In fact, the dwarf puffer is one of the few aquarium fish to regularly eat small live snails and can be useful in controlling snail populations (larger snails do not interest them).

Dwarf pufferfish in aquarium

Dwarf pufferfish have become quite popular as aquarium fish thanks to their attractive colours, small size, and relative ease of maintenance.Like all pufferfish, they can be aggressive, especially towards creatures smaller than themselves, and it is commonly recommended to keep them in a dedicated "species only" tank. A female to male ratio of 2 to 1 is sometimes recommended to reduce aggression in captive fish.
Despite what the fish stores may indicate, flake fish food is not a recommended diet for Dwarf Puffers, and many fish will refuse to take this food. If you are persistent, you may be able to feed them dried worms, and they will eat live (and frozen) bloodworms with relish. Puffers are notoriously messy eaters, it is therefore important not to overfeed, and to employ a good filtration system.
They may also eat small shrimp, or can be kept with them as some individuals may or may not eat shrimp kept in the same tank. Red ramshorn snails, Live & frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and triops are good foods for Dwarf Puffers.

All the best,
Tokasper

Dwarf Puffer tank - 5 gal nano tank

Hello all,
the last of the three nano tanks is devoted to the wonderful little dwarf puffer - Carinotetraodon travancoricus. This has got to be one of the most character-filled fish I've ever had the pleasure to observe. It does not swim - it floats :-).

The tank today

Details: 20 l Dennerle Nano Aquarium, small Dennerle filter and 11W lamp. No heating.
Sulawesi Black gravel with a few roots etc.


Site:

Inhabitants:
 Carinotetraodon travancoricus (Dwarf puffer):

 Hymenochirus boettgeri (African dwarf frog)

Turned out these little froggies are the perfect tank mates for dwarf puffers...

 Epiplatys annulatus

The tank also used to house a small group of Epiplatys annulatus, but I couldnt keep them alive for longer than half a year. Beautiful fish.

Older pictures:

All the best,
Tokasper

Cryptocoryne Country - 5 gal nano aquarium

Hello all,
Next to the Shrimpfarm nano aquarium is its twin, the Cryptocoryne Country. It has housed a lot of different fish, from Aphyosemion australe Killis to Tateurndina ocellicauda. Today there is a single Betta splendens swimming around in the tank (with several shrimps and snails as company, I do believe there's even a small Heterandria formosa surviving the hunting tendencies of the Betta.
Its a nice little planted Nano Aquarium, plenty of cover for the Betta, which seems very happy and produces a nest every week, although it has never seen a female.
I know Betta owners normally give their fishes names, but no name has yet appeared to suit the pretty Betta.

Details: 20 l Dennerle Nano Aquarium, small Dennerle filter and 11W lamp. No heating.
Black gravel with a few roots etc.
Site:

 The Blue Betta splendens:

Big, fat Betta - will eat any shrimp, insect or mosquito it can catch!

Pictures from the last years:

 

All the best,
tokasper

Shrimpfarm - 5 gal fish tank

Hello all,
I've been lucky enough to persuade my wife to let me have one of the windowsills in the living room. I began with one medium Nano aquarium (20l / 5 gal) but this soon become two and then three aquariums.
This is the oldest one and is now almost two years old in its current 'scape'.
Details: 20 l Dennerle Nano Aquarium, small Dennerle filter and 11W lamp. No heating.
Sulawesi Black gravel with a few roots etc.
Plants: Hydrocotyle leucocephala, Taxiphyllum spec., (and used to have 2x Cryptogryne wendtii). the grassy steppes or lawns in front are made by sowing Cladophora (a nice type of green algae) onto pieces of slate.
Inhabitants:
Boraras brigittae (down to five of the original ten)
Heterandria formosa (somewhere between eigth and fifteen)
Numerous Neocaridina heteropoda (RCS)
and various snails: Anatome helenas and Marisa cornuarietis.

 The threesome of aquariums :-):

 Various incarnations from the past two years:

Boraras brigittae

Boraras brigittae

Boraras brigittae

Neocaridina heteropoda, RCS

From back when I tried to combine the tank with an orchid - didn't work out too well. Maybe I'll describe the failures of that experiment sometime.

 All the best,
Tokasper