The $100 Challenge

Originally this system was intended for a challenge my business professor gave us.  The $100 challenge!  We were to make a $100 profit selling anything and donate that money to a Kiva recipient.  I'm happy to announce I did it!

I sold my first aquaponcs kit on EBAY this morning and I think everything went fantastic.  I did a full days test on the barrel system and everything worked perfectly.  I had to fine tune the intake hose and siphon a little, but that was to be expected.  This just means my next build will be that much quicker.  I'm going to get started on another single barrel kit this week, and I'm hoping to get started on a double barrel system (55 gallon fish tank, and 24 sq. ft. of grow space) later this month.  I also have plans of building an aquaponics lab where I can experiment on different ideas I've been researching.  It's all very exciting, expect good things!  If you have any ideas for future posts or builds please let me know.

Expect the following in future posts:
The Nitrogen Cycle.
Assistive technology.
strawberry towers.
Can it be done? - Bananas and aquaponics.
Can it be done? - Blueberries and aquaponics.
Exploring Grow Lights.
In-Door gardening.

This challenge started as a school project, but has turned into a fun hobby!  There's so much potential in aquaponics, and I'm glad I finally got started with it.

Aquaponics Intro

There are many reasons why so many people love aqauaponics, and why it is such a great farming method.  First off, what is aquaponics?  Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (raising aquatic animals) and hydroponics (growing plants in water, and without soil).  It's simple enough; you feed the fish, the fish feed the plants (with their waste), and the plants clean the water.  So why would anyone want to do this in the first place?  Here are some of the benefits of aquaponics:

1. No soil means no weeding, no soil-borne diseases, and no tilling!
2. The fish provide free fertilizer.
3. Plants grow as much as four times faster than those grown in soil or hydroponics systems.
4. Water waste is minimal.
5. Grow more with less space.
6. No land, no problem; land isn't required.
7. Fresh fish for the taking.
8. Year round growing is easily implemented.
9. Poor soil quality isn't an issue. 

I want to explore aquaponics further this blog will be a journal of my progress.  Feel free to participate in the comment section; I would love to hear any feedback, questions, or even photos of your own systems.