What skills do you have that make you valuable post-shtf?

[Bigbill45]

It is a lot of effort... Eggs are a super food. Much easier to keep chickens or ducks. The birds can essentially eat garbage or things we don't want to eat (seeds, bugs, etc), and you get a steady supply of complete meals out their butts.

I have pondered the idea of making a complete system where I use the "duck water" as fertilizer for aquaponic food for both me and them, and to grow lots of algae for tilapia. Just letting the birds do what they do naturally is pretty easy, tho.

Don't know much about raising tilapia. If I had more room I'd do chickens. 6 guys in our group raise them. I live in mid Texas between a pond and a golf course. Tons of ducks, geese & nasty f'in turtles.


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[Bigbill45]

R


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[grasshopperglock]

Honestly, the ability to keep a plentiful supply of tilapia alive in my backyard is something that would be of high value in truly screwed-up times. I've read about the practice and it just seems like there are so many things that can and generally do go wrong.

Can you recommend a good "For Dummies" reference book?

If Hastens hadn't gone out business. They had several excellent books. I do believe they actually have a 'hydroponic for Dummies'.


The soil around my house is garbage. It's about a foot or less of top soil. Layered on top of road base. I've tried digging through the clay and rock. I haven't reached the bottom. It's cheap fill base with rocks as big as your fist. Nothing I plant directly to soil grows worth a Damn. Tomatoes turn out horrible. Jalapenos...scraggly. Even the wandering Jew has issues in this soil.

There's only a certain number of types of hydroponic. NFT, DWC, Ebb and Flow, aeropoinics, raft, using fish.

All hydroponic systems are based on the core designs. The two most popular are aeropoinics and Top fed Deep Water Culture.

Aeroponic is spraying the hanging roots. Either constant spray or interrupted. Say 1 second burst. Followed by a pause of 2 minutes. Then it repeats. The water drops in the mist can't be too big nor two small.

Aeroponics can be complicated.


By far the easiest to master, is the Deep Water. On the basic system, it's nothing more then bubbling the water the roots sit in. The problem with that is the roots don't get water/oxygen until the hanging roots reach the water.

Top fed deep water solves that by supplying water to the roots directly at the plant base. The roots are being constantly fed until they reach the reservoir.


This type of system go's by the name, 'Bubbleponics'


Diagram for Deep Water,

Top fed deep water. In this image, you can see the feed tubes ran to the top of the system. The only difference between Deep Water and Top fed deep water. Is the addition of a water pump to the reservoir. Otherwise they are the same.

Ebb and flow

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT hydroponic)

Raft

Aeroponic

 

[grasshopperglock]

The fish system is basically growing plants in a fish aquarium. Fish crap feeds the plants. It's similar to the raft system but there's fish in the reservoir.

 

[grasshopperglock]

The things that go wrong are root rot and water PH. The reservoir has to be cooled to temps below 68 degrees.

This does two things. Cold water holds more oxygen then warm water. There's a big difference between the oxygen content of 72 degree water verses 65-68 degrees.

The second reason is that the bacteria that causes root rot. Thrives in a certain temperature range. Above 68 degrees. Warmer water in the mid 70's is the prime environment for root rot.

Products like Hydrogaurd are beneficial organisms that compete against the bad stuff. Other options are H2O2 added to the water.

The water in the reservoir either has to be kinda sterile or have beneficial organisms added. Reservoir changes are mandatory. Every 5 up to 21 days.


Nutrients in the water can be checked using a Total Dissolved Meter. It measures PPM in water. Say the nutrient water tests at 330ppm for the right dosage. After a week, it tests 275PPM. The difference is from the plants eating. You then can add nutrients back to the 330PPM level.

 

[grasshopperglock]

Damn Ben. I just gave you run down of hydroponic when you asked about Asian catfish. Lol


I need more coffee. I read tilapia as Orchid.

Apologies.

 

[TheDan]

That was all good info, man. Good starting points to research further.

Have you tried fruit trees in your rocky soil? My yard in Round Rock is very similar to what you describe; a couple inches of topsoil and then tons of rocky dirt junk that just looks like fill. The few fruit trees I planted are doing really well. I think they are capable of meandering their roots through the rocks. It probably helps that I pour duck water on them nearly everyday.

 

[grasshopperglock]

I can't use hydroponic unless I buy a aquarium water cooler. And they're expensive. There's nowhere I could put it when it's 108 degrees out.

The trees do ok. Sort of. The Texas privits don't have a problem. Other shrubs hate it. The house was built early 90's. The sub soil is actual road base from them shaping the subdivision. No telling how much crap has been dumped on the soil. Weed killer, ant poison, dog crap, beer bottle tops, and motor oil....

I've thought about buying a Rubbermaid horse trough from tractor supply. Using it as an above ground planter. It's a heavy duty tub for sure and I can move it around.

Get quality gardening soil. Adjust the ph...It has a drain. So no need to drill holes.


I'm trying Smart Pots first. I ordered 10, 1 gallon pots. Ill grow spices in those. They say it's the bees knees. Since the pot is fabric, it's difficult to over water and oxygen gets to the roots 360 degrees.

The fabric feels like those reusable fabric grocery bags but about 3 times as thick and fury. We'll see how they'll do come spring.

 

[TheDan]

I can't use hydroponic unless I buy a aquarium water cooler. And they're expensive. There's nowhere I could put it when it's 108 degrees out.

Get a beat to crap mini fridge off craigslist. Put a reservoir and pump inside and just drill holes in it for the lines. Make the reservoir tank just big enough to leave room for a six pack and it'll serve double duty

I've thought about buying a Rubbermaid horse trough from tractor supply. Using it as an above ground planter. It's a heavy duty tub for sure and I can move it around.

Once you fill it with dirt and start watering it, you're going to have an awful hard time moving it. You'd probably need a tractor or skid steer to move it, in which case you could also be able to move a "permanent" raised bed as well.

 

[grasshopperglock]

Get a beat to crap mini fridge off craigslist. Put a reservoir and pump inside and just drill holes in it for the lines. Make the reservoir tank just big enough to leave room for a six pack and it'll serve double duty


Once you fill it with dirt and start watering it, you're going to have an awful hard time moving it. You'd probably need a tractor or skid steer to move it, in which case you could also be able to move a "permanent" raised bed as well.

The fridge idea is brilliant. It never crossed my mind. It'd be plug and play and could take the heat. Damn good idea.

I'd probably never move the tub. More like me trying to convince myself to spend the money on one.

 

[grasshopperglock]

I've studied hydroponics since 2003. I've never heard of using a fridge, read about it, or seen it.

Holy $hit, Dan....

 

[TheDan]

Holy $hit, Dan....

I'm a redneck engineer

Come to think of it, that's the most valuable skill to have when STHF....

 

[grasshopperglock]

I'm a straight out Gorilla

Come to think of it, that's the most valuable skill to have when STHF....

True that.

 

[TheDan]

lol wtf?

 

[texasnurse]

R


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So you'll be a Pirate?


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[Bigbill45]

So you'll be a Pirate?


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Arrgh I will be !


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[Wildcat Diva]

Come to think of it,we DO need someone to drink up all the rum.

 

[Bigbill45]

Come to think of it,we DO need someone to drink up all the rum.

See, you need a pirate after all !


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[zincwarrior]

1. After I eat Ninfas takeout I can destroy a bathroom.
2. I can sit on a sofa, belly rub a fat weiner dog, and pet an old mountain dog....AT THE SAME TIME!

 

[texasnurse]

1. After I eat Ninfas takeout I can destroy a bathroom.
2. I can sit on a sofa, belly rub a fat weiner dog, and pet an old mountain dog....AT THE SAME TIME!

So you're good as bait too...


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