aquaponic BALCONY GARDEN  -- as featured in Make Magazine - vol. 47

ASSEMBLY READY MEANS:  parts have been cut and drilled so the parts are ready to be assembled based on the Make Project page and Instructables.  Some tools will still be required, but all the major cutting and drilling have been performed before shipment.

IoT (Internet of Things) Capable if you are interested in this aspect of aquaponics.

DIY PROJECT -- purchase materials locally and built -- by Rik Kretzinger

With all the interest around the world in aquaponics, there are a number of creative units being developed for small spaces. Many, if not most of these solutions do not address a number of issues that cause these units to end up on Craig's List or in the trash at the end of the day. None of these solutions address the automation aspect of aquaponics, to take the stress out of operating a small unit effectively, at an affordable price point, and can be assembled safely by anyone interested in aquaponics.

AUTOMATION ELEMENTS found with in the garden:
1 - DHT-22 - Humidity and Temperature

2 - DS18B20 - 1 wire Temperature probes (grow-bed and fish tank)

1 - Ultrasonic Module HC-SR04 Distance Sensor for Arduino

1 - Analog Float Switch in Fish Tank for water level tracking

1 - Analog Water Sensing Probe in grow bed for tracking water level and timing of cycles

4 - Relay Controlled outlets

1 - Master System Kill Relay - should anything go wrong with the unit

1 - Stainless Steel gravity feed Valve N/O - allows for precise control of cycle times and water level control in grow bed,

BALCONY GARDEN kit feature set:

27 gallon fish tank

27 gallon grow bed - this allows for the aquaponic standard of 1:1 ratio of water to grow bed volumes be maintained for a healthy system

DIY Solids Filtration unit - allows for solid waste capture or removal and reuse in system

DIY Bio-Filter reactor - converts toxic fish waste to non-toxic plant fertilizer, using moving bed media (big system component not found in any small systems)

Overflow Preventer - will not allow any water to escape from your grow bed should you encounter a system problem

Root Clogging Preventer Mechanism - this is the problem no one talks about much in aquaponics - roots clog everything - unless you plan for the problem

System power down - Air supply back-up for fish tank - should power failure occur

Plug-N-Play design and construction of kit

Once assembled and cycled easy to maintain.

Starter water - bacteria rich and ready to jump-start your system, provided with the kit

Small footprint - big results

High percentage of materials can be locally sourced at a big box store and the rest at Amazon, if you want to do-it-yourself (DIY)

System allows for a high degree of control of the flood and drain cycles, depending on what you are growing and environmental demands

Allows for expansion of sensor set and moving to solar back-up option in the future

Unit can be converted to off-grid applications easily - will require a different power configuration of components and equipment

Starting code for system on whichever micro-controller platform a person would like to use.

BALCONY GARDEN -- why is it different:

The BALCONY GARDEN uses no bell siphons at all (see section on resources for pros and cons of bell siphons). Grow bed water control is handled by an electric valve that allows for gravity feed pressures. By using a valve, total control over grow bed water cycles can be scheduled and built into a grow plan to accommodate a large range of plant material. Using a valve of this nature gives builders of these units the necessary tool to allow for fully automated capability that is not possible in any other aquaponic gardens at this price point.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENTS:

NO TOOLS INCLUDED.

Only Arduino UNO comes as a part.

FISH TANK - not painted - this is NOT AN OPTION - paint is an additional purchase and ships individually for this effect.

Parts and Design can changed at any time and without notice. 

ONLY STARTING CODE AVAILABLE :  start code can be found on Make Project Page.  As code is developed by individuals and shared via aquaponics DIY Automation Blog code, updates will be published after being tested and verified.  Being that everyone has different needs - code will always be under development and cannot provide solutions to all the directions people will want to go with automation. 

Subject to California Sale Tax -  if shipped to a California location.

NO MEDIA PROVIDED - must be sourced locally in your area

SPECIAL has limited availability. 

email: info@agponics.com

For information regarding products