10/25/2016. Greens Production. Operations. The Engine (Fish) Types of fish. Best Species. Clint Kripki

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1 Greens Production Clint Kripki Operations The Engine (Fish) Fish Selection (The Engine) Plant Selection (What can you grow?) System Start up Commercial system and Production Tilapia Hybrid Striped Bass Koi (Carp) Blue Gills Catfish Goldfish (Carp) Trout Bait fish and others Types of fish Tilapia Hybrid Stripped Bass Koi Best Species Adapted from Aquaponics: Fish Species Section, Todd D. Sink, Ph.D. Assistant Professor & Extension Fisheries Specialist Texas A&M 1

2 Tilapia One of most widely cultured foodfish worldwide Market acceptability & recognition Also, low price & lots of competition Utilize niche marketing Reproduction can be a problem Can over reproduce may need to be thinned Mouth brooders lost production Adapt very well to tanks Tolerate high stocking densities (3/4 lb/gallon) Many species (>300) 3 legal in Texas Tilapia Mozambique (Oreochromis mossambicus) Nile (Oreochromis niloticus) Blue (Oreochromis aureus) Blue & Nile preferred due to market size of 1 lb Both require TPWD exotic species culture permit Tolerant of poor/marginal water quality ph 5 10, 6 9 optimal High water temp, low DO, high ammonia Most species tolerate 50 55F for a few days Blue tilapia tolerates 48F Tilapia Very good production characteristics 6 8 months crop Low protein requirement 26 32% protein, 4 6% lipid Very good feed conversion lbs feed/lb fish Good dress out percentage 86% with head, 66% without head, 33% fillet Often sold whole gutted Low production costs (Ponds) /lb (Tanks) $ /lb already priced out of market $ /lb fillets break even or niche markets Hybrid Striped Bass Hybrid between striped bass & white bass Best traits of parent species (SRAC No. 300) Improved water quality tolerance F acceptable (73 81 F) Tolerate DO 1 ppm short periods (>4 ppm) Alkalinity ppm (>100) Hardness ppm ( minimum 40, >100) ph 2.5 short periods, 6 no problem (7 8.5) Do not reproduce Must buy new fingerlings Hybrid Striped Bass Well adapted to tanks ( lbs/gallon) Grow to 1.5 lbs in 150 gallons flow through 400 gallons recommended for aquaponics High market value species $ /lb whole fish in bulk Fillets $ /lb Niche markets $6 8/whole fish Market not well defined not much competition 81% shipped whole on ice to East coast Not seen in Texas grocery stores Hybrid Striped Bass Expensive to produce Market size lbs month production Require 36 40% protein, 10 12% lipid $ /ton 70% of production costs is feed Feed conversion lbs/ 1 lb fish $ /lb fish in feed costs $ /lb total production cost Dress out 45% $ /lb fillets (market $ /lb) 2

3 Koi Non traditional novel Can be high value species not world class Sold as large individuals for ornamental ponds Small individuals little value Farmgate pond run Retail small $5.99 (Petsmart) Market size 1 3 lbs Value $20 65/fish, possibly more Poorly defined & highly variable market Must wait for right buyer marketing Typically only sell 1 2 fish at a time Koi Tolerate poor water quality Temperature F (65 75 F) Tolerate DO 2 ppm short periods ( 5 ppm) ph tolerance 5 9 Cheap to produce Grow rapidly 28 32% protein (finish diet with pigments) lbs feed/lb fish feed costs produce 1 lb fish (+$1.60 finish) Unlike goldfish can be sold at profit What can you grow? Lettuce, kale, arugula, green onions, Swiss chard, Asian greens (bok choi, mizuna, tatsoi, etc.) broccoli raab, herbs (basil, cilantro, mint, etc.), water cress, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, Napa cabbage, beets, spinach, celery, kolirabi, fennel, radicchio In media beds: avocado, fig, papaya, mango, banana, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, okra In wicking beds: all the above plus, carrots, beets, radish, sweet potatoes, turnips, parsnips Ready for harvest Harvest Table Live Plants 3

4 Farmer s Market Lettuce Leafy greens and herbs System Startup Ammonia Startup Install system Fill with water Balance the water (PH and chlorine) Add fish or another ammonia source Inoculate with bacteria Monitor ammonia, DO, PH, nitrites and nitrates Add plants when nitrates appear ammonia source (household non scented) Inoculate with bacteria (Pet store, Aquatic Eco, other AP system) Monitor ammonia, DO, PH, nitrites and nitrates (API Freshwater Kit) Add plants when nitrates appear Ammonia Startup Add ammonia dependent on size of system (~1/4c /1000 gallons)measure after couple hours aim is for 1.0 ppm no higher than 3.0, or need to change water Add nitrifying bacteria Continue to add ammonia on daily basis monitoring PH ( ), Ammonia ( ), Nitrite (below 1.0) and Nitrate (above 2.0) Once you start to measure Nitrate ( ) add plants to the system Ammonia Startup When you keep Ammonia constant then you will first see a rise in Nitrite and then it will start to come down as Nitrates begin to form. This cycle can take a week to a month or more, depending on water quality, temperature and sunlight One the system has established the bacteria (Nitrates >2.0) then you can add fish 4

5 Adding Fish Once the system has Nitrate production then add fish Finished stocking can be in the 1 lb to 4 10 gallons of fish tank size eg 100 gallon tank lbs fish at HARVEST Do not feed fish for 7 14 days or longer as the system balances with the new fish ammonia load (no more adding ammonia) Keep daily monitoring of system once ammonia is constantly around 1.0 then start feeding at ½ rate (1 3% weight) and then after a week goo to full rate (depends on time of year i.e., temps) Keep adding plants to system to fill up How to get started? How much space do you have? Will this be a hobby or a commercial operation? Where will it be located? Indoors, outdoors, in a greenhouse? Choose a design Build it and the fish and produce will grow Commercial Aquaponics How many holes do I have? 2 x 4 rafts 18 holes (8 spacing) How many rafts do I have? 4 x 20 DWC 10 rafts What can I sell my lettuce for? $1.50/head How many cycles will I get? 3 6 harvests/year ( ) What are ways to increase this? 2 x 2 rafts 61 holes Example: Max production per harvest 180 plants (Perfection!) 180 plants x $1.50 x 6 harvest = $1620 Reality: Production: 25 85% of max plants Price: $ , depending on location and quantities Harvest: 4 6/ per year single planting Getting more out of the same space: Use nursery starter area watered with AP nutrients (1 2 weeks) Use 2 x 2 rafts with 61 holes to start seedlings (2 4 weeks) Transplant to 8 spacing ( 3 10 weeks) 5

6 Getting more out of the same space: Example: 4 x 20 DWC, 9 18 hole rafts and 2 61 hole rafts Seed 76 2 net pots (continue this cycle weekly or after each harvest) After 1 2 weeks transfer to one 61 hole raft (pick the best) After 2 4 weeks transfer 54 to 3 18 hole rafts (pick the best again) Repeat until system is full This will give you a harvest from 1 3 weeks apart (dependent on time of year) Produces about harvests per year vs Note these are examples at total production your mileage will vary! Contact Info Clint Kripki Emerald Aquaponic Farm Clint.kripki@gmail.com Deville Dr. Katy, TX