492lb of Cucumbers in 4 Weeks?! Aquaponics Greenhouse Tour

[@epicgardening]

More on this system: ECOLIFE Conservation, Aquaponics Innovation Center, Escondido, CA Shown and designed by Martin Niwinski ([e-mail]) To volunteer to work on this system go to : www.ecolifeconservation.org/support/volunteer/ For monthly or private tour info: [e-mail] facebook.com/ecolifeconservation/ Instagram: @ecolifeconservation

[@kimleekingston4636]

This is DWC or media beds ? Looks like DWC with Dow board floating on the top. Are the roots sitting in the water, in net pots, or held in place with media...gravel, Hydroton, etc?

[@werftv4580]

what do you mean? I get hundreds of lb of squash a year on fish.. wait.. what I do is different.. LMAO

[@shawon265]

Can you please tell us how the solid removal works?

[@jamesrmosbeyii1122]

What's the size of the greenhouse and approximatel cost or should I just email him directly? Looking to do this on my property but I stay in Texas.

[@gumballbreath3705]

So where do the nitrates go? It's somewhere hopefully not in the fish or plants Common Sense tells me it's somewhere

[@samantha.irenes]

This summer I'm working in an elementary school that is having the 5th graders do experiments with aquaponics! It's really cool. One kid is comparing growing strawberries in an aquaponic system versus the ground. Another kid is growing spider plants on top of a goldfish tank and comparing that to spider plants in regular water. They're really excited about it! After this video I feel like I understand it more and can talk to them about it more lol!

[@epicgardening]

Love the experimentation going on!

[@C3Voyage]

What is Martin feeding the fish and the regimen? I'm curious as to the costs, labor, and maintenance as well. A video on that and the sustainability of such a system would be great. This part seems to be missing in many aqua-vids.

[@BugYall]

Same

[@ttvphilswifft8682]

Dang, three years go by and still no answer in the replies of this comment.

[@brandongarza2267]

I've never seen that second stage biofilter! Really ingenious to use the solids for extra nutrients. I'd love a more see detailed video on that set up.

[@epicgardening]

Will do my best to put another out!

[@neetabhaskaran6818]

How did you manage that? Clear water from fosh waste!! Brilliant. Could you share please

[@Greenskies321]

Look up “mineralization tank”. This liquid can be added to normal soil or hydro too and is a super fert lol

[@tiffanyflewelling8825]

Me too!!!

[@snuugumz]

Those tomatoes are ridiculous!! I am SO down for a micro version of this system, and thanks for featuring this!

[@epicgardening]

Stay tuned this week!

[@fredfrond6148]

Such a simple system. A testament to the amount of thought that went into the design.

[@tracylf5409]

What I LOVE is that they're using animal-waste as fertilizer. The obscene use of chemical fertilizers has resulted in mineral-less, vitamin-worthless vegetables.

[@danielglidden9290]

Super awesome. We will need this knowledge in the future

[@GoGreenYes]

without chemical fertilizers is a future gardening solution

[@nykalias]

I would love to see or get more details on that filtration system and wastewater conversion.

[@epicgardening]

I'll do another vid in the future!

[@aadi2cool]

Yes I'm confused on how to setup something like this. Please guide somebody

[@erikm9768]

@@aadi2cool Second that!

[@chuckjones4745]

Did you create the follow up video? I'm very interested in the solids conversion.

[@kenhallford9032]

would love to see scaled down to home garden size?

[@epicgardening]

Will do!

[@mt.ziongamers5106]

@R V HI I just saw this comment. Would you mind pointing me towards these classes or resources? I would love to design these systems. So cool.

[@mt.ziongamers5106]

@R V Awesome, thank you! Take care.

[@JessSuave]

@Matthew Cooper It's not hard. We run a similar setup in our backyard using IBC totes for the fish tanks and media beds. Check out Rob Bob here on YT.

[@rositasultana3958]

It could function for the needs of a community. Not only producing food for the body, but also for the soul.

[@susanaflores1952]

i want to be like you too. i have fish at home... like a lot🙂 and it’s true that you can grow plants using the old water from the fish. i only plant from the pots but i see good results using the fish water. wow! that is awesome

[@MsSwitchblade13]

This perfectly balanced system just blows everything else out of the water... Get it? Sorry I had to. But really I'm just amazed right now. 😯

[@Dooley2Shoes]

Cool system and video. If I were to give any advice for a scaled down system, I would go hybrid if you are absolutely convinced that you need a raft system. Put a media based grow bed immediately downstream from your fish, and add some worms - they will be fine in expanded clay flood/drain . This will save your need for solids filtration at least in a backyard system. As well you could add a solids separator (Cone bottomed tank with ball valve at the drain) and compost the solids knowing that you have dirt needs too. Thanks for these very educational videos - intelligently done.

[@jephrygultiano6952]

Oh dear, wish I have that technology to produce and consume. Someday I will have that technology and the produce I will give it away to all my neighbours and if it's more enough I will give it to those hungry in my community. Thanks Kevin, this is so inspiring and I think I will start researching for such technology. Very amazing! Wow, wow, wow! Love, love, love!

[@TheYellowGummyBears]

Once you're settled in your new place, definitely do a follow-up and possibly an aquaponic system!! Also, discuss the pollination process on this scale :)

[@wudangmtn]

I hope to do this also. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@rachelgilbert3164]

The great thing about this system is that if it were to be implemented in a neighborhood, each neighborhood could have locally sourced food with little to no water waste. In a city like Detroit where they have food deserts and extra land parcels that have been abandoned, this could really revitalize a community

[@sandiegotropicalgarden3531]

Awesome setup, thanks for sharing 👍

[@epicgardening]

You're welcome!

[@swapnilraskar9032]

I was scrolling through and I stopped here since I misread thumbnail as 'how fish can grow on plants'. Good job though buddy🏅

[@epicgardening]

Technically that's also true!

[@neemanaeemi9084]

That was some serious knowledge.

[@HomeCentsWithNell]

Whaaatttt? Those tomatoes are 2 1/2 months old?! Mine is like 6 inches tall.

[@epicgardening]

Aquaponics grows plants FAST

[@ig7002]

Are you fertilizing and providing 8+ hours of light? They grow super fast under the right conditions.

[@JyjusHomeVideos]

Really great to see what we can do in a garden set up. Very Informative and Inspiring one !! I have to try this in my garden !!

[@Henrythegreat115]

I am really interested in this aquaponics greenhouse growing system.

[@ankurmadaan6786]

@R V please share some details on [e-mail]

[@CrystalFlames]

This is amazing! I’d love to work in a place like this.

[@jacobcreech4382]

Loving the tours, really interesting. Keep up the great work.

[@epicgardening]

Will do!

[@kimmywhitt6112]

Fresh veggies/fruit and fish. Great idea!

[@epicgardening]

Powerful combo

[@SuperOhsarah]

I can only imagine what it smells like in there, but this is a really cool thing!

[@epicgardening]

Smelled fine actually! Lots of ventilation

[@kimleekingston4636]

It smells like tomato vines and cucumber vines. The fish water waste does not have an odor.

[@SuperOhsarah]

@@kimleekingston4636 that's good

[@davelawson2564]

@@SuperOhsarah All poop smell if its not broken down by bacteria. since fish poop is in the water , it gets broken down without getting exposed to air. hence no smell. you'll get some methane but it has no smell and can get vented out with hot air going out from greenhouse

[@charlesd9949]

Aquaponics is the way to a better future, love it!

[@nicolesmith3970]

There are many factors in books on aquaponics . One place I discovered which successfully combines these is this website here AquaSystem.club it's the most incredible guide i've seen on aquaponics. Check out all the awesome information .

[@b0b711]

If you impliment electroculture in this greenhouse you may be able to reduce some of the nutrient needs whilst at the same time increasing yeild. Simplistic method is run thin grid of copper wire above the plants and apply very high voltage potential to the grid but only 1-2miliamp. This increases plant growth a huge amount.

[@shadeaquaticbreeder2914]

This is awesome. I kinda plan to do the reverse as I breed fish for aquariums and want to grow some food as well all in a greenhouse and I can't wait to set it up.

[@CaseyJayBensonwedding]

How to do that on a small scale would make a great video!

[@epicgardening]

It's on the list!

[@stevenstillwell-NC]

I will be watching for any future attempts at a scaled down aquaponic system you attempt. I am considering one on the west wall of the current greenhouse, or installing a high tunnel off the east side and doing a larger aquaponic system.

[@epicgardening]

Will be doing one, stay tuned

[@aladdinelafifi4597]

Aquariums, pvc pipes, and lights. I just found my new hobby.

[@thomasenglish1]

Wow, great system!! Would love to see an in-depth look at your mineralization tanks/system!! Is there a video for that?

[@epicgardening]

I can do another video when I'm up next!

[@Aquapwn23]

Awesome Martin 😀!!

[@carolparrish194]

The plants are beautiful Amazing setup Do you add potassium to the solution? What do you feed the fish? Do they have a special enriched diet? I think it is great that you support Wheels on Wheels and other food banks.

[@epicgardening]

Often times you do have to add some potassium to the water!

[@mindflow82]

Sulfate of potash is added

[@martinniwinski7092]

HI Carol, I use potassium sulfate which can be used in your garden as well. Also called sulfate of potash

[@marydebbarma3864]

Best system ever

[@seek2find]

Thanks for your sweat and great video. The audio was awesome too

[@epicgardening]

Glad to hear, trying to keep the audio better!

[@seandepoppe6716]

Wow! Those tomato sets!!! Thanks!

[@j0nrages851]

More Hydro/aquaponic content!

[@HeatherHasToStartSomewhere]

Very interesting tour!

[@epicgardening]

Thanks!

[@monkeytrainer8135]

I would love to see how to adapt a system like this to a backyard (chemical-free) pond, and a home aquarium for pet fish.

[@markemyshibukawa9254]

Can't wait to see your set up at home! Would LOVE to do the same! 😎👍

[@epicgardening]

Stay tuned!

[@scottcomella2264]

Check out Tromboncino an Italian climbing summer squash. Great color, shape and taste.

[@epicgardening]

They're amazing

[@sandyg8794]

Hi Kevin! What a great setup. Congrats on your now 136K subscribers! Thank you for sharing!

[@epicgardening]

Thank you so much, Sandy!

[@WholeomeJem]

Im excited to see how you can scale it to home version. Im looking forward to using this method for personal use here in Australia

[@michaelkindscher8418]

scaling down is real easy i started years ago with small units for back yard city farming.Then went bigger which increases problems but can be worked out. My smallest design was 18 by 24 for apt living with solar air stone. This can produce a lot of food constantly. Was only hydro. but do aqua and hydro about 80% to 20% now keep up teaching people

[@anniesgardens6994]

Wow such a cool video, thanks sharing

[@kitchengardenwithivysteve8041]

Hello Kevin and Martin, I have just made a tiny Pond, but think you will love it, it's Bioactive, no filters and has a simple fountain pump on Solar... uploaded my video today and your video popped up as recommended, glad it did, hit sub and liked and even added your awesome channel to my featured list, plan to watch more of you vids, they are EPIC !!!

[@KM-rh1eb]

Whats he feed the fish?

[@epicgardening]

A pelletized organic fish feed

[@AdeolaTutuAro]

Am a member of ur family thanks for sharing this information

[@pauladams1814]

This technology could be a real life saver considering the effects of climate change.

[@enlightenedhealthcareguru2575]

This is IN.SANE. lol how awesome!!!!

[@bigonprivacy2708]

Great video Epic Gardening. You've earned a new subscription today! Interesting setup. Basically he's created an aerobic septic system for the solid waste and using the "clear" water to reintroduce those minerals & vitamins back into the tank. Am I understanding that correctly?

[@Donna_G]

This is really interesting. Can you tell me what the difference is between aquaponics and hydroponics?

[@epicgardening]

sure! Hydroponics grow plants without soil, aquaponics adds fish and uses them as the waste stream to produce nutrients for the plants

[@homidigger9861]

Aquaponics system uses fish feces as fertilizer. Water from aquarium sending to plants, the plants absorb nutrients from the water. The plants absorb nutrients from the water, and water is very clean. Then the pump sending clean water to the aquarium. You just need food for fish and replenishes evaporated water.

[@bryanst.martin7134]

There is a little more to it than the other commentators stated. As explained in the video there is a bio reactor (where the plastic rings he held up are) that converts the ammonia waste into nitrites first, then nitrates which the plants uptake. Based on the food you feed the fish, many of the chemicals needed to add to a Hydroponic system are already in the fish waste. Urine is the source of the ammonia, and the fish droppings take longer to break down. It seems really complicated when starting out, but like driving a car you eventually get the hang of it. Oodles of informative videos on YT. With the GSM driving weather patterns far form normal, indoor growing is going to be a necessity.

[@Greenskies321]

Been there and nice setup

[@mihaiciornei5648]

Love from France. ❤️

[@NotPorn]

Amazing setup!

[@robbincoronado1557]

That’s so awesome 👏

[@doubletakedowns6287]

would love to see how u have your solids filter set up to use as more fertilizer

[@aquaponicscanada-noadditiv8471]

Brilliant stuff

[@kc3621]

Really awesome! I just read this in this months nat geo or sci american. The thing i was hoping you would do is ask why hydro tomatoes can't quite match the flavor of soil grown. Or if that is a myth and if not what kinds of things are being done to remedy the taste difference. Nice.👍👏👌

[@tiffanyflewelling8825]

I want to know how you end up scaling that down also. I've been wanting to do aquaponics, but this looks like it uses everything so much more efficiently than what I've seen before.

[@fukkhange]

How is pollination achieved in setups like this? Epic, indeed. Great video

[@mindflow82]

The cucumbers are a self pollinating variety for greenhouses. For the tomatoes we use an electric toothbrush

[@kimleekingston4636]

By hand using a small sable paint brush. Some growers grasp the vine and give it a shake, but I use a paint brush.

[@fukkhange]

Gretchen Bigglesworth but do you think someone harvesting hundreds of pounds every couple of weeks hand pollinates?

[@stevenstillwell-NC]

@@fukkhange yes, I help at a farm using caterpillar tunnels and traditional in ground planting, otherwise everything looks the same - except for the wild growth rate in aquaponics, It takes one person 30 minutes to hand pollinate, harvest, and strip leaves per 100 foot row of tomatoes. Hand pollination insures almost 100% flower to fruit, natural pollination is sometimes just 50%, so I even hand pollinate the tomatoes at my home gardens.

[@stevenstillwell-NC]

@@kimleekingston4636 if you have an old electric tooth brush you can rest it on the flowers bracket and let it vibrate for about 15 seconds.

[@dream.fiiend]

That's so cool!

[@cindy4175]

Seems to be a great system... except for the fish..!! This could have been a really good setup if the fish had had better living conditions (maybe more like an aquarium or pond set-up??). To me this looks just like the fish-equivalent of a chicken factory farm.... This video doesn't show much about the fish-part of the system, so I really hope I'm wrong about this and that it just looks bad, but usn't what it seems. Maybe you could do another video that explains more about this part of this system?? I've also seen a lot of other questions on that subject in the comments below.

[@epicgardening]

Most aquaponics systems CRAM fish in tight quarters and the water quality is relatively low. This one has much less fish per cubic foot of water and the water quality is managed much more responsibly

[@mindflow82]

There is too much to explain about why the system is designed the way it is vs a pond or square tank in a comment here. Trust me when I say the fish are very well taken care of and the most proven aquaculture tecgniques are used. The system is designed to keep the water as clean as possible for the fish. Their health is more important than the plants.

[@tttine13]

When do you plan on putting aquaponics in your current garden?

[@luked9301]

Hand polinating all the plants sound tedious. Would it be possible to bring in insects for that? Great video!

[@mindflow82]

You could but on this scale it probably doesn't make sense. The cucumbers are self fertile variety so only yhr tomatoes are hand pollinated

[@davelawson2564]

get honeybox inside the greenhouse and allow small hole during daytime for bees to go out of greenhouse if required

[@kurtforsberg724]

Honeybees don't pollinate tomatoes, Dave. You need bumblebees for that.

[@aquaponicssource5005]

Thanks for explaining things

[@OmegaReds03]

I would like to know what he added to make his Tomatoes and Cucumbers so prolific and from what I've read they need alot more than just nitrogen. I would love to replicate this at a smaller home size

[@epicgardening]

Stay tuned, doing 2 more videos with him soon

[@martinniwinski7092]

Main thing added besides fish food was potassium to induce flowering. Plants grow like crazy in aquaponics. The 16 essential plant nutrients are available in the system

[@jewls-ek9kt]

500 lbs of cucumbers in 4 weeks sounds non profitable at all. It makes perfect sense that this is a nonprofit that donates everything. Good for educational purposes, but not sustainable at this scale quite yet. I love learning about what people do, because not all of us have the iniciative or dedication to grow our own food. Great work guys!

[@martinniwinski7092]

Yes, this size is not profitable, it is a demonstration system. No farm that size is enough to live on. The cucumber area is only 132 sq ft

[@misterblue710s8]

Dont eat the fish folks...gr8 garden

[@dgesner54]

Jealous! Had so much blight this year, attacking everything it could. Not to mention bugs, birds! I did use organic sprays, but I guess not enough. Your plants look so clean and healthy!

[@epicgardening]

Bah! So sorry

[@karenrani]

I’d also love to see it work for home use. Does it smell?

[@epicgardening]

We'll do a scaled down collaboration! And no, doesn't smell!

[@barbaracarbone4658]

That's amazing! I love it.

[@newtonfuture9300]

Nice video bro.( Question ) how does he add potassium to the plants, since the water will be recycling back to the fish tank?

[@peterwong1231]

Great content Kevin. Question. I'm curious about the drop down trellising method mentioned in this video. Have you done any videos on this specific method ?

[@joachimbates5370]

Would be really cool to see the greenhouse automation side of his build. How the greenhouse temps are controlled? What is considered enough exhaust and intake space for that size greenhouse? And an interesting one, keeping pests out but allowing pollinators in?

[@epicgardening]

Check the latest vid with Martin, there is a deeper dive!

[@joachimbates5370]

I actually took a look at that first until I saw this gorgeous greenhouse. Really dig this, thanks for these videos!

[@brianbudd7947]

I can not locate the video 'a deeper dive' can u please post a link here

[@edcook8874]

@@epicgardening I'm interested in the deeper dive videos as well. Is there a link?

[@thz1986]

Did I miss it or did he not mention how many gallons his fish tank is? Wanting to build a system to feed a 15 foot bed and some strawberry towers using a 500 gallon tank but unsure if it will be sufficient.

[@epicgardening]

I forgot to ask!

[@spyverman]

Nice and lovely, its amazing system. Is there anything to manage in pollination or similar to that process?

[@the.mr.beacher]

What does he do for pollination?

[@epicgardening]

He hand pollinates!

[@ppgprops]

Beautiful!!!

[@Unflushablepiss]

Excellent video! subbed!!! questions, whats the cost of martins system and what would a home system cost ball park figure? thanks!

[@dcle944]

Yeah, if we could scale this down to household level, in theory each household should be able to produce enough veggies and fish for themselves throughout the year. I would love to see someone adding shrimps to this equation because shrimps molt regularly. Imagine feeding the shrimp shells to fish. Then the only cost you spend is food for shrimps and electricity.

[@janedoe3095]

So how do you get potassium and other nutrients not produced by the fish to the tomatoes? If you’re adding other nutrients before it gets to the plants can that be dangerous to the fish when the water cycles back to their tank?

[@karmicpopcorn6440]

I've seen this question before, but how is pollination achieved, I know tomatoes can be self pollinated by shaking, but how do they pollinate the cucumbers?

[@epicgardening]

They hand pollinate to be sure of good fruit set

[@martinniwinski7092]

We use a self pollinating cucumber and a vibrating toothbrush on the tomatoes

[@merijaydoconnor1506]

Nice system! How do the cucumbers get pollinated being inside?

[@karlswanson95]

I have the same question

[@mookeythepimpthompson6031]

That biofilter though.

[@joziermaster3269]

Im curious as to how much plants produced this much cucumbers

[@maesinger1444]

Wow that's amazing! Do you know how much energy/electricity it takes to keep the pumps and everything running?

[@Daniel-tl5wx]

Un grand bravo de France :)

[@anlowman9228]

How is he growing the tomatoes and cucumbers? Are they in net pots with some soil that the roots dangle down into a lowered water level. Are the root entirely saturated at all times? If so how does he deal with root rot? It looks as though they are in a Deep Water Culture based on the rafting. Very interested to hear what you know.

[@epicgardening]

They're in floating rafts, with a small amount of growing medium, then trellised up. Roots saturated the entire time, no root rot because the water is oxygenated

[@his2praise790]

Love the video!! A good place if you

[@downbntout]

Nice. My tomatoes 2' tall at six weeks, so me jealous too. Do tomatoes need bees? How does he harvest the fish, raise a net?

[@mindflow82]

Tomatoes are pollinated with a vibrating toothbrush, this variety of cucumbers are self fertile.

[@epicgardening]

You have to hand pollinate in a system like this for good germination - he doesn't harvest the fish

[@jan-philippmarks5926]

Hey awesome video, its always to see great things happening with aquaponics

[@epicgardening]

I'll do another video w/ Martin sometime soon and cover that!

[@jan-philippmarks5926]

@@epicgardening awesome, im looking forward to this 😊

[@AM-ft9bv]

Is there a such thing as food grade plastic biomedia that goes in the filters?

[@Xavier-go8sm]

Apologies if it's been asked already, but is the potassium coming from the final product of the solid waste?

[@mindflow82]

Some, around 60 mg/L is in the fish waste. potassium sulfate is also added.

[@martinniwinski7092]

There is about 60mg/L of potassium in the end product from the fish waste but we have to supplement with more to keep the flowering plants happy. I use potassium sulfate, also called sulfate of potash

[@Xavier-go8sm]

@@martinniwinski7092 Does that get filtered out before the water goes back into the fish?

[@martinniwinski7092]

@@Xavier-go8sm To the extent that the plants take it up. It doesn't hurt the fish

[@Xavier-go8sm]

@@martinniwinski7092 great, thanks for your responses!

[@Azura.Ashton]

I'm always curious on how you solved lighting problem. My plants don't have enough light, but I don't want to use extra electricity to solve the problem since it won't be environmental friendly

[@trinathebookworm8977]

Can we get an update on how this farm is doing?