Internet of Farming: Arduino-based, backyard aquaponics

[@danielch6662]

6 years old, and suddenly, youtube's algorithm decided to promote this. Guys, give this a thumbs up so that it ranks higher so more people see it.

[@ahmeddavids8634]

Your math is blowing my mind

[@inkrpen]

@@ahmeddavids8634 What 3 + 6 doesn't equal 10?

[@CBJAMPA]

This guy is an absolute genius! It is just humbling how so unpretenciously he goes about explaining what he's been able to achieve. Kudos to Mr. Kretzinger!

[@willnonya9438]

This excites my inner engineer.

[@dudeman6926]

lol same

[@jmgraydz]

Anyone else see that the guy has koi that are almost 24 inches in that tiny tank. Wtf is wrong with this guy

[@OtherDalfite]

Would love to see a sequel about this or an update on how the guys doing or what became of all his setups

[@akzorz9197]

"I'm gonna put a 500 gallon tank here. That's half of a thousand" 🙏 Beautiful

[@ohheyitsadrian4412]

This is the only guy i know that can make gardening technological and awesome. Way to use every bit of resource you have!

[@sagecreekwitt3301]

Anyone can watch a 20 minute video and find faults or problems... no!!! No no pvc!! Not enough plants! ! You are using some grid power so your whole idea Sucks! !!! What About This Or That . ... this guy is a doer, not a critic. He is incorporating technology to solve problems. I am gone a lot, and could use help with watering my garden. He is kicking ass in my opinion. Keep it up.

[@Oberonjames]

This is the most impressive thing I've seen in a long time. If I owned a house, I'd love to copy this guy and get something similar going.

[@maximilian333]

I'd like to be his sharecropper until I learn how to do it myself.

[@altha2008]

I started something similar last month. I wanted to build a Hydroponic tower that I saw that is capable of growing over 800 plants on 1 foot by 12 foot by 6 foot high. The cost was going to be around $600.00 to build. I have a big yard so I network with a guy that live in a apartment that wanted to do the same. cost us each $300.00 we built it and got our first crops in it of red and green peppers.' we will make about 9 per plant and sell them 3 for a dollar making around $7500 our first crop in another 50 days

[@RememberKaizen]

altha2008 it’s been awhile how’s your setup now?

[@l0gic23]

@@altha2008 how did it work out?

[@1stPrinciples455]

Is he using solar to provide the electricity? If not how is the farm gonna bring in money? Fertiliser bill, electric bill, water bill

[@billmilligan7272]

Kirsten, please revisit this guy ... this whole system is brilliant and those towers in particular are just *pretty* in terms of design quality. Rik has so much forward momentum in his explanations and I'd love to see his progress and what else he's come up with in the last 3-4 years.

[@carbon5261]

Zero wasted time in this video. I love it. And you can tell how amped up he is for efficiency.

[@maximilian333]

Somebody please invest $5 million into this man so that he can start his own company and do this on a tangible scale. Watching this my only fear is that he will not pass this knowledge and ability on to lots of other people.

[@rikkretzinger8728]

Thanks for the support - I have now started down this path. Maybe that investor will see me in my booth at Maker Faire in San Mateo, May 17 and 18th. Just got excepted to demo the working tower units with all the new supporting tank and filtration designs to make it a total system now. Maybe there will be a video from the show. I will keep you posted on developments here. makerfaire.com/makers/internet-of-farming-arduino-based-aquaponics/

[@maximilian333]

Rik Kretzinger Good luck! We're going to be buying land in the next year or two to start building a house. If there's space I'll let you know.

[@vwoohu]

He can launch a kickstarter campaign to raise money...

[@SVHSolyom]

Vincent Hu That was my first idea.

[@GardenHood]

Foreal im 25 and want to do this as a living. One day. Turn and program a systen were everyone can do this with ease

[@preddy09]

Wow this man is amazing. Nice to see this older guy being so motivated, tech savy and embracing new technology for his business. I wish more people kept their inner curiosity and openness like him as they age. I wish to do the same like him when I get old. Most people his age sit in front of TVs all day. Long life to you and keep the innovation going.

[@bill65761]

We older guys invented tv and the internet.

[@Waineo]

Love the farm nerdiness but Christ, THOSE FISH NEED A LOT MORE SPACE.

[@djsaintmichael]

Indeed - the biggest concern about aquaponics is the fish habitat.

[@emanuelefarnesi6044]

Please add more space for those fish!

[@savethehumanz9205]

Agreed, he could make a beautiful backyard pond that serves the same function and increases the value of the house at the same time. Think naturally

[@matheujew]

they need more space

[@BobfromHolland]

Almost thought that was hydroponic water,, it looks pretty dirty.. Also feeds twice a day? Please don't feed your fish twice a day... goldfish and koi maybe once a day but anything else just stick with every other, dont feed more than they can eat in 5 minutes

[@watersystems08]

I love his enthusiasm. He looks like he didn't have any previous software/ electronics skills and just went out and did it. Very cool.

[@Thryfte]

This guy's basically a KZbin Gardening Great, a titan among men. I need to find like, a convention just full of people like this and just fill my head with new ideas!

[@Thryfte]

Martin Martin Not in school any more, I climb trees and run chainsaws for a living. I'm also a geek, I guess!

[@bill65761]

There is a daily convention being held in every larger bookstore in America. Bring money.

[@Snowman2389]

Good job Rik Kretzinger, this is really great work you are doing. It all has to start somewhere and no one ever gets everything right the first time. By the looks of some comments, there is a lot of internet heroes on here that have a lot of bad things to complain about be it money or the fish or "fake" food. But this concept someday will be the norm for a lot of people around the world for there daily food and it sure beats boxed garbage food that most eat. Keep up the great work and hope to see updates soon. We need more people like you that walk the walk not just talk the talk

[@Will_Grow_Plants]

The system looks awesome, but i'm shocked he had Koi/Carp in that sized container? A bunch of people are gonna jump on this comment like they know something about fish, but that is way way way too small. I hear later in the video he talks about upgrading the size... For those fish, it should be a minimum of 1,000 gallons...

[@TristanJCumpole]

Will Eberli It's okay because they're hooked up to the Internet.

[@hieroglyph321]

Will Eberli Agree. That stood out to me. Cool system but ... I couldn't sleep at night knowing I'm running a small fish alcatraz.

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

Will Eberli Fish carrying capacity is based not only on size of fish, but water volume,filtration and oxygenation. In a good aquaponics system the surface area is huge and includes waterfalls and/or bubblers so oxygenation is near max , the actual volume of water includes all the water in the system and the plants are much better at filtering waste than any mechanical filter. I found that my aquaponics system could sustain many more inches of fish than the tank by itself with normal mechanical filters and bubblers.

[@Will_Grow_Plants]

Michael Clark​ I understand the water is sustainable for them, but I feel like space to swim is important for their well being too. I'd hope my fish were at least happy with their environment. Just a personal feeling of mine.

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

Good point. not meaning to sound heartless but maybe it would be better to use a food fish like channel catfish or tilapia, you would get more food production(the fish) without any emotional attachment.

[@marissatallant2868]

Rik may have grown up on a Christmas tree farm, and got his degree in agriculture, but he clearly has the mind of an engineer! I got lost with all of the sensors. It looks amazing, and love his enthusiasm in showing and explaining his set up. Well done Rik!

[@rikkretzinger8728]

+Marissa Tallant - Thanks - I have even better designs on the way ---- rik

[@DanielDiaz-by7fc]

Did you ever do a part 2? Would like to see what he ended up doing

[@Hartz93]

Was thinking the same thing!

[@Absquatulationist]

I third this.

[@tl3724]

Same , does he have a company how far along is he with the advancement in the IOT ??

[@heinrickaquino3948]

Same. 🥺

[@ivx8345]

I agree!!!

[@Celticninja011]

That system looks really clean. Its impressive. It can work with less complications, but clearly this intelligent man needs the challenge.

[@RandomName574]

I wish i had a grandpa like him :)

[@xenoidaltu601]

Andy Wales One of the coolest grandpas on planet Earth.-.

[@BlueX80]

Some of the people in these videos make me feel so dense by comparison. Designing automated hydroponics systems that can be monitored by internet,Very impressive.

[@BlueX80]

He has a lot of big plans. It'd be interesting to check back in on him. Wheredoes he get the cone shaped plugs he plans to start his seedlings in, and use in his towers?

[@stuk90]

cool features... but you can have reduced the amount of pumps you use, by positioning the plant rows above the fish tank, and add a bell siphon to them. that way you dont need to pump the water from the plants to the fish tank, they just fall gracefully to the fish tank, when the plant rows are full. less electricity and less management by the arduino.

[@wcanaday234]

Bingo ... the fewer parts there are, the fewer there are to fail. I noticed that he has some of his electronics below his fish tank. That would seem to be of questionable design. It's pretty much a statistical certainty that he will, eventually, have a leak or spill. I am still considering designs, but I have in mind to mix plants above, fish at mid level and mushrooms in the humid shade beneath, all within a hoop house frame with supplemental heat from composting. (fish waste is high N, the neighbors discard, literally, tons of high C fallen leaves each autumn, straw is readily available and reasonably priced and I can add humanure to the mix on a regular basis as long as the city doesn't catch on -- part of the reason for using a hoop-house is to hide the composting operations from the city). I intend to use run-off water from my metal-roofed garage to feed two large cisterns of 10,000 gallon combined capacity with potable water (through sand filters) that can be pumped as make-up water for the aquaponics set up and also for household use. The finished compost will be used in my raised bed garden. I'm trying to figure out what size system it will take to harvest 20# of fish per week. I want to cover all of my own needs, plus have some to distribute to needy neighbors. When the SHTF, good relationships will be worth their weight in gold. Until then, they are still worth having. In Detroit, in raised beds set between two garages (the neighbor let me paint his cinder block garage wall white so it would reflect onto my garden), I grew, organically, quite a bit higher yields than this gentleman with all of his technology seems to be getting. I was getting as much as 2 bushels of green beans a week from 60 square feet of bed. From that same bed, I had canned over 200 qts. of tomatoes (and given literally bushels away) the previous summer. I'm not sure how much cilantro he plans to eat, but those tomatoes lasted my wife and I about 8 years despite giving away numerous quarts of juice. I had two other beds which produced well, remarkably well, but not as well as the bed next to the cinder block wall. I'd like to do that again down here in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. In fact, with the tilapia, I'd like to be >95% food self-sufficient on my 1/4 acre of heaven. :~)

[@nbjunknbjunk]

@@wcanaday234 I ran across your comment and it piqued my curiosity. I would love to learn more about your set-up and experience. I'm thinking about starting down the food self-sufficiency push myself but am bewildered/overwhelmed by the number of possible approaches (raised bed gardening, indoor/outdoor hydroponics, indoor/outdoor aquaponics, etc...). Thanks fur any guidance you can provide.

[@bill65761]

Very difficult to give you a useful answer without knowing where you live and what your other circumstances are. IF you are in America, your county DOES have an agriculture department where you can pick up reading material, classes and expert advice. Your state agricultural college (land-grant college -- every state has one) will be more than happy to (for a very reasonable fee) test your soil. Ask them for an organic analysis. Although I've read some on the topics, I've never done either hydroponics or aquaponics. If you are going to garden organically, I suggest that you look up "Humanure" by Joe Jenkins online. It is available as a free pdf OR as a bound book. Even if you never compost with human manure, it is an incredible guide to composting ANY waste organic material and well worth the price of admission. You can get all "Rube Goldberg" if you want, or you can feed your family with little more than a trowel, some seeds, a spot in the sun and a healthy imagination. The Garden of Eden was 100% organic with next to no tools. My best, and final, recommendation is to just simply start somewhere and, as you learn from that, try new things.

[@nbjunknbjunk]

@@bill65761 Thanks for the response, information and encouragement. I appreciate it.

[@iiiiGABSiiii]

that was the smartest idea i have ever seen. No waste, Not too much consumption. You could even put up a power supplier across the water pressure.

[@DieAlphaEnte]

Everytime when i have an idea, in this case, autoregulating an AP setup with sensors and Arduino, some guy already did it. And in this case he did it good. Good job, man.

[@oc3264]

How ingenious can one man be ? I am amazed by this level of skill and knowledge. Aquaponics as a method of production has amazing potential for producing good quality food while drasticly reducing environmental impact. This is very positive.

[@Schoolforson]

How would you like to make this an open source class for students to build large scale systems to help feed seniors and undernourished kids in rural US? I'd like kids to learn programing skills, as well as the agriculture skills on my land.

[@TheOleHermit]

Raspberry Pi, Sensor starter kit, ESP32, ESP8266. It's all inexpensive and well documented, with step by step tutorials and online videos. Simply search on Google.

[@thedevo01]

This is more relevant than ever.

[@thedevo01]

@@TheOleHermit - I think he meant that the design of the contraptions could be open source.

[@TheOleHermit]

@@thedevo01 The contraptions (water level, humidity, temperature, etc) are included in the 'sensor kits' for both Raspberry Pi and Arduino. Open source C++ and Python code is included in the starter kit tutorials. The only parts not included are project boxes to house the contraptions. Those are available in various sizes on Amazon or can be custom made DIY. But, none of these are going to simply arrive on the doorstep nor jump into one's brain. The research takes time and the learning curve can only be overcome with hands on experience. Personally, I love the challenge, 'the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat'. The most memorable lessons and greatest rewards come from overcoming obstacles. I've been at it for over a year and my perseverance is paying off. This gentleman is travelling that same path. It is unavoidable on such a project. 😎

[@lompocus]

These are the most worthless replies ever. The answer is that everything you want can be had free libre and open source up to a limit. The raspberry pi, for example, had a closed source video driver. This seems inconsequential until you realize an operating system like GNU GuixSD is completely automated until you throw the closed source figurative wrench in the gears. Being closed source, in practice, fucjs everything up. In practice, you should ask, "what is this man doing that the people around me are not doing?" I recognize many of the notions he had from a variety of commercial hydroponics greenhouses. Instead of those tubes and relief valves, one greenhouse went through about 5 different sheet steel bent profiles until, by trial and error, they found one which didn't generate too many maintenance requirements. That is expensive! However, jointed and planed whitewood is cheap. Just use that! Walk through the steps manually. You shall inevitable write a checklist, which will inevitably be too simple-minded for many cases necessitating a flowchart, then a feedback loop, then a graph, then graph generating rules... It is all math. So long as the user can write out steos they do by hand logically, then... mayhaps a mimetic programming system for a robot arm be more intuitive than C programming, despite being more complicated? Might a radio beacon or avoltmetet or a radar be more useful than an internet connection esp32 for monitoring a plant's growth, despite being simpler? You be ask how to program, but you want to ask instead how to think, and the most intuitive way of expressing this man's systems, if a limited expression system, is the lambda calculus first order logic, specifically in the form of GNU Guile... whence you will come upon exactly zero software libraries of interest to you. However, teaching logic makes easy what this man is doing.

[@chefbigpig]

I am a aquatic live system specialist, built systems around the world all sizes and types! and I just want to say that you did impress me a lot! you are a genius! this whole entire thing is wow!

[@mauriciagoods2515]

This is cool. He's definitely an introvert. :)

[@ilovefunnyamv2nd]

normally, old people just walk up to me and ramble on in great detail about their projects, but this project is actually doing something, what he didnt mention is this hobby doesnt take any work from the user, but its so addictive that you just have to keep fiddling, expanding, improving, and iterating. damn i love hydroponics and automation

[@chubi167]

man this guy knows some shit about shit

[@rikkretzinger8728]

+matthew everett -- Thanks

[@Dreaded88]

+Rik Kretzinger: Say, do they make that same container you use for a Fish Tank, in clear plastic?

[@Thesnigerfedaykin]

Hahaha. love that comment man.

[@michaelreyes3510]

Go here if you want the best aquaponics system online: HootAqua. info

[@d3spis3m39]

Awesome with scaling on the internet. Lol

[@naturally4us]

I never really understood how to control the operation from the internet. You just gave me enough insight to further study about how to do it. Greatly appreciated. Great instructor!

[@kevinmaillet8017]

Not to sound ignorant, but when a vertical tube with holes is filled with water, does the water not just come out the holes before the sensor can be reached at the top? Wouldn't it make more sense to water from the top?

[@TheRealDermatologist]

Kevin Maillet Actually, they do water from the top./... the sensor is for quality or valve stuck etc... the water drips down.. or you can run a tube down the middle and put sprayers on it.. or you can put sprayers on the inside of the tube with a small pipe to each.....

[@-.-..._...-.-]

This is like the cleanest example I have ever seen, everything looks so neat and tidy.

[@rikkretzinger8728]

+Number1Paixths -- I keep cleaning the design up. Will now start to scale uin the next year now that my Make article has been published. It is a lot of work get a article published in a major publication when a person has no experience in this area. -- rik

[@ClosetTransgender]

The only thing that bothers me about this brilliant system is the reliance on PVC and plastics. PVC in particular, I wouldn't want my food or fish absorbing anything from it. I know it is cheap and available, great for DIY, but it's also the toxic garbage.

[@HeliosWorksAV]

Good point - I've done proof of concept aquaponics in the past, but worried about leaching. I've been looking for other materials - clay/terracotta but you need to be sure there is no lead present - which led me to looking for an easy DIY way to test for lead contamination - that's where I'm stuck at now.

[@RogerEngle]

HeliosWorksAV try cpvc. Someone else mentioned it in another comment. It's more costly, but it's safe for potable water so it should also work for hydro/aquaponics.

[@42x42x42x42]

HeliosWorksAV /watch?v=BLmycZ2nrt0 This may help you

[@AndreasK6rgend]

hemp ? hemp plastic ...or bamboo ?

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

Apparently, you're not aware that PVC is being used for domestic water pipes all over the country right now. Exactly what harm to you think comes from it?

[@NghiaNguyen-qq7yx]

This guy is a genius!!! i swear one day ill mimic everything he has done!!!

[@merksecution8395]

You really need to give those fish more room. Even though this is supposed to be a eco friendly way to grow, this doesn't mean you should cramp fish in a tiny tank. Get them a 400 gallon tank so they can move around.

[@lasooo7389]

MerksX209A they're fish.

[@re1752]

MerksX209A yes he needs to carr for those fish that setup is unnecasarily cruel

[@claymodelexpert]

Edgar Rios they are also the ones giving him the nutrients. its only fair lol, but if you choose not to see it that way its alright. bigger tanks=happier, healthier fish and in turn that would help the plants grow faster and healthier.

[@Jmyster4]

They are nothing more than inputs and outputs. Input food, output poop.

[@williamrose1582]

more water for the fish means your diluting the nutrients that are cycling through the system.

[@arifproklamasi8120]

it's cool to see how this man automate plant production with such a low budget, for sure knowledge is power.

[@deadfred821]

You know, I remember seeing this a while ago, was hoping there would be an update. What ever came out of this? Wasn't he expecting to expand? And what about those units on the side, the verticals? Does he have a KZbin channel?

[@zachhodgson4113]

I tried looking for a site. Cant find anything yet. He also did the Filtration wrong. But the automation looms spot on.

[@brandonreidy6989]

@@zachhodgson4113 agreed. He should have used less sump pumps and took advantage of gravity. Too many moving parts and sensors to perform tasks that can be simplified using gravity.

[@bobalysiaharas6158]

I just googled him in 2022, looks like he works at Gilead Sciences and continues to blog and post about aquaponics. The last thing I could find that he posted was in 2021. I bet ya could join one of the forums he’s on and ask him!

[@fatLPfan]

I live in northern California and his right land here is crazy expensive. to be on the go like that is incredible. I want to learn more from this man his a genius!

[@michaelbaker2927]

I'm very impressed, great video, great project. Keep it up!

[@MikeTrieu]

Thermoforming that PVC pipe with the simple wooden tool was inspiring to see. Very cool!

[@drpk6514]

This is what I call over engineering prone to any kind of disruptions

[@howtoguro]

+Mohammad Karbaschi Or everything is under engineered :)

[@howtoguro]

+Mohammad Karbaschi Or everything is under engineered :)

[@rikkretzinger8728]

+Brotherhood of Steel -- I have found that over engineering is always better on prototypes and more cost effective than under designed and lacking in a total solution. First versions are only that a first version - version 2.0 are always 100 percent better and much more efficient with substantial cost savings. Fact is you have too start somewhere or everything will be stuck in design with nothing ever getting built. That is my view on this thought -- rik

[@howtoguro]

Rik Kretzinger Ah, I was trying to understand what was going on, I think I figured it out. I was making a Joke that everything else in the world was under engineered compared to you're system. If that's what you perceived. I prefer over engineering as well, it's sort of like drilling holes in boards. You can always take off more material, but you can't as easily put it back. Just a side question, how do you feel about plastic Christmas trees? Merry Christmas :)

[@richardtowers6948]

Great video. Thanks for producing it. This chap is very inspiring and quite a visionary. I'm surprised he's so keen on the vertical system. The flood/drain system is well proved to pump oxygen into the water and to the roots. It would be very interesting to see a follow-up where he compares his tower to his flood/drain beds for productivity and reliability. I chucked some worms into my prototype, just because their guts are full of good bacteria, so I thought it couldn't hurt to try them. I didn't expect them to do well because I thought worms drowned when fully submerged for too long. In reality they thrived to the point that I even found some living in the substrate at the bottom of the fish tank when I decommissioned it after 2 years. I presume the water must have been oxygenated sufficiently for them to actually breath under water. Hardest thing I found was getting seedlings to come on when planted directly into beds. I'm using expanded clay pebbles which have some buoyancy, so they shift a little bit during fold/drain cycles. I suspect bruises the tender roots. Now I'm planning to fit a conservatory (to get all year round production, because its cold in London in winter) and turn it into an urban micro-farm. If we want to eat well in the future as human populations increase I think aquaponics will become a game changer. 2 orders of magnitude less water required than traditional farming. Multiple crops, including fish meat. Much lower transport costs (sack of dry fish food every few weeks) and continuous high quality output. No waste during shipping or storage because neither of these happen. No need to stock a big fridge or freezer because you harvest to today's needs.

[@8907raptor]

Very nice work and smart =) keep up the good work.

[@rikkretzinger8728]

+Josef grafen - thanks, many more things to come on this

[@SonnyMojo]

This guy is awesome. You can tell he worked really hard on this. I would definitely pick his brain if I ever met him. I'll be in the same boat soon.

[@bzqp2]

"Grandpa!! Are you stressing your asparagus on the internet again?!"

[@funkedgibberish]

I Absolutely LOVE my aquaponic garden! The sound of the water flowing is so soothing.

[@haubrichband]

I grew up on a farm in Iowa then studied Lean Manufacturing in college. Lean thinking emphasizes automation, vertical integration, and watching moving markets. Sounds like you are right on track with this project. This is amazing. I see this as a game changer. Do you have an update on the last year's progress? Are you planning on making this open source? Thanks!

[@MattMiskinnis]

I must say to congrats to Rik on the set up! I was really impressed. I'm a fellow aquapon myself with a humble 2 growbed system with a 300 gallon fish tank in my backyard. I have also been getting involved with the arduino and making some automation projects for my system, so I was really excited when I saw your post. I have created an automated fish feeder with the arduino (please take a look on my page). I also liked his vertical towers I really need to build some!

This guy is my hero :)

[@organichealthmedicine6606]

Genius .... Now you can have a Farm and still have a Life ! ....Take a trip with less worry ..... Impressed

[@czar89031]

I love this idea but how about installing inside the green house with solar energy to power up all this gadget with self timer, this is so awesome. I love to create this in Thailand for rice & herbs plantation,.

[@practicalman45]

Ingenious! These guys are the pioneers showing us the way of the future.

[@psimin]

This is awesome! Are there any updates?

[@guardian218]

Very nice! I've been slowly getting into growing my own food for various reasons. I stumbled across this video and while I knew automation was possible this level of control blows my mind. A+ to Mr Kretzinger's setup and his passion for it.

[@adriaan9287]

Seems no one cares about the poor fish being stuck in such a little container that is way to small for them.

[@zedzed5276]

Tilapia are hardy creatures. But yeah, maybe not the greatest life.

[@starczarar]

Correct.

[@joebopp3958]

You must hate aquariums too and abstain from eating poultry.

[@cod5testaccount]

@@joebopp3958 and hate everything not you. Because that's where you are heading.

[@joebopp3958]

@@cod5testaccount Yeah I'm that egotistical. They are focusing on a very minor problem when this is a solution to saving all of the fish in the ocean. See the dead zone in the gulf of Mexico.

[@Organnabis]

This guy is brilliant. I can't wait to see his project finished and functioning.

[@GeorgeStar]

Imagine how much pot you could grow!!! The mind boggles.

[@Baelfyr]

ya, and people use hydroponics to grow weed, its very efficient.

[@roryp7415]

Hydroponics is great for weed or just about any plant. I've successfully grown several varieties of cacti hydroponically. Hydro gives you precise control and ability to change conditions quickly. Much easier to maintain. Chemical nutrients are already chealated making them available to the plants, unlike organic nutrients which need to be broken down by bacteria. Aquaponics is trickier. Aqua is great for leafy green crops, vegatative growth.. To get any heavy blooms you need to start adding nutrient as fish don't produce it in the right ratios for bloom. Aqua requires a balance to be maintained which must be gently coerced when levels need to be changed- however it will keep itself sustained without water changes much longer than hydro- when done right. Too much nitrogen, not enough potassium or phosphorus. Dont bother with flowering crops.

[@bluebimmer33]

This system wouldn't be good for Weed. In the budding stage weed likes potassium (K) and aquaponic systems don't produce a lot it so you would have to find a way to introduce it to the system which ruins the point of a closed system like this.

[@roryp7415]

Potassium can be added directly to a tank as pure chemical (KNO3, K2SO4 etc) if you know what you're doing. Problem with dumping in a load of potassium though is algae blooms.

[@bluebimmer33]

Can fish handle that?

[@JamesCorbett]

This guy is way too humble - "It's not hard"... "You don't have to be a programmer"..... He's a genius!

[@fluffeater123]

I like aquaponics, and I have a system 1000L system, but I think this system is massively over engineered. Bells syphons dude, bell syphons

[@liztorres8943]

I like how you are the one putting everything together. you, sir, have helped see my ideas into action and have inspired me to continue. Continue your work, don't let negative people affect you by suppressed thinking of how we should live in this society.

[@russkysalamander5983]

he should call himself "mr. wizard".

[@infinitemind888]

the purpose and the innovation of this set-up is beautiful

[@Macatho]

Internet of things :) Made me giggle.

[@brycecox8249]

Just came across this comment and internet of things (IOT) is all the rage today

[@Macatho]

@@brycecox8249 Wouldnt say "all the rage". But sure some devices can automate some house hold tasks.

[@SteezyOtis]

By far the healthiest plants I've seen grown in aquaponics!

[@94566rik]

@SteeayOtis- I think so also.... rik

[@noonespecial6277]

How I wish this guy would use the term network instead of internet. LOL.

[@jayextarys8616]

Take a shot every time he says 'internet'

[@Tomasz_Piekarski]

But the network's name is... INTERNET. The guy was right.

[@florem5622]

Totally cool Rik! I wish you much success with commercializing this endeavor!

[@dasconkcreetbaybee]

You shouldn't keep fish that big, in a container that small, with a lid on top

[@gimmetheacoountplix]

Remember this video, this one in particular made me interested in hydroponics. So still have a small system at home that I use from time to time (indoor, no pumps or arduino). But I have som salad, started a webpage and actually sold some greens on a farmers market. So thank you :)

[@ADUAquascaping]

That's pretty sweet that you made your own regulating system, but all of that technology already exists with smart phone controls and what not. I am sure you are aware... It wouldn't hurt to acquire more plumbing/filtration ideas from the aquarium hobby. There are so many resources it is sure to give you more ideas. Do you seriously add no other fertilizers, but fish waste via the nitrogen cycle? I don't believe fish waste has all the essential nutrients plants need. They provide nitrogen and phosphorus and elevated trace amounts of carbonic acid from respiration, but little of anything else. I am astonished the plants are even alive. Great system nonetheless. All of the hardware and giant DIY timers seem a little over kill. That is just my opinion, I like to keep things simple.

[@RogerEngle]

There are lots of aquaponics systems that add little or no nutrients except food for the fish. Some even grow most of the food for the fish in the system. I don't know about his system, but it is feasible.

[@fleeflng]

Roger Engle Tiger worms eat about half their own weight in kitchen waste. They create a fluid which is wonderful for growing plants on and fish love eating worms. Win-win-win.

[@fleeflng]

Roger Engle Black soldier flies have a life cycle of about a month. One black soldier fly can lay approx. 900 eggs. A menu of black soldier flies and worms are sufficient to feed a lot of fish with.

[@94566rik]

@rick-- thanks for the ideas and resources to look into. YES to your question that I add nothing more to the system. More than anything I am farming the bacteria more that the fish or plants. Happy bacteria - more plants

[@ADUAquascaping]

I guess there are a lot of different techniques out there. I could use compost turn it into mineralized top soil and then in the grow bed do a wet/dry filter below the bed into the sump right? Then my plants would be in ionized soil and I could feed my fish the worms from my compost. Besides this what alternative foods offer organics that will decompose into all the essential micros and macros that the plants need. Rotten Tiger worms? any other specific animals or plants that offer the most nutrients? I would prefer to create compost and then mineralize it, but am looking for any other great ideas?

[@klegz1]

Excellent work, self sufficient automated gardening.

[@Collgab2050]

It's awesome what you built.. but those poor fish, that is such a small tank for the number of fish you have in there.. and some are huge... idk seems kind of abusive to me. A lot of these aquaponics systems are all about the plants, and the fish are kept in dark tanks with dirty water... I think both need to be cared for equally.

[@94566rik]

Collgab2050 - since the video fish have moved on to larger pond. I was just holding them in that tank until they could safely be moved to a larger system to accommodate them.

[@Collgab2050]

Oh ok, that's good to hear :)

[@ceojr1963]

For years I have thought of how small a space could someone get all their food calories, as many medical plants, and as many usable and wearable products from the same space. While this project of mine might never be more than a thought experiment. Others seem to have been given the same desire to see what they can with space given. Cool. Thanks for the video information yet again.

[@clangerbasher]

8/10 for the mechanics. -2/10 for animal husbandry.

[@gerharddiedericks2120]

Way too small volume for size of fish, yes?

[@glowingone1774]

you know the fish are ina pond now right?

[@brianfredline8485]

Don't forget people, there are a lot of things that we take for granted today that used to be much more labor intensive but someone did the hard work to make it "user-friendly".

[@TimJuPe]

poor fish :/

[@Gerben912]

Thought the exact same thing. All crammed into such a small space :o

[@goiterlanternbase]

Its fish after all. Like a piece of root bark, as long as the not constantly touch each other, they are comfortable with there enviroment.

[@saulthompson6613]

Just amazing how much knowledge and energy this guy has. He should be sent to Mars or something - to build a habitat for the rest who follows.

[@steveaquarios007]

I quit at the start when he shows the fish in the lidded tank as a part of the "system"...too cruel and fucked up for me.

[@728473399]

Amazing....so much thinking, so little time. There is a Martial Arts principal working here. Its called MME. Maximum Efficiency, Maximum Effectiveness, Minimal Effort. The BLUF ( Army for Bottom Line Up Front ) is control all the variables, reap the benifits. Time management is maximized. Amazing MAN!! Thanks!! The tower is amazing. Love to see the how to video on that!!

[@chrismann2661]

"The internet of things"

[@Moochewmoo]

It's driving me crazy.

[@gerwinmurre542]

Seriously, I also wanted to say that. :)

[@chrismann2661]

Its a cisco marketing thing internetofeverything.cisco.com/ www.cisco.com/web/tomorrow-starts-here/ioe/index.html?Buffer

[@useruseruser111]

Stop saying thTHATHAHTHATHAT

[@spacer4660]

This is a wonderful technology and is exactly what is needed to solve food insecurities. Integrated with a fog net water generator (programable to open/deploy and close/collapse) one could auto-aqua farm indefinitely. This is a critical invention and should be fast-tracked into production!

[@dcrypter87]

if only the fish had better life =D

[@wobbegong-u4r]

Looks good to me. I have a concern for reliance on PVC as has been previously mentioned. I would also recommend placing your electrical equipment (shown near end) above your water sources. It's never a good idea to have electricity below water in case of a leak. That said, you've shown a lot of ingenuity, very impressive! You've inspired me to work on something similar, thanks!

[@hammysmad]

Smart

[@hammysmad]

Christine Felixon Not too bad, yourself?:)

[@hammysmad]

Christine Felixon Good to hear, still just working from KZbin here :)

[@xKINGxHEADSHOTx]

by far the best use of an arduino ever, just amazing

[@VisibleMRJ]

real life Minecraft

[@qwarlockz8017]

OH my god! Dude! you need a show! you are hysterical! Totally get it... totally there! My whole house is an automated example of how to make the simple HORRIBLY complex! I will watch more vids!

[@RTWrename]

Internet internet INTERNET!!!

[@khenry1231]

All the time, material, and money, and from what I see, not much food. Nice looking system. and gave me some very good ideas. Thank you.

[@anthonywhitehouse2295]

that tank for the fish is too small for them.cruelty pure cruelty

[@gkundo]

+anthony whitehouse majority of aquaponics I've seen so far is just a fish prison. it's really inhumane. That's why i just do hydroponics. So many aquaponics systems also have enclosed prisons for the fish... it's like living in a dark closet forever. That's really really sad. As for THIS video, wow, it literally is a closet for the fish. That's probably the most inhuman form of aquaponics i've seen so far.

[@onetwo9826]

i just had sushi, want some?

[@94566rik]

Matt - great project - I like it. I do want to built one and yours looks very sound. I just have to many projects going before I can get to the automated feeder. But this is a great first project for people. Right now I am on the fast track to finish off my towers and get to growing. Getting my 3-D parts printed to seal off the inside of the 4" fittings and allow electrical and water to be in the same unit is my next step.

[@Bushtailedwildcat]

Thank you for your reply. I have also left a more detailed question on your blog which has since disappeared. I cannot wait to see your video; unfortunately, as I live in the UK the cost of shipment for a formed 8’ pipe will be quite substantial so I will have to DIY this one myself.

[@jbpitcher]

It looks like you have put a lot of effort into this project. Nice work. A suggestion, you mentioned a fish tank in the front entry area, then having to cool the water. You also mentioned putting more grow beds along the side of the house where it looks like it would be in the shade from the house and shrubs. Perhaps you could switch those. Fish tank where it would have shade and the planters where it's more sun. Putting the fish tank in the ground rather than on blocks would keep it cooler.

[@mushman05]

i wanted to make a system to check the soil moisture with my raspberry PI, but you take things to the next level. you are a source of motivation :P

[@mikeypodielski4148]

never forget the love our plants bring ...seedlings setup for breeding high level soil grown genectis in 2020...small little family farms in 2020

[@chiodeguate1]

Damn, and here I was feeling good about my raised planters... Amazing work sir, just amazing.

[@IvanHoeEeWu]

Great cool stuff, this video, Rik's blog & original story is now in my bookmark!

[@DavidJohnson-hr7pb]

I love listening to someone that is so smart

[@ChrisBlower1986]

This is really impressive, a lot of effort and passion has been put into this project! It is very inspiring! Great Job!