Blackwell System

Blackwell System

Today I introduce the Blackwell System. The owner Alex Blackwell, is a good buddy of mine. His system is awesome. It can be reproduced all over because it uses universal parts. It is in his basement so he needs supplemental lighting. He is using an eight bulb, T5 fluorescent light. It has two settings to choose between flowering and vegetative stages. The grow beds are two heavy duty plastic totes bought at Walmart. The whole system is nested in a stainless steal utility shelf. The bottom  portion is filled with a 75 gallon aquarium. The whole system has a 2 x 4 footprint, so it is very space efficient. 

Lights on! The plants are loving their aquaponic home.

The system is growing peppers, green and purple basil, mixed greens, and two types of melons! The melons were just planted so they are only sprouts at this point, but the rest is going amazingly! We have harvested the mixed greens three times in the past 16 days! And the next harvest is not far away. 

Peppers started flowering not too long ago.

Delicious mixed greens. It grows about as fast as we can eat it!
Everyone here loves here "fish poop salad!"

The nutrient machines that power this awesome system are just as beautiful as the greens they produce. I never knew tilapia were such colorful fish until I saw these! They have doubled their length and more than tripled their weight (all estimates at the moment) in  the two months or so Alex has had them. They are super lively and have personalities I did not expect.

Cool colors that I did not expect from tilapia.
Leave it to aquaponics to teach me even more!

This system is a perfect example for someone who wants to set up an aquaponics anywhere in their home or business. It has easy to find materials and simple mechanics. The Blackwell System has lots of cool odds and ends that work awesomely. I will highlight these in upcoming posts.

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Is Aquaponics Truly Sustainable

This are the things that had always been in my mind. Is aquaponics truly sustainable and green? There are few critics towards aquaponics that yet has to be answered by us the aquaponics enthusiast:

1. How could aquaponic be considered green provided it is powered by electricity. All of us know, our source of electricity power mostly comes from fossil burning that release carbon to the atmosphere. Thus makes aquaponics indirectly contribute to the release of unnecessary carbon compound into the atmosphere.
2. Most materials used for the construction of aquaponics actually is not truly green and sustainable. We all know, the grow bed is made of plastic, metal or wood (which sacrificed valuable commodity of the environment), PVC pipe, synthetic glue. These products that we used to construct aquaponics produced in factory that releases those unnecessary gases to the environment.
3. Some space required for aquaponic setup. It do consume the "fertile/non fertile" top soil. However being a person with green mind, we all do appreciate the value of the top soil, since we all know there are many ways to revive its usefulness and fertility. Since aquaponics located and covered the top soil with concrete, cement, tank or whatever, then how could it considered to be green, whereby the space used could be utilized to a greater value for the environment. Therefore, optimizing the usefulness of space also becomes an issue.

These are the things that we have to answer. It is not enough for us to justify how green and sustainable aquaponics are. The answer lies on our actions and creativity to make it truly sustainable. Aquaponics still has long way to go. However, I believe with our determination and effort to thinks and think, we definitely someday will find a way for aquaponics to make its way as a green and sustainable endeavor in food production.

I am really optimistic to see aquaponics will become one of the solution to the catastrophic environment that we faced today, "Food Shortage". I want to see my aquaponics set. Maybe I should ask my brother to email me 2 or 3 recent pictures of our aquaponics at our home.

"Peng tolong dulu ba kunun kasi email saya gambar latest aquaponic di rumah kalau ko balik nanti, hihi XD"

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Reliable Aquaponics Siphon

Hello everyone. It has been for so long that my problem in aquaponics is the "siphon reliability". Since most of my previous aquaponics system powered by small aquarium pump, therefore the siphon effect most of the time failed.

Recently, I have wondering, how to make the siphon more reliable even if the flow rate of the pump is really small. This is what I manage to come out so far.

Feel free to comment. I really have no idea whether this thing could work.

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Aquaponics Update August

Latest update of my aquaponics system during first 7 days of Raya. The ph and ammonia is so high. Maybe it is due to the alkaline condition of the media caused the ineffective nitrification process. Anyway, the ph is around 7.6 and the ammonia level around 1.0ppm.

From my observation, the watercress are doing very well in this kind of growing techniques. The water level is constant with continuous flowing rate at small volume on each grow bed.

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Recent update during Ramadhan

It has been few moths since the last update of our aquaponic system. Recently, my brother has emailed me few pictures of our system. They are look great, however I think the system can be improved more.

Overall view of the system.


Happy fish. I hope so.


The Ulam Raja.


The Pegaga.


I dont know what this plant called. We call it Sayur Ginseng if Im not mistaken.

Until the next update, see you :)

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My Mini Aquaponics Set

Hai everyone, since my bigger aquaponics set left behind in Sabah. Therefore I made a new one here in Johor. This is just experimental indoor set. Because of large space is not available, I just make a mini set. I have gone through a lot of trouble in finding the material needed, and finally, this is the result.

Overall view

Grow bed

Fish tank/ container

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My Latest Aquaponics System

It has been so long since my last post.  Anyway, this is my latest aquaponic system, built on last June- July 2012. These pictures was sent by my brother in Sabah.

I am still experimenting the best possible and simplest system. One thing for in my opinion, every aquaponic system should have some filtration system, regardless of the techniques used (media bed, deep water culture, nutrient rich technique and whatever), filtration system is really crucial.

In this system, the water level is constant, and I think, some adjustment should be done. The media is quite alkaline, around ph 7.5 to 8. However my mom said the fishes are great and healthy.

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