JrPonics For Adults

[JohnDoeOntario]

Adultonics 101

I have grown some plants with soil and am currently doing a MJ soil grow. I have always been intrested in soiless grows but always found it just out of my grasp. I was in my local supplier and saw this JRponics kit for kids. The dream became so real I could taste it. I convinced myself that I should get it for my 5 year old daughter (clearly for myself) knowing she would be back to barbies within the hour.

I set it up with my daughters help, add some water (i used ro) add the air stone, rocks and finally tossed a few tomato seeds in one basket and some pepper seeds in the other. Put a few in at diffrent levels, not sure what works best so I went for the random approach. Plugged in the air pump and hoped for the best.

It comes with some bacteria to start the garden, mint and basil seeds, foam disks for clippings, and fish food... wait what? Fish food? Oh man, its a fish tank as well. If you havent heard of this product its like a mini eco system. Live fish poops, plant cleans water and grows. Im not sure how I feel about that so thank god it comes with an a+b nute solution (and my 5yr old didnt figure out it can house a pet).

Ill add some pictures of it, keep it updated. I figured this thread would be more appropriate. Hopefully get some results and as always open for feedback.

Oh and yes ill be adding a small light. Not sure what kind exactly so open for conciderations as well.

Thanks and happy growing everyone.

 

[Balke Buds]

Yeah, I have been looking at aquaponics for a couple of years now....was watching some great vids on youtube today as amatter of fact.

First saw the concept on an old episode of DOOMSDAY PREPPERS...pretty bad ass.

One of the vids I was watching today had a massive system, like a 40' x 100', and not only did they have fish in the reservoir but they had shrimp under the floating beds of lettuce and onions...frikin outstanding!!!

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

 

[JohnDoeOntario]

not only did they have fish in the reservoir but they had shrimp under the floating beds of lettuce and onions...frikin outstanding!!

Thats awesome, Ive read the shrimp and certain fish actually help trim some of the roots for stronher growth. Would be intresting to test.

I found out my tomato and pepper seeds are rather old and did not pop so I went with the supplied mint and basil seeds. Heres an updated picture of both baskets, mint still havent poped but basil are growing nice. Theres a few small roots down under. Im rather excited.

Debating making a larger one for some new tomato and peppers.

 

[Balke Buds]

I dunno if I would plant a tomato plant in that system. They get big and top heavy.
Pepper plants can be smaller, I have had tall and short plants....
Also, do you have any experience with aquariums?
The aquarium must be conditioned properly (growth of beneficial bacterias) to convert the ammonia to nitrate to nitrite in order to effectively grow plants and keep the fish alive.
If you do not know about this there is a great website forum (fishgeeks.com) that will have all the info you need.
I have ran a 55 gallon tank for about 10 years, all kinds of fish...better than watching TV.

Update with some pics, bro!

 

[JohnDoeOntario]

Very true, I was thinking it might topple over but I saw about a 9 inch tomato plant growing in one at the store I bought it at, should of snaped a picture.
Sadly the tomato and pepper seeds were too old but after these guys im going to try again.

I do know about aquariums, ive had many. One 45g octagon Angel Fish tank. A 90g live planted aquarium (FW) but sadly only have a 30g Goldfish tank left. They are a lot of work. Ill try and dig some pictures up of the old ones but ill add one of the GF tank.

As far as jrponics go though. They have it covered. I included pictures. Basically theres additives for bacterial growth and if you dont have a fish theres a nute sched.

 

[Balke Buds]

That is too funny that they sell it as an aquaponic system but then tell you how to doit without fish!
Shit, if you have had tanks before you are good to go. I just thought I would mention it because some peeps just dont know about that kind of stuff.

I might dabble in this down the road myself...good closed loop food production on a bigger scale.

 

[JohnDoeOntario]

Haha yeah I noticed that. I am also intrested in growing my own veggies and was thinking of going this route. Clearly on a larger scale but the fundimentals are there.

 

[Barbarajax]

rnrnI got my Marketmore seeds from WalMart for 20cents, but it was more like 25-30 seeds...? I sure dont need 100 cucumber plants... just enough to use and save seed for next year. They should be getting seeds pretty soon now that Valentines is over...nnWhen I first read the thread title I was going to post - "ask Julie" rnrn

 

[Balke Buds]

rnrnI got my Marketmore seeds from WalMart for 20cents, but it was more like 25-30 seeds...? I sure dont need 100 cucumber plants... just enough to use and save seed for next year. They should be getting seeds pretty soon now that Valentines is over...nnWhen I first read the thread title I was going to post - "ask Julie" rnrn

??????????

 

[Balke Buds]

I was showing and explaining my ebb and flow garden to my daughter today and she got all excited and told me she was watching some vids about "this garden system that uses fish and...."

I just started laughing.....raised that girl proper!

 

[JohnDoeOntario]

Not sure what to say about that one lol. Reminds me of random bums who jump at you with conversations your expected to know whats going on in.

I usually just scream and run... soo

Arugg! *Runs away*

 

[JohnDoeOntario]

I was showing and explaining my ebb and flow garden to my daughter today and she got all excited and told me she was watching some vids about "this garden system that uses fish and...."

I just started laughing.....raised that girl proper!

Too bad theres not more kids out there like her, too many inside distractions