Goldfish

OkieSmoke

OkieSmoke

Member
I have been trying something new for me. OKC water is horrible for plants, but it is loaded w/ minerals and such. I created a small water treatment plant with two trash barrels, goldfish, and cheap sub pumps and air. The first barrel gets filled with tap water and is aged with a pump and activated carbon, and from there it is pumped to the larger barrel w/the fish. The water is used as needed from the fish barrel after they have worked their magic adding nutrients and such. The circulator is homemade from PVC with air, pump, and activated carbon, but no filtration to remove the little goodies from the fish. The results have been dramatic in the first grow since process stabilized.

Anyone else use live fish to treat their water supply?
 

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hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
OkieSmoke said:
I have been trying something new for me. OKC water is horrible for plants, but it is loaded w/ minerals and such. I created a small water treatment plant with two trash barrels, goldfish, and cheap sub pumps and air. The first barrel gets filled with tap water and is aged with a pump and activated carbon, and from there it is pumped to the larger barrel w/the fish. The water is used as needed from the fish barrel after they have worked their magic adding nutrients and such. The circulator is homemade from PVC with air, pump, and activated carbon, but no filtration to remove the little goodies from the fish. The results have been dramatic in the first grow since process stabilized.

Anyone else use live fish to treat their water supply?
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Do some research on building a slow sand filter. You can add a homemade activated charcoal filter post sand filter and have extremely clean water. Keep the name in mind and consider building 2. We got about 5 gallons a day from one made with a 50 gallon food grade barrel. Used. Had pickles in it before. The water was this ugly tannin colored water. I left that homestead but my buddy told me they had to build another after a few years.

If the barrel is still intact you can empty it and recharge it. Everything but the barrel available at Lowes.
 
OkieSmoke

OkieSmoke

Member
hotrodharley said:
Do some research on building a slow sand filter. You can add a homemade activated charcoal filter post sand filter and have extremely clean water. Keep the name in mind and consider building 2. We got about 5 gallons a day from one made with a 50 gallon food grade barrel. Used. Had pickles in it before. The water was this ugly tannin colored water. I left that homestead but my buddy told me they had to build another after a few years.

If the barrel is still intact you can empty it and recharge it. Everything but the barrel available at Lowes.
Click to expand...
Good advice...we used those when the well water smelled like pure sulphur, and it was the only thing that would clear up the water for plants ;)

I have pump operated charcoal filters, but the fish add a lot of organic bacteria and nutrients to the water, and when they die I poke a hole in the lucky plant's dirt giving an extra treat...
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
OkieSmoke said:
Good advice...we used those when the well water smelled like pure sulphur, and it was the only thing that would clear up the water for plants ;)

I have pump operated charcoal filters, but the fish add a lot of organic bacteria and nutrients to the water, and when they die I poke a hole in the lucky plant's dirt giving an extra treat...
Click to expand...
I used to have a 100 gallon freshwater aquarium this dentist unloaded on me. This chick would come by and replace 1/4 of the water at a time. I hooked up a hose bib so she could just drain it into a tank outside. The earthworms loved it. So did the pot and the vegetables. Go easy as it’s pretty nitrogen rich straight out of the tank.
 
CanadianJim

CanadianJim

Well-Known Member
OkieSmoke said:
No Prob...but as I continue to research, it seems to be a proven but little known method for dramatically increasing quality of flowers.
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One of the LPs in my area is using trout, for an ebb and flow aquaponics setup. I've been curious about how that affects their product, but I don't want to buy any in the near future. Keep us updated on how this goes for you!
 
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