Ok, I'm ready to declare the Redneck Aquaculture System(hereafter referred to as REDAS...hey RAS is already taken by Theo) operational for Phase I. I'd very much like to hear comments or whatever on the approach and plans for going forward.
To get to this point, I have:
1) installed an old (15 years) spa in an re-conditioned well insulated building
2) installed an aux filtration system
3) primed the aux filtration system by adding one ounce of biological microorganisms daily for a week
4) installed plexiglass viewing and operating windows hinged with duct tape (what would a REDAS be without duct tape?)
5) conditioned the water chemistry to ideal ph and alkalinity
6) and last but certainly not least, conducted a week long simulation/shakedown.
Regarding the aux filtration system, it is a biological/mechanical pressurized filter used often in water gardens. I have installed it as an insurance policy to protect against spa failure (15 years old) as well as insurance in case the spa filtration system does not have enough capability to let me achieve Phase II, a fully loaded system. Since it takes 2 to 4 weeks to fully activate the microorgs for acting on fish waste in the filter, I added the all natural bio starter. The return flow on the aux system is also set up to provide horizontal aeration to the water.
The plexiglass windows are installed in a sheet of R-Matte R3 insulation board which I use to cover 1/2 of the spa. the other half is covered with the original insulated spa cover. These windows are used for viewing, feeding, and other operational needs.
The shakedown/simulation was conducted using Fatheads, Gambusia, and 1 unwilling Koi. The Koi was used as a canary to assess any potential adverse affects of heavy metals in the well water, in particular copper. Koi are very sensitive to free copper and some old spas used copper as the heating element.....thus the need for the test. The test went fine with only a couple of fathead casualties. The Koi is still trying to figure out how it is so blessed as to reside in a spa and the Gams are too busy taking care of physical needs(i.e. reproduction) to care.
Hence, I'm ready to go operational for Phase I and in fact have already done so. During this initial phase, I plan to grow out some speciality fish for later stocking in my ponds. Later, in Phase II, assuming the REDAS gets that far, I will fully load the system to the breaking point to determine first where that point is in terms of fish carrying capacity but also to generate hundreds of Tilapia for spring pond stocking. Phase II will start, as currently planned in late Feb. next year.
Pictured below you can see the installation. I figure I've got $250 invested in the preparation/aux system. You can buy most if it at your local Lowes. The operating costs of the REDAS are going to be incrementally very small. We already kept the spa at 65 degrees during the winter and the aux system uses very little power.
Here's the picture. I look forward to any comments on the system thus far and Phase I and Phase II plans.
