Was just wondering if anyone has tried to build an aquaponics system that floats in their the pond? Similar to like a floating dock but instead more like a floating garden. Some seem to have tried to incorporate pond water by circulating it through their aquaponics system, but if you could just do it directly in the pond it seems like it might be simpler... ? Am I crazy or would this work?
It works. I do it myself. The best thing you can do is do a quick google search on "hydroponic floating rafts" and look through the images to get ideas on what you want. If money isn't a problem, look at Biohaven floating islands, but I believe most people could make it a weekend DIY project. Building what amounts to a floating dock would work, but is probably overkill. Last year I floated those pink 4x8 sheets of foam you can pick up at a box store. Easy to make any shape you want. Cut some holes that allow you to hold aquaponic baskets or even garden center nursery pots depending on the size of plants you need. You could frame them with treated lumber to make sturdier if you want. There's a lot of plant options. I just used some ornamental grasses because I'm trying to reduce the nutrient load coming into my pond.
This year I am going to float some tires and experiment with a few vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, peppers) just to see what happens. I've added buoyancy to the tire with plastic bottles and cut holes around the edge so that annual flowers can encircle the veggies and look better. These are going to double as location markers for a couple sunken habitat structures I have too.
Hope that helps. Wish I had a few pics. I'll do better with that this year.
Keep us informed and post pictures. Sounds interesting.
Wife and I were just debating if we would have a garden this year. Her knee is giving fits which my vote was no because I knew who that left for the work. Last year I tilled it all up, planted corn, tomatoes and some other stuff.......... then we got the idea to go on an epic 6 week motorcycle tour. Needless to say, the garden was a weed patch when we got back. The liklihood of a repeat is high, so I voted no on the garden.
But something floating in the pond got the wheels turning in my head. We will see how long that ambition lasts.
Very cool. I like the idea of simply floating foam and using old tires.. This is resourceful. I'm not sure that I will have the time to do this but if I ever do that would be a very good way to start. I see a big advantage to a floating garden being not only less weedy, but also it would eliminate the chance of deer, rabbit, raccoon etc. from eating the plants... I do suppose birds would still be a contender for certain plants.
I currently have a small experiment going where I am floating nine net pots on a high density foam raft in my forage pond, by inserting the pots into sawed holes. It has some kale and lettuce going. If this works well, then I will go larger eventually.
I don't want to spend very much on it until I find out if it works.
I have an identical control group of plants growing in my garden.
This experiment started only two days ago.
If anyone else is interested, I will periodically post results to this thread.
Since the pond is outside my fenced area, everything would be eaten by deer unless it was floating well out into a pond. That's another possible advantage; no need for a deer fence. I suspect I won't have slugs or cutworms out on the pond, but will likely still have the always present cabbage butterflies later in the spring.
i am glad my wife doesn't read this forum, i sure would hate to have to swim after an onion for her.. i really wish i had a real island. i doubt i would use it for gardening, but figured it would be a safe place for ducks to roost. i don't have any duck currently because i figure the coyotes would get them quickly. a planted island of some type would be awesome.
I have it tied off with ropes. Only need to untie one end and walk around to bring it in. Size doesn't matter much as long as you can pull it to the bank or into easily waded water.
