New, and have i got the right forum?

i found this,

its a solar panel for 80W, i think by a quick look it has everything, from the solar to a 12V battery which is enough to run a pump and lighting if i wish to might invest in this that is if i can get a polytunnel for £200??

 

Welcome to GC Michael. I've been thinking about the other side of this. You're talking about keeping fish in a greenhouse, will that work? Greenhouses get very hot during the summer months and you could end up with 'boiled' fish.

 

T5 are sort of professional , did you think of cheap worm light used in vivarum for reptile , plastic it would be a better then ply wood , ps ply is expencive ,
insted of a greenhouse , can you not organize all in the shad?
when winter will come the temperature will drop really bad in your greenhouse and water can even freze .....I would try in your garage or shed with electricity and smaller scale , plus if you manage to keep the water warm and light , you really have the success key for winter growing.

 

Clueless1@ Hi mate, sorry, just read your post. I will be pumping water around the tanks, which will then by gravity, fall into the tanks, putting oxygen into the tanks, with also plants floating in the tanks, that produce loads of air, this is not a problem and if the oxygen gets low, i will add an air pump.


The amount of Watts will be below..

pump: found ones im between 10-20W


Thats it :P
going to use a battery powered light from Tesco, so i can work in the dark.

Would like maybe 10W extra for timers, just incase i add a timed mist in the greenhouse for seeds etc.

so i need one around 40W i guess if i double??

 

Hi,

Thanks for your concerns making me think alot

I'll start from the first one. I'll be honest with you all, i dont do much gardening, although i do have an interest, its more my dads way Ive always wanted to do aquaculture, until i stumbled across this, which was a perfect mix. The fish will survive in temperatures from 44 to 85F easily, and will go higher if needed. The greenhouse will have vents inside and windows, that i'll open and close accordingly.

The lighting was my main reason for going to a greenhouse tbh. I want to make it cost free. So no electricity costs, and no water costs, hence why i also plan to use rain water. I want it to be totally cost free and eco friendly. I may get a slightly larger solar panel for a heater aswell.

The fish freezing over wont be a problem, as trout can live under frozen water, aswell as almost 45 degrees without dying, they are hardy fish, with no problems with temperature.

I've looked into these carefully, although i like the questions they make me think more deeply about this

Thanks
Mike

 

before you spend any money , will it your greenhouse be safe? the light will attract people who will think to stole your stuff .
Few question , can you actually dig a pond inside the greenhouse and use pond liner to reduce the cost? or will a rubbish wheelie bin can accomodate you fish?
have you got anyriver close to you? or it`s a windy area?

 

The greenhouse will be locked up, but thats it. Its in an orchard, visible from the house, but not from any roads. we live in a field :L.

I am not able to dig downwards as my dad isnt going to let me :L, already checked :(
The rubbish bin will work fine, although im still tempted to do the plywood or mdf route, as i already have loads of plywood around, almost enough to do it. So thats my aim.

There are no rivers close, infact i dont think i have one for about 5 miles :L, and its very windy, because its lincolnshire, everyone from lincolnshire knows that if you stand in a field, on rainy day, compare to normal places, you'll be blown over :L, but before you ask about the greenhouse or polytunnel being blown over or damaged. I have situated it away from any direct hits from winds Thought ahead

Thanks
Mike

 

Here is an example, just the side planting rows. I will rise mine a bit higer than this, so i can fit tanks underneath, all the way around under the grow beds, but you can see what i mean

Also will have tanks at the back aswell, instead of 2 strips

 

does anyone know where i can get get cheap greenhouses or polytunnels, and which would be best??
is trying to get a polytunnel that is 8x8 or 8x10 for £200 possible?

 

Interesting video, but don`t be fulled by , the guy is american so maybe he has a better climate , then he use gravel rathen that clay ,his water dasn`t look really clear and actually he just did it , not really a prove that will work...... I think there is a specific reason for the use of clay , do remember that temperature is the key of success , a greenhouse in not a gurantee of warm , plus I was actually checking hydroculture and many don`t have any running water at all , you maybe ok with solar water pump , wind will produce more electricity but in summer when you need it more you will have sun more then wind..
I`ve found a greenhouse , but still think that strong wind will take it away ,
http://www.feelgooduk.net/13-polytunnel-garden-greenhouse-walk-in-polytunnels

about the fish tank , what about usung ply and cover with pond liner and do the same for the growing bed?
http://www.pondlinersonline.co.uk/products/19
they even have some battery water pump , you can alway get rechargable battery.

 

Hi,

The american was an example of what im trying to do. This whole thing is aquaculture, here is another video to show you even more what i mean, this guy has made loads of episodes recently....




Priddy much what i plan to do, but yes he is american again :L,

I dont mind about temperature, and if i get a big enough solar, i could just add a heater :L, but the fish will be fine
The fish tank isnt clear, as trout dont need it to, they are very hardy fish, and the system does work loads of people do it like this, all im trying to do is find the stuff cheap hopefully. Ive seen those tents, which make me think they will blow over sadly, going to have to keep looking i think for a keep solid one, might be difficult :L
And the plywood and liner was my original idea, thats the excat thing i was going to do, is cover it in pond liner
Also, is there any links to any battery pumps please??
Thanks

 

temperature is first thing to think about , nothing grow in cold water , the water will need to be at least 14 c , before anything will grow , remember that cold water actually will kill the plants .
If I was you I would look on gumtree to find a second hand glass greenhouse , and all the rest you need , try ebay as well .
the 2nd web link are selling battery pump ....but i still think that will not run more then 1 hors max....you a need some solar pond pump .

 

thanks, i will try to keep the temperature up, but as before, im not worried about growing to much in the winter mate i'll try and get a solar panel, and see if i can get some water heaters in the tanks below, which will heat all of the water enough to keep warm for the plants to grow, but wont heat the greenhouse, and i'll have a look for the greenhouses. Although the cheap polytunnels, i as thinking of maybe adding some wood support, might do the trick

 

there was a program a few months ago on tv that showed a new eco home that grew veg, tilapia fish, and they make compost with the bokashi method .... was very interesting, but I cannot find the link

I have watched this link though, but it's on a much larger scale than what I saw on tv for the eco home, but the concept is the same




one of my clients has a construction company that specialises in builing eco homes .... his latest product is solar pv greenhouses ... it is an orangey coloured glass, but from what he told me, it's big in the states and is only starting to catch on now in the UK

 

Dim I`ve actually seen them and it`s a brilliant idea , they can produce 25% of electricity used in a family house, Michael it`s only 15 , I don`t know if he can get a mortgage for is greenhouse yet .
Michael the best advice try it , in case you will make mistake that the way you will learn an correct , have a go with the chip greenhouse as a start , if the wind will take it away , just buil a new strong one , or simple start you project with that an see what`s going on.
the second video you post it`s actually brilliand you can see the guy have put lots of effort .
please update us with picture , what you doing it`s really inspiring.
keep an eye on local news paper and free ad , many people are redoing the garden and you can may find a chip glass greenhouse.