Hey there! Got your PM, thanks for that. Ya I had looked at options for doing a system over winter, based with what I have I've realized it's not possible, unless I find a convenient way to 're-locate' the water heater and water softener; otherwise I'd have built it already. One thing that got me distracted from my project was the full time job, but also I recently got a new motorcycle this year (2008 Suzuki V-Strom). I decided to get it road worthy and go visit a long time friend in Pennsylvania as a road trip; but in doing so... $$$ to get it road worthy and ready. Needed touring gear, a helmet (which turned out to be $300 of suck), sprockets, chain, etc... I guess I also got distracted securing stores of food as well. I figured I gotta 'git while the gittin's good'. On the bright side, I do have some nice supplies of dry food, honey, and money to pay off the bike (decided to do a loan, build credit [for however long thats good for!]).So Khazik, how are things going? I recently went to Spencer and picked up 275gal IBC totes for $90. They were food grade and seemed very clean with no residue or smell.
I have been reading about aquaponics and am considering getting something started next year. I was thinking trout for our climate in central Indiana. I would not continue it over winter. I think getting the fish in late March would allow them to harvest in November and be a decent size.
I was thinking trout also, catfish as well, as I know they already live in the pond at Fox Island park up here in the fort. I'll be looking to do an outside system next to the raised beds in the spring. I'm not sure if I'd want to do tillapia as the common fish to do in aquaponics for the fast growth and reproduction, seems like indiana is more suited for a aquaponic "season" rather continuous cycle requiring more consistent temperatures (hard frost 3 weeks into spring!?), but trout would definitely be a safe bet. I had an idea about using kickstarter to start a business up here in ft wayne that would be a year-round aquaponic system, indoors of course, in one of the many many closed down buildings. I think it'd be great to have a store where people would go in, walk around with a sales associate (or be qualified through a store taught class) and pick food actually fresh rather "fresh" by vacuum sealing, gas treatments, or refrigeration; customers could even pick up fish still alive, cant get fresher than that. Excess produce could go to the local food banks or soup kitchens, or host a community something there at the store? Seems like something like that would be local/fed gov't funded.
Aquaponics really brings entire new possibilities to life in terms of food production with minimal input, even no input if you grow the fish food yourself. I think it's great, I just dont know why this hasn't really caught on.
TLDR: I got distracted with a new motorcycle, road trip, and preppin food....
*Edit* Rural King has some decent options for tanks and grow beds, but I think I'll end up going the 'build it yourself' route with pond liners, wood, and bolts for the tank, and feeding troughs for the beds.