The overwhelming majority of aquaponics method comparisons are like bar-room debates on the merits of Ford Vs Chevrolet.
They are often quite impassioned – and invariably lacking in data.
In a well-informed exception to the rule, Mark compared the UVI raft system and iAVs in the article “Dare to Compare?“
So, what does a comparison of the two methods (premised on the available data) tell us?
For those who have no stomach for facts (much less numbers), let’s put you out of your misery straight away.
iAVs eats the UVI raft method
For those, like me, who prefer facts (but in a more easily digested form), here’s the crux of the matter.
- iAVs is far simpler to build – FACT
- iAVs is much easier to operate – FACT
- iAVs uses less energy – FACT
- iAVS uses much less water – FACT
- iAVs can accommodate a wider range of food crops – FACT
- iAVs can demonstrate much higher productivity – FACT
Those FACTS point to a much greater profit potential.
Now, the other thing to note is that all of that is straight out of the box. The truth is we don’t know what the upper limits of iAVs are. Mark is the first to say that he never set out to optimize anything but rather to demonstrate viability. More to the point, he never got the opportunity to refine the performance variables.
At the risk of stretching the friendship, I’ll chuck a couple of numbers into the mix.
Mark believes that tomato yields of 80 kg / m2/ yr are possible. That equates to over US$500 wholesale (AU$655+) per square metre per year in the “Certified Organic” marketplace.
And that figure does NOT include any income from the sale of fish or intercrops.
Does anybody know of any other aquaponics method that comes even close to that? If so, please tell us. Of course, we’d prefer demonstrable facts rather than conjecture, speculation and unsupported opinion.
Actually, I’ll go further than that.
I challenge anybody to come up with production figures better than (or even equal to) those demonstrated by iAVS.
-o0o-
Not sure which categorie to file this question, so I’ll drop it right here for now….
Mark—I have discovered in the last few days that I have Shore Flies feeding on the algae growing in the furrows. After reading about them a bit, they appear to be a nuisance more than anything.
—what has your experience shown you is the best course of action?
—is there a typical way the Shore Flies sneak in a GH?
I still don’t have my beds fully planted, so the algae is pretty well established where is no shade.
(I will note that when I catch a few dozen in a bug vacuum, and toss them in the fish tank, the bluegills think I’ve just fed ’em ice cream…they hit them hard and fast!)
Not familiar with label Stone Flies -or I hope not because in the Rockies that means something very different – is a very large particular favorite of native trout). OH my bad, “shore” not Stone ! – But if what you’re noticing are similar/same as what I called ‘fungus gnats’ (I don’t know the spp.), then these are harmless to plants, are not disease vectors TMK, and could potentially be beneficial. I left them alone (they didn’t bite me so I didn’t reciprocate), and never saw a significant population spike or even really noticed them but on rare occasion, But then, I did keep the sand surface shaded (canopy) AMAP. Also, I mostly tried to keep my face out of the furrows (and stayed too busy to care). Also, the egg stage for these gnats is said to require consistently moist sand/soil (over days) and the surface layer of iAVs sand filter completely dries out between ‘cycles’ (also all night).
Bluegill surely recognize a good meal when they see one, and they see pretty damn well.
As far as uninvited residents in a GH – or anywhere – I can only say that life will find a way, a place to be, a meal to survive. How do untold 1000’s of soil organism spp. – from single cell to nematodes and worms -‘just appear’? I’d guess maybe because they figured-out how! but note, that if (when) one creates/provides an environment for a species of interest one has also simultaneously established the conditions favorable to all associated pests and diseases, but also to all the symbiotic/beneficial alga, amoeba, bacteria, fungi, insects, etc, as well. Attractant/repellent spp., aka beneficials, companion cropping, IPM, etc. can each/all be successfully introduced/employed within an iAVs greenhouse, as well as in the garden.
How do they find your address/ get there ? ? Nano-google? Quantuum juju? Good vibrations? Divine providence? Distributive probability? Evolved intelligence? Karma? How ever it happens, we should both marvel and remain grateful that it does – at all, ntm so well. Else we literally wouldn’t be here to wonder why. … or maybe ‘they’ (and by extension, we) aren’t actually anywhere at all much less everywhere we’d want.
,
Mark,
Quite possible that Gary’s email was overlooked in my work spam filter.
I can pull my thoughts together and forward to you and Gary for formatting/posting etc via an email if that makes more sense.
We are trying to recover from natures pruning (aka an Oklahoma ice storm)……we have been very fortunate at my house, lots of tree damage but nothing major. I now have enough wood to build another Hugelkultur pile! http://aquaponicsnation.com/forums/topic/9533-hugelkultur-oklahoma-style/#entry74477
Thanks…..mh
Mark,
Sure sorry to that your health is waning, I’m sure that Montana winters don’t help much.
I have my GH buttoned up and operating……finally! The SHCS system has been most impressive, so far the GH temp has not been below 50F, even when the OA temp is 25F. Not bad with just a 200 watt fan running for a few hours a day pulling heat out of the earth battery.
Bluegills, brandywines, beans are doing well. I am very pleased with the iAVs, absolutely no supplemental nutrients needed and the heirloom brandywines are as big as softballs. What is the best way to post photos, etc? I will be happy to post a good blow-by-blow to encourage any and all to dive into iAVs.
I really appreciate all the personal help you have given me…..mh.
All good to know/hear. I was under an impression that Gary had sent you a log-in/password about a month or so back, such that you could post your own content. At least we meant to do that. I’ve made a note to remind Gary to send you a log-in. I look forward to viewing the fruits of your labor.
I’m sure that you know that legumes aren’t going to assimilate much if any NHx or NOx derived from aqueous solution (nitrification). Should’t be a problem if ‘heavy feeders’ such as tomato, melons et al have subsequent access / reduce potential accumulation. These will do better in warm, strong light seasons. Actually, if you’re considering potential crop rotations, I’d offer leaf and/or cole crops as strong candidates to follow legumes with, especially in ‘cool’, shorter-photoperiod seasons.
Hi Mark & Gary,
Looking forward to new photos & info from you guys.
Anything new coming out soon?
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving……mh
Hi Mike, well, that’s a reasonable question. The answer is that we have fully intended to post fresh content for quite some time and are coming close to putting up additional material – I hope. There have been multiple distractions and other intervening challenges, not limited to my waning ‘health’. which has had more than mere physical impacts. Its rather difficult to remain optimistic and energized or to lay plans for a imagined future when one doesn’t appear likely much less remotely mesh with one’s desires or expectation.
So, did you complete your GH? get your ‘system’ functional? Do you operate during winter? What have you determined/grown/learned to date?
Do you have any photos. results or thoughts you would like to share on the site?
i have been on your site for 4 min and i still don’t know what is a iav or seen a picture, from what i read it seems like your using sand as a media. am i correct?
Damian…..iAVs is similar to other media-based aquaponics systems in that fish provide nutrients for plants. That’s where the similarity ends. iAVs does use sand – and to good effect since it is demonstrably more effective than any other media-based system (and arguably more sustainable than any other aquaponics system).
While there are photos and drawings on the site, I acknowledge that more illustrations of iAVs would be useful – and you can anticipate seeing those in the next day or two.