Stuppy Aquaponics Blog

Welcome to our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 2, Lesson 2, The Nitrogen Cycle and Colonization of Bacteria. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. You can find our first post in this series here. Enjoy!

Welcome to our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 2, Lesson 1, Types of bacteria in Aquaponics. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. You can find our first post in this series here. Enjoy!

Welcome to our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 1, Lesson 4, Hydroponc and Aquaponics Designs. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. You can find our first post in this series here. Enjoy!

Welcome to our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 1, Lesson 3, Substrates for Hydroponic and Aquaponics. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. You can find our first post in this series here. Enjoy!

A substrate, also called a medium or media, is a supporting material or base on which a plant can grow. The most commonly used substrates are: Rockwool, lightweight expanded clay aggregate, coco coir, coco chips, perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, lava rock, river rock, and sand. Some uncommonly used substrates include: oasis cubes, floral foam, growstones, pine shavings, pine bark, polyurethane foam, water-absorbing polymers and rice hulls. A good substrate supports the plant, allows for air flow, and is porous.

Welcome to our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 1, Lesson 2, Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Aeroponics. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. You can find our first post in this series here. Enjoy!

Hydroponics

Hydroponics is not a new technology. Both the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Floating Gardens of China employed hydroponic concepts. Hydroponics is the growth of plants without soil. Hydroponic plants are most commonly grown in nutrient solution, rock, sand, Rockwool, or a combination of these. Because the plants are grown in a liquid medium or a nutrient deficient substance, nutrients are supplied to the water or substrate as a supplement for plant intake. Hydroponic systems can easily be scaled up or down as the maintenance is relatively low. The components in the system are often automated from nutrient injection to drainage pumps. Generally the pH of the system does not change easily because the system does not decompose organic matter. However, many hydroponic systems do have algae growth which could attract insects and consequently viruses and diseases can be vectored to the plants. Additionally, hydroponic systems tend to accumulate salt deposits in the pipes that need to be flushed regularly.

Welcome to our first post in our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 1, Lesson 1, What is Agriculture. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. Enjoy!

Stuppy Inc is proud to once again attend the FFA national convention

This year Stuppy we will once again be bringing our complete Aqueduct system to the show!

Beneficial Organisms Experiment

Red worms, shrimp, and carnivorous crops

Red Worms:

Of the beneficial organisms tested the red worms were the most successful and continue to survive in the media beds of both systems. When crops were pulled from the systems several red worms were pulled up with the roots. They appear to be very healthy and fast moving. 

Join Conor Quinlan, Stuppy's Aquaponics Engineer, as he demonstrates how to use the API Water testing kit we include with every Aqueduct unit.

This easy to use kit is fantastic for monitoring the quality of your water and gathering data for use in future experiments and classroom activities.

Testing your water frequently can help identify problems early enough that you can correct them, potentially saving you from disaster events like a fish kill. We recommend testing the Aqueduct at least 3 times a week.

As always, we are happy to answer questions! Comment below, or contact our Aquaponics team by email!

aquaponics@stuppy.com

We're back today with more awesome video content.  Here, our systems engineer Conor Quinlan is offering some helpful tips for dealing with a problem common to all Aquaponics systems, Floating media. 

Often, when you first fill a system with water, the expanded clay will float a few inches off the water. While common, this is an issue that is easily solved. You can watch the video to see how we handle it in our Aqueduct system.