User`s Manual - The Aquaponic Source
Contents
1. Important After receiving return authorization carefully pack item to avoid damage in shipping Be sure to include your name complete address and phone number with note giving purchase information and what you believe is the problem with item We recommend you insure the package as damage in shipping is not covered by your warranty Mark the outside of your package ATTENTION CUSTOMER SERVICE We are constantly striving to improve our products therefore the specifications contained herein are subject to change without notice Botanical Interests Seeds Untreated non GMO USDA Certified Organic seeds with heirloom varieties and guaranteed germination rates Seed Starting Supplies A variety of seed starting media plugs to help your seeds and seedlings resist disease while maximizing nutrient uptake Small Buffer Bag A natural way to keep the pH levels in your water stable for happier healthier fish and plants D Klor water dechlorinator Recommended for dechlorinating any new water you add to your System Zym Bac beneficial live bacteria Recommended to jump start your System ecosystem after it has been emptied and stored for an extended period of time Please visit The Aquaponic Source s online store at TheAquaponicStore com for more information and to place an order To stay up to date on the latest in the world of Aquaponics please bookmark and refer to the following sites Facebook facebook com TheAquaponicS2. T Protect the area around your system in case any water splashes or spills Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc n as Page 5 of 24 PREPARE PUMP ATTACH GROW BED Poke the center out from one of the Gaskets wet it and insert it into the underside of the Grow Bed as indicated by the arrow in the diagram This Gasket will form a seal between the Fish Tank s water pipe and the Grow Bed The other Gasket is a spare Keep it in case the first one is lost or damaged Check that the Gasket is in place whenever you have to lift or reattach the Grow Bed for any reason The water from the Base will not pump to the Grow Bed properly without it Adjust the water flow to its highest setting by turning the switch on the Pump all the way to the positive side Place the Grow Bed on top of the Fish Tank The Fish Tank s water pipe will fit into the circular notch where you installed the Gasket Your Pump includes a full 1 year limited warranty Refer to the Pump s instruction manual for cleaning and other maintenance details Insert the feet of the Media Guard securely into the notches surrounding the Siphon the tapered protruding piece of plastic with a hole in the middle of it in the middle right side of the Grow Bed Then place the Bell all the way down into the Media Guard Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc a Page 6 of 24 Page 15 of 24 T
3. and does not apply to any unit that has been tampered with or used for commercial purposes This warranty does not apply to any defect arising from misuse of the product negligence failure to follow The Aquaponic Source s instructions use on current or voltage other than that stamped on the product alteration or repair not authorized by The Aquaponic Source or damage due to faulty packaging or mishandling in transit by any common carrier Repair or disassembly by anyone other than a The Aquaponic Source authorized service center will void the warranty This warranty is extended only to the original purchaser of the unit and excludes all other legal and or conventional warranties The responsibility of The Aquaponic Source if any is limited to the specific obligations expressly assumed by it under the terms of the limited warranty In no event is The Aquaponic Source liable for incidental or consequential damages of any nature whatsoever Some States Provinces do not permit the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above may not apply to you This warranty gives you specific legal rights which vary from state to state or province to province If you have questions or concerns regarding your aquaponic system please contact Customer Service Please do not return any product without contacting The Aquaponic Source for return authorization Unauthorized returns as well as C O D shipments will be refused
4. resource for fish fish food and aquarium products and advice We recommend including 3 5 live bearing fish up to 1 long such as tetras Additionally we recommend a bottom feeder such as a pygmy corydora plus an algae eater An algae eater could consist of 1 bristlenose or clown pleco or 2 3 nerite snails Avoid barbs gobies and other aggressive breeds Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc mm at Page 12 of 24 PLANTS HELTER WATER THAT RETUANS TO THE HSH Aquaponics Cycle Pr Sara g ee sk at Je T Ae ae 5 CONVERT WASTE TO e aa MICROBES FERTILIZER FOR PLANTS PLANTS Aquaponicals Ecosystem FUTURE WATER TREATMENT Ideally you will want to dechlorinate any water you add to the system If you do not have any D Klor handy you may alternatively outgas offgas the chlorine in your water by letting it sit in an open container for 1 2 days before adding it to your system Glass or food safe containers work best You do not need to add additional Zym Bac to your water unless you empty and store your system for an extended period of time Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc my apt Page 9 of 24 ATTACH FISH TANK Insert the free end of the Tubing from the Pump into the underside of the Fish Tank s water pipe The water pipe runs vertically through the rear center of the Fish Tank indicated by the arrow below Run the Tubing up the water pipe as far as it will g
5. side of the Base as shown in the following picture The tubing will run along the very bottom of the Base and the electrical cord will run up and out through the cutout in the rear Be careful not to dislodge the Pump at any time Moving it could inadvertently cause the Pump to introduce an air bubble or cause it to run dry Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc 2 _ S Page 7 of 24 FILL BASE Fill the Base with fresh lukewarm water up to the FILL TO HERE line Regular tap water works best Avoid using distilled or reverse osmosis RO water Never allow the Base s water level to fall more than a couple of inches below the FILL TO HERE line Running the pump dry can permanently damage it TREAT WATER Included with your Aquaponicals Starter Kit are D Klor water dechlorinator and Zym Bac beneficial live bacteria We will use each of these products to jump start your new Aquaponicals ecosystem so it is ready for your fish and plants Shake the bottle of D Klor then add 1 teaspoon of it future water additions 4 to your water You may store the rest as directed for Shake the bottle of Zym Bac then add the entire contents to your water This will help jump start the growth of beneficial bacteria throughout your system These bacteria microbes are essential for breaking down fish waste into nutrients for your plants Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc a P Page 8 of 24
6. Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc Page 21 of 24 able to look inside the top of the clear Bell and see the siphon O Start to fire drain water from your Grow Bed Alternatively you can look through the right side of the Fish Tank Refer to Congratulations on your purchase of a new Aquaponicals the following picture At the top of the Fish Tank you should Tabletop Aquaponics System Your new ecosystem will see the Siphon draining a thin column of water into it If the provide fresh plants and lively fish to your home classroom Siphon has not fired you may not have added quite enough or office First you will want to carefully read through this water Add a little more until it starts to Tire manual Some assembly and setup is required but we ll have you enjoying your new Aquaponicals aquaponics system in no time TE IMPORTANT SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS Grow Bed be Read all Important Safety Instructions and Instructions for Use carefully Remove and discard all packaging materials and keep them out of the reach of children and pets DOCO IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Read all instructions before using this appliance When using an electrical appliance basic safety precations should always be observed including the following Coller amp Pipe WARNING To reduce the risk of fire electrical bd TOMEN iasa ie shock or injury Right Side View 1 Use indoors only 2 Unplug all electrical cords before pe
7. Trou bleshooting My grow bed is constantly flooding with water Check to make sure the media guard bell and siphon do not have a piece of grow media lodged in them Small fragments of grow media can become stuck in the siphon causing water to back up For the latest updates please visit TheAquaponicSource com Aquaponicals 2 Aquaponic source Growing Fish and Plants Together Aquaponicals ECOSYSTEMS FOR HOME CLASSROOM amp OFFICE Bi Pe ol sr Manual THE AQUAPONIC SOURCE INC 1860 LEFTHAND CIRCLE SUITE E LONGMONT CO 80501 1 855 285 4252 customerservice theaquaponicsource com L ited Warranty The Aquaponic Source warrants this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one 1 year from the date of the original purchase when utilized for normal household use subject to the following conditions exclusions and exceptions Should any defect covered by the terms of the limited warranty be discovered within one 1 year The Aquaponic Source will repair or replace any defective part provided the unit is returned by the original purchaser freight prepaid to The Aquaponic Source 1860 Lefthand Cir Suite E Longmont CO 80501 USA The liability of The Aquaponic Source under this warranty is limited solely to the cost of the replacement parts or the complete unit at our option LABOR CHARGES ARE NOT INCLUDED This warranty does not cover normal wear of parts
8. Your hobby aquarium store or pet store will be able to recommend the best food and feeding schedule for your new aquatic companions You can conveniently feed your fish through the Feeding Tube in the left side of the Grow Bed Do not be surprised if your fish do not eat much right away They may be stressed by their transportation and change in environment Aaa Fish do not like sudden or rapid changes in their environment You will want to slowly acclimate your fish to any changes in temperature and water quality 1 Place your fish into the Fish Tank while still in their transport bag Fit the Overflow Collar with the ridges facing down onto the top of the overflow pipe as indicated by the arrow below 3 Fill the Fish Tank with fresh lukewarm water Be careful not to fill your Fish Tank past the Overflow Collar or you could flood the already filled Base Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc at FS Page 13 of 24 OPTIONAL ADD AQUATIC ACCESSORIES You may optionally add aquarium gravel aquatic plants and or aquarium ornaments at this time Your local or online hobby aquarium shop or pet store can recommend hardy aquatic plants that will do well in a 2 gallon freshwater aquarium with your lighting conditions Aquatic plants can not only add aesthetic appeal to your aquarium but it can also serve as an additional natural biofilter for your water ADD FISH enn Your local hobby aquarium shop or pet store is a good
9. ght 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc dat F Page 17 of 24 FILL GROW BED Place the Small Buffer Bag so that it comes into contact with water anywhere in the Grow Bed or Fish Tank The Buffer Bag is designed to help maintain a steady pH level in your water to keep your fish and plants happy We recommend replacing the Buffer Bag every six months Replacement Buffer Bags can be found at TheAquaponicStore com Fill the Grow Bed with the thoroughly rinsed Grow Media Take care not to dislodge the Media Guard or spill Grow Media down the Feeding Tube If Grow Media gets under the Media Guard and Bell it could prevent the Siphon inside from functioning correctly Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc a EAS Page 16 of 24 O Une System RINSE SYSTEM AND MEDIA You may wish to rinse your Aquaponicals system before assembly Use fresh water without soap or detergents The Grow Media that comes with your Aquaponicals system Should be rinsed as well The included Grow Media is expanded clay pebbles Thoroughly rinsing the Grow Media will help remove any clay residue that can cloud your water and possibly clog your system PREPARE LOCATION Select a level location to assemble your new system You will want to assemble the system in the area you plan to place it Make sure the location you choose is capable of supporting your system after it is filled and has ample natural or artificial light for the plants you choose to grow
10. mine the current water level in the Base at any given moment This is extremely important because if you allow the water level in the Base to drop below the water inlet of the Pump the Pump could run dry and be permanently damaged A pump damaged in this manner is not covered under its 1 year limited warranty and a new one must be purchased When you installed the Bobber you placed the O ring 2 below the Bobber s red indicator tip The distance between the red indicator tip of the Bobber and the O ring is your Water Level Safety Zone If you see the Bobber s red indicator tip reach the O ring at any time you know that the Base s water level is approaching the minimum safe water level before your Pump starts to run dry You will need to top off the water in your system as described below Sopping Off Water Add dechlorinated see previous Future Water Treatment section of this manual fresh water that is the same temperature as the water in your Fish Tank Add this water directly to your Grow Bed until its water level approaches the top of the Grow Media What you are aiming for is to trigger the Siphon inside the Bell Do not move the Bell You may be Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc 9 a AN Page 19 of 24 START THE PUMP Plug the Pump in Water should begin to flow up the Fish Tank s water pipe and out the Water Spout into the Grow Bed If the water is not spraying try the following Unplug the Pump a
11. nd plug it back in Double check that the Gasket is in place Double check that the Pump is still properly suctioned to the side of the Base If you ve checked all of the above and the Pump is running try letting it run for 5 minutes It may just need a few minutes to purge any trapped air You may also try tapping the Pump against the side of the Base to remove any air bubbles trapped in the Pump OPTIONAL ADD GROW LIGHTING If your Aquaponicals location does not provide enough light you can use artificial grow lights such as compact fluorescent CFL or LED bulbs For maximum effectiveness use bulbs that are specifically designed for use with plants If you are using CFL bulbs replace them after six months of use Many of these bulbs will screw into standard desk or floor lamps It is a good idea to place a timer on your lamp so you do not have to manually turn it on and off every day 16 hours of light per day is a good Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc _ Y N Page 18 of 24 Getting JS a WHAT S INCLUDED Carefully lay out all of the parts and compare them against the picture on the following page before beginning assembly If you think there are any missing parts please do not hesitate to contact us at CustomerService TheAquaponicSource com REQUIRED SUPPLIES NOT INCLUDED fresh water freshwater aquarium fish fish food herbs leafy greens and or houseplants OPTIONAL SUPPLIES NOT INCLUDED aq
12. o As you lower the Fish Tank onto the Base you will also want to install the Bobber w Indicator Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc mm at Page 10 of 24 Place the Bobber w Indicator with the red indicator tip facing upwards into the overflow pipe The overflow pipe runs vertically through the rear corner of the Fish Tank indicated by the arrow in the preceding picture After you lower the Fish Tank onto the Base the Bobber should float on top of the water in the Base This indicator will provide you with an easy way to judge the current water level in the Base at any given moment Slide the O ring onto the top of the overflow pipe inside the Fish Tank Keep sliding the O ring down the overflow pipe until it is 2 below the red indicator tip This is your Water Level Safety Zone which we will go into more detail later Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc my apt Page 11 of 24
13. ource Blog TheAquaponicSource com Blog Community Site AquaponicsCommunity com Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc 2 _ S Page 23 of 24 Optimal Performance EE of Contents Overview Congratulations You have finished setting up your new Aquaponicals system Your plants and fish are designed to Important Safety Instructions work with one another in this tranquil ecosystem Just remember to feed your fish top off the water and prune or harvest your plants as needed Additional Help Drip Loop Recommended products to have on hand include Getting Started Tidy Tank sludge eradicator What s Included Aids in breaking down organic debris and sludge to further i p Required Supplies Not Included improve water quality Optional Supplies Not Included Cleaning Pad for Acrylic Handy for cleaning excess algae from the sides of your acrylic Build Your System Fish Tank without scratching it Rinse System and Media Home Grown Ponics Ornamental Fish Food High quality all natural micro pellets suitable for a wide Prepare Location variety of ornamental fish that will not cloud the water Prepare Pump Grow Lighting Fill Base Supplemental CFL and LED grow lighting and timers will help your sun loving plants grow and thrive Treat Water Digital Submersible Thermometer Future Water Treatment Perfect for keeping track of your water temperature las y P Attach Fish Tank Optional Add Aquatic Accesso
14. reat the water in the Fish Tank with 1 teaspoon of D Klor water dechlorinator just as you did with the water in the Base Let the fish and water sit for 10 minutes Add a small amount of Fish Tank water to the transport bag and allow it to sit for 5 minutes Take care not to allow the transport bag water to spill into your Fish Tank Repeat Step 6 another 1 3 times until the temperature of the water and the bag are approximately the same Use a fish net or clean hands to quickly but gently transfer your fish to the fish tank Do NOT add the transport bag water to your fish tank 9 Discard the transport bag and water 10 Top the Fish Tank off with fresh lukewarm water until it is near but not spilling over the top of the overflow pipe bottom of the Overflow Collar You may wish to cover the fish tank or keep the area dark for a few hours to better allow your fish time to adjust to their new environment Do not leave your fish in their transport bag for more than hour as there is no aeration in the transport bag and your fish will eventually use up the oxygen in the bag s water You Aquaponicals system aerates its water through the continual filling and draining of its Grow Bed when the pump is running Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc a _ S Page 14 of 24 Attach one end of the included tubing to the long black adapter on the Pump as shown below Use the suction cups to attach the Pump onto the rear
15. rforming Once the Siphon fires it will drain all of the water in the Grow installation or maintenance Bed into the Fish Tank This will cause the Fish Tank s water level to rise and pour into the overflow pipe where you Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc ia re Page 20 of 24 Page 1 of 24 Create a drip loop for each electrical cord See following section for details Do not disassemble modify or attempt to repair any part of the system Contact The Aquaponic Source for examination or repair Read and follow all important notices in this guide DRIP LOOP A drip loop simply allows an electrical cord to loop down and back up before the electrical outlet This helps prevent water from trickling down the cord to the electrical outlet ADDITIONAL HELP To stay up to date on the latest in the world of Aquaponics please bookmark and refer to the following sites Facebook facebook com TheAquaponicSource Blog TheAquaponicSource com Blog Community Site AquaponicsCommunity com For Customer Service contact CustomerService TheAquaponicSource com 855 285 4252 or 303 720 6604 Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc 2 ws Page 2 of 24 Starting point All of these accessories can be easily obtained from TheAquaponicStore com IMPORTANT WATER LEVEL SAFETY ZONE As mentioned earlier the installed Bobber w Indicator will help you deter
16. ries Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc Add Fish 4 v Page 22 of 24 Attach Grow Bed Fill Grow Bed Add Plants Start the Pump Optional Add Grow Lighting Important Water Level Safety Zone Algae Control Optimal Performance Troubleshooting installed the Bobber If you look carefully you may be able to see the water trickling down the overflow pipe The overflow pipe drains into the Base raising its water level which in turn causes the Bobber to rise back to a safe level The amount of water you can add to the Grow Bed will of course depend on where the level of the water in the Grow Bed is in the fill cycle when you top it off Be careful not to top your system off with too much water as that could cause the Base to overflow usually starting at the rear cutout where the electrical cord comes out It s a good idea to protect the area and keep an eye on the Base for overflowing water anytime you add water to the system Monitor the system until the overflow pipe has finished draining all of the overflow water into the Base If you would like further instruction on this topic you may also view our helpful video Topping Off Your Aquaponicals System on our website at TheAquaponicSource com Aquaponicals ALGAE CONTROL In the event of algae buildup TheAquaponicStore com sells algae pads to aid in the removal of any excess algae IMPORTANT Only use algae pads made for use with acrylic aquariums
17. uarium gravel aquatic plant s fish net algae pad for acrylic aquariums Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc 2 _ S Page 3 of 24 Fish mank Base Sump Tank V on gt 2 Kior amp Zym Bac 2 Collar Co ring Bober giall Buffer Bag 1 S gt e MUO IR ASR wrt a Included Parts Copyright 2014 The Aquaponic Source Inc FS Page 4 of 24 4 a 1 y t 4 gt A i ni ps 4 paa NARS g ADD PLANTS Your Aquaponicals system is able to support many common houseplants leafy greens and herbs We recommend no more than 3 4 heavier feeding plants such as herbs or 4 5 lighter feeding plants such as houseplants or leafy greens Generally speaking the more light a plant requires the more it feeds In other words a plant that requires full sun will be a heavy feeder and a shade loving plant will be a light feeder Compact plants work best such as ones intended for containers that grow around 12 tall Avoid plants such as rosemary that prefer a dry growing environment You can add seeds seedlings or plants to your grow bed If you are starting from seed be sure to place the seeds just deep enough into the grow media for them to receive some moisture With seedlings and plants you will want to bury them just deep enough for their roots to receive moisture If transplanting plants from soil rinse the soil away from the roots first Copyri
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