Aquaponics System, Passive Solar Greenhouse build

[Xringer]

I gave my 'very cheap 16’ aluminum ext ladder' to a neighbor who had no ladders at all.
We replaced it with a modern aluminum 20' ext ladder. It's easier to use, but I'll bet I could get rid of it too, and my 6' step ladder, IF I got the HF ladder..

[pinballlooking]

I went out for a little while in the drizzling rain and marked the rafter places on the front and back wall. Now I need to mark the ridge beam rafter places.

I used the new ladder for all of this work. That step is just so nice. I still found myself stepping from the front to the back over the top of the A frame ladder. This saves a trip down and back up.

[pinballlooking]

Raining again today. I got up @7 and went out for a little while and marked the ridge beam on both sides 2’ centers. Now I can start putting up rafters. My wife came home and saw me out there in the rain. She thought I was crazy I said we stand in line at Disney in the rain I could mark the ridge beam in the rain.


We had two more tilapia die today they sure don’t like the cold.

[pinballlooking]

I ordered a heater element. They had it on clearance $33
It is normally $159. It is a commercial heater.
Immersion Heater: 304 Stainless, 1kW, 6" Hot Zone, 240V, 11" Length




I am going to have many ways to heat the fish water. This will allow me to heat the water with solar power.
I will have my vent free natural gas closed loop heater.
I will setup a solar collector to heat the fish water.

After this project I would like to try my hand a hacking a heat pump to heat the water. I have a small coke machine that has a good compressor that might work well for this. It will be fun keeping this project fish safe.


Here are today’s tomatoes.

[pinballlooking]

It quit raining for a few hours so I was able to get a couple rafters up.

[pinballlooking]

A couple more rafters up. If the weather holds out maybe I can finish the back rafters tonight.

I decided to go with regular hurricane ties on the rafters. I don’t want them to go anywhere.

[Xringer]

I hope you wear the right shoes when going up ladders in the rain..
In my last job, I had to climb steel ladders on antenna mounts, in the rain!
(Half inch steel rod steps)..
Did not like being up there at all.. No sneakers! I needed the heel to act
as a block to keep from slipping forward.. I don't like steel toe work boots,
but that was what I had to use up there..
Never told my wife what I was doing on those days.. It was top secret..

[pinballlooking]

I prefer not to work in the rain. But I need to get this greenhouse enclosed before the cold weather.

My son is running cross country so this takes ½ Saturday.
I have a pair hiking boot work shoe that are steel toed. I like them for working and the grip the ladder pretty well.

I did keep off that steel stand when it was wet that is very slick when wet.

I worked 7 am – 9 am then come in and code until 3:30 -4:30 then build until dark then code 9-12.

I joked with my wife programmer by day builder by morning and evening. I don’t get bored anyway.

[pinballlooking]

I still need to adjust the center rafter and the hurricane ties need to be installed but one more step forward.

It is starting to look like a building.


Here is a picture before dark.


One after dark.

[Xringer]

That's becoming an impressive looking building.. Pretty good for a coder..
Can't wait to see the finished product. It does seem to be getting into the colder season.
But, I saw some long range forecast that showed it's going to be warmer up here, until January..
Should be mild down there too, until Decemberish..
http://www.weather.com//forecast/nat...nuary-february


It's been raining like crazy here. Tomorrow, I'll be working on a sail boat..
A small one.. "Orion Sailboat 465mm (RTS-Ready to Sail) 2.4GHz"..
I need something to do, while my wife zips around the pond in her Kayak.
It's hell being retired. But, somebody gotta do it..