AutoMicroFarm
Infrastructure
aquaponics kit
SHOW HN2016
How HN took it
12 positive, 29 neutral or asking, 2 mixed, 11 critical, out of 54 comments about the project. Thread score +0.08.
Idea: 5 for, 1 againstDesign: 1 for, 5 againstPerformance: 1 for, 3 againstPricing: 0 for, 2 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Concept is cool and well executed from start to finish
From 2 comments
Fantastic, really nice to see this done from start to finish. Will this ship to Europe?
jacquesm on HNWhat a cool idea! I was pretty surprised how much the wooden enclosure really improved its appearance.
netinstructions on HN
Objections
Sand substrate may clog or cause aeration and anaerobic problems
From 2 comments
* Sand is not a good substrate for plants. Too fine - aeration problems; surface to volume ratio not good. Anaerobic zones will form. Denitrification with odor will stress plants…
jsilence on HNIf this type of thing piques you interest, there is a vibrant aquaponics community with many forums eg. [1] and designs using all sorts of off-the-shelf parts. IBCs and blue…
andrewwhartion on HN
Kit is expensive compared to buying parts directly
From 1 comment
As someone who gardens, and has a little 3 acre homestead, this is not something I would go for in its current state... but there are improvements that could get me there: 1) I…
codingdave on HN
Kiddie pool tank choice may be brittle and weak
From 1 comment
Was the kiddie pool chosen specifically for cost? There are a plethora of fiberglass and UV-stabilized PET plastic holding tanks used in the aquaculture business (and rainwater…
mdorazio on HN
Raccoons and predators may threaten fish
From 1 comment
Realizing this touches several comments made already... - What about pests? Will the fish control mosquito-larvae in the pool? ... and any other bugs that fall in? (Think…
sbhere on HN
Requests
Water usage data across climates
From 1 comment
As someone who gardens, and has a little 3 acre homestead, this is not something I would go for in its current state... but there are improvements that could get me there: 1) I…
codingdave on HN
Plant yield and growing-zone guidance
From 1 comment
As someone who gardens, and has a little 3 acre homestead, this is not something I would go for in its current state... but there are improvements that could get me there: 1) I…
codingdave on HN
Fish sourcing and feed information
From 1 comment
Very cool concept. I would like a bit more information on the following: 1) What kind of fish are recommended/suitable? 2) Where do you get the fish? I assume most pet stores…
gricardo99 on HN
Sell sub-kits or parts separately
From 1 comment
Realizing this touches several comments made already... - What about pests? Will the fish control mosquito-larvae in the pool? ... and any other bugs that fall in? (Think…
sbhere on HN
Questions
Which fish species are suitable
From 1 comment
Very cool concept. I would like a bit more information on the following: 1) What kind of fish are recommended/suitable? 2) Where do you get the fish? I assume most pet stores…
gricardo99 on HN
Will it ship outside the US
From 1 comment
Fantastic, really nice to see this done from start to finish. Will this ship to Europe?
jacquesm on HN
How to handle pests and erosion
From 1 comment
Realizing this touches several comments made already... - What about pests? Will the fish control mosquito-larvae in the pool? ... and any other bugs that fall in? (Think…
sbhere on HN
Alternatives named
FarmBot automated garden system
From 1 comment
I just saw that this system went on sale recently too: https://farmbot.io/ It would be way cool to collab and create an AutoMicroFarmBot. What features of the AMF are you…
tmoullet on HN
Barrelponics DIY systems
From 1 comment
That looks similar to a barrelponics system. That was my first, proof-of-concept prototype. It cost me $700 and 50 hours of work, and had a growing area of ~9 square feet. I'm…
ph0rque on HN