Passive Solar Greenhouse Aquaponics
A Passive Solar Greenhouse is a greenhouse specially designed to take in solar energy and use it to heat the house. There is no additional heating.
Aquaponics is a mix of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (water growing systems). Surprisingly I have found few sources online referring to the use of aquaponics in a passive solar greenhouse.
A key component of a passive solar greenhouse is a "water wall." This is a wall of water containers that absorbes heat durring the day and releases it durring the night. My biggest question is, can I replace a water wall with a solar water heater?
A solar water heater envolves a long expanse of winding water tubes in a box that captures solar energy as heat (basically a passive solar greenhouse). As you see in my sketch above, instead of a water wall I have a coil of tubes or a solar water heater. Obviously this sketch is a brainstorm so don't be too harsh. Also, the right side is turned 90 degrees so you can see the right wall. Inside the heart is my wife. She wanted to be included.
I'm looking for anybody that has tried this. Success or failure? Before I invest thousands into this greenhouse I want to know if it will work. I can't find anyone online that has tried something like this. The closest thing is someone that used a similar design for a solar water heater for a shower with great success. However, this was with an extremely smaller greenhouse and there wasn't a lot of detail of winter performance.
Is it water wall or bust? Can I warm my fish water sufficiently for warm water fish? Can I grow year round with this design? Please comment.
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