How to Grow Cantaloupe in an Aquaponic System

Aquaponics is a soil-less method of gardening that relies upon recycled fish waste that flows over the roots of the plants. The aquaponic method of gardening allows the gardener to control the nutrients, heat, light and even pests in the growing environment. Cantaloupe are excellent candidates for aquaponic growing and grow well in perlite, a soil-less medium that holds moisture well. The vines receive the nutrients they need from the fish waste; cantaloupe are then trained to grow up trellises or lines. Aquaponics can be done in most hydroponic systems with a small stock of fish and pumps that transfer the fish waste to the hydroponic tanks.

Fish rearing tank
Hydroponic tank
PVC piping
Plumber's putty
Male/female pipe connections
Drill
1/2 inch bit
Silicone caulk
1/2 inch diameter plumbing pipe
Pump
Drip lines
Emitters
L connection
Polyethylene bags
Perlite
Utility knife
Cantaloupe starts
Twine

Instructions

- 1
  Connect the fish rearing tank to the hydroponic tank. Use lengths of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping that have a layer of liquid plumber's putty on the inside edge of the pipe. Push the appropriate connection into the end of the pipe and a corresponding connection into the next pipe. Link the female and male connections.
- 2
  Put a 1/2 inch bit on the end of a drill and make a hole in the end of the PVC that extends into the hydroponic tank. Squirt a fine line of silicone around the edges of the hole and insert a 1/2 inch diameter pipe.
- 3
  Install a pump in the hydroponics tank and plug it into an electric outlet. Connect a series of drip lines with emitters at the ends at intervals of at least 12 inches in the hydroponic tank. Link the drip lines to the 1/2 inch plumbing pipe with an L connection that will allow the drip lines to turn and spread across the surface of the hydroponics tank.
- 4
  Fill polyethylene bags with silicone. Space them at least 12 inches apart or where the emitters are located in your hydroponics tank. Slit the bags with small incisions and insert the root end of the cantaloupe starts. Press the perlite in around the roots.
- 5
  Run twine up to the top of the room or canopy of the growing area. As the cantaloupe vines grow, train them around the twine and upward.

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