Ever reminisced about what we were doing when we were 21 years old?

Certainly, mine was not even close to what I love doing now – growing strawberries.

My hobbies then were stars away from what this young man loved doing.

I am still in awe by what this young man built in his parent’s kitchen, an aquaponic “farm” to grow vegetables.

From he was building this system from scratch in 2015, indoor home farming was not trendy and there was no ready-made equipment for sale.

 

Singapore amazing private garden
2015 September 16 – Bai Choy and Red Pepper

 

Singapore amazing private gardens

 

Just 21 years old, he built the complete set up by himself and through many trials and errors, improved on the initial design.

By September 2015, he grew both fruiting plants such as tomatoes and capsicums as well as different types of vegetables in their kitchen sinks.

 

Singapore amazing private gardens
2015 September 7 – Cherry Tomato

 

Singapore amazing private gardens
2015 Sept 16 – Cherry Tomato

 

This was the design of his aquaponic setup at home.

 

Aquaponics

 

How a bell Siphon work, to discharge excess water from the grow bed.

 

Aquaponics

 

In my layman understanding of his sketch, I think a series of pipes drew water from the fish’s waste tanks below the “farm” to feed his vegetables.

 

Aquaponic window farm
Upgraded fish tank

 

Aquaponic Window Farm
2015 July 2 – Bio Filter

 

And somehow, his vegetables fed the fishes.

 

Aquaponic Window Farm
Filtered fish water feeding his vegetables

 

Aquaponic Window Farm
Xi Zhe – Red pepper seedlings

 

In November 2015, Xi Zhe and his parents moved to a smaller apartment and there was no room for his farm.

I wrote this post to share this young man’s incredible farm and enterprising DIY spirit.

Even though the physical set up is gone, we will remember his “farm” and will cheer for his future one.

 

 

Aquaponic window farm
Shade to protect his vegetables from the too-hot sun

 

PS. If anyone likes to understand more of Xi Zhe’s design, he is a member of our Facebook group, “SG Farming in Apartments”.

I am sure he will explain better than me how his set up work.

 

Aquaponic
Summary of Xi Zhe’s completed aquaponic system 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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