NuLeaf Tech NuTree Series User manual

NuLeaf Tech Inc.
Better Solutions. Naturally.
NuTree User Manual

Table of Contents
Introduction
2
Aquaponics
3-5
The Walstad Method
6-7
Aquatic Plants Guide
8-9
Crop Plants Guide
10-15
Fish Guide
16-18
General Maintenance
19-22
Thank you
23
1

Congratulations on your new NuTree Bonsai aquaponic system! From all of us here at NuLeaf
Tech, we thank you for your support and we welcome you to the rewarding world of home
aquaponics.
As a courtesy, we have included with your purchase this pamphlet providing an overview on
how to set up a Walstad Tank, what plants and fish to choose, and how to care for the NuTree
Bonsai. There is also some information about Aquaponics as well.
This is the NuTree User Manual! For more information on how to construct the unit itself,
please see our NuTree Construction Manual.
This can be found on our NuTree Bonsai/DIY Aquaponics Page at:
https://www.nuleaftech.com/diy-aquaponics-landing
Whether you are an experienced gardener or this is your first time exercising your green
thumb, this packet will provide some useful information to getting started so be sure to give it
a read.
Please Note:  This is a starting guide in terms of picking plants and fish. Don’t be afraid to get
adventurous and try new types of plants. Post a photo with the results for us to see on social
media!
AQUAPONICS
2

Your NuTree ecosystem uses a method called aquaponics to grow your plants and raise
your fish. As defined by the OED, aquaponics is:
“a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic
animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water.”
A simpler way to think of aquaponics is as a mix between an aquarium and a garden. In a
traditional garden, the fertilizer and water needed to grow your crops are wasted after use,
and consistent supervision is needed to ensure the ideal environment for your plants.
3

With aquaponics, the fertilizer for your crops is provided by fish waste and wetland
microbes living in your “aquarium.” After the nutrient-rich water is used to grow crops, the
clean water is recirculated back for the fish. Plants in the fish tank can also provide food for
the fish. The system is constantly circulating so very little maintenance and supervision is
needed to sustain a healthy environment.
This guide will also help you pick the right type of fish and plants for your goals, as well as
how to set up a Walstad Fish Tank. A Walstad Tank is more like a pond in the sense that the
ecological nutrient cycles balance themselves and there is even less aquarium maintenance.
Even less work for you with some tasty herbs!
Let’s Build a NuTree!
4

So you’ve bought a NuTree and you’re ready to start setting up the tank and choosing plants
and fish. Congratulations on this first step in your home gardening adventure!
THE WALSTAD METHOD
5

Developed by Diana Walstad, the Walstad Method is a method of designing aquarium
ecosystems. In a Walstad tank, aquatic plants are grown in a bed of soil at the bottom of the
tank. These aquatic plants then recycle the waste produced by the fish in the aquarium.
This process creates a balanced ecosystem for each organism, and generally a more
pond-like, natural tank. Traditionally the Walstad method is for indoor tanks, but can also
be adapted for outdoor use.
The wetland basin of your NuTree is, in essence, a Walstad tank. We chose this method due
to its ease of use and low maintenance. A traditional aquarium or aquaculture tank
requires constant monitoring and maintenance. However, a Walstad tank maintains a
natural cycle on its own to create a balanced ecosystem like a pond. This means you will
have to do much less to keep your fish and your crops healthy.
Below we have provided basic instructions on setting up your wetland basin and a few
recommendations for which aquatic plants to include in your setup.
Setting up your wetland basin:
1. Cover the bottom of your basin with 1in of unfertilized soil.
2. Add no more than 1 inch of fine gravel on top of your soil. Be sure to cover the soil
completely.
3. Add ~2 inches of water to the tank, being careful not to displace the gravel.
4. Once you have chosen which aquatic plants to put in your basin, simply plant them
in the soil and brush a layer of gravel on top of them. For this entire setup process,
you want to make sure the entire layer of soil is covered by gravel.
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5. Fill the rest of the basin with room temperature water. You will want to do this
slowly so as not to displace your gravel layer.
6. It is best to wait a few (2-3) weeks after setting up your wetland basin before adding
in fish and surface plants like duckweed.
CHOOSING AQUATIC PLANTS
Most aquarium plants will do well in a NuTree, but we do have some recommendations well
suited for the Walstad method. These are general suggestions, but geography and exact
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location will have an effect on what is available and what grows well. This is especially true in
an outdoor tank.
Soil Plants
These are plants that will grow in the soil layer of your basin. You have a lot of options here
but we (and Diana Walstad) recommend that you start with a few different types of
quick-growing plants to get the ecosystem cycling well. Here are some top picks:
Amazon Sword Plant
Growth Rate: Fast
Care: Minimal
The Amazon sword plant is a great place to start as it grows very
quickly and is generally quite resilient. It does not require an enormous
amount of light and can survive in temperatures ranging from 60 to 85
degrees F.
Dwarf Sag
Growth Rate: Fast
Care: Minimal
Dwarf sag is another good choice for your wetland basin though it will
not grow as quickly as an Amazon sword plant. Dwarf Sag does well
even in high pH water so long as the temperature is kept between 70
and 83 degrees F.
Guppy Grass
Growth Rate: Very Fast
Care: Minimal
We have had a lot of success growing guppy grass in our NuTree and
we highly recommend trying it out. Guppy grass will do well in
temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees F. Goldfish love to eat this
fast-growing plant and will help you keep it to a manageable level.
Floating Plants
8

It’s usually a good idea to include some floating plants in your wetland basin. They will help to
combat algae and provide more oxygen to your basin while adding a nice flair to the tank.
Again, your options are plentiful but we’ve recommended a few common choices to get you
started. To plant these simply drop them into your wetland basin and they should begin to
grow on the surface.
Duckweed
Growth Rate: Fast
Care: Non-existent
A popular plant for aquaponics, Duckweed will grow on the surface of
your basin in almost all water conditions and temperatures and
proliferates very quickly. Duckweed can be contained to a section of the
tank by a looped piece of tubing, often called a “Duckweed corral.”
Water Sprite
Growth Rate: Fast
Care: Easy/Moderate
Water sprite is another popular choice for floating plants but it may
require a bit more maintenance than duckweed. It grows well in
temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees F but may become a bit of a
nuisance as leaves falling off the stems may require trimming.
Frogbit
Growth Rate: Medium
Care: Moderate
Frogbit will give your wetland basin a pond-like look and is best kept in
water between 64 and 84 degrees F. The main thing to consider with
frogbit is that you need to keep the tops of the leaves dry to prevent
rotting. Some thinning of the leaves may be needed.
CHOOSING CROPS
9

Now that we have covered aquatic plants the biggest question most people have is ‘what kind
of crops can I grow in my NuTree?’ The answer to this is complex and varies significantly
based on gardening experience, but to get you started we have provided an overview of some
of the most popular aquaponics crops.
Herbs
Herbs are generally the easiest thing to get started growing with your NuTree. Though there
are many different options for herbs with varying levels of difficulty, here are a few of our
recommendations:
Mint
Level: Beginner
Seasons: All
Growth: Fast
Type: Perennial
Mint is a fast-growing herb that is very tolerant of abuse and will grow in cool or warm climates. Mint is a
perennial plant which means that it grows continuously for many seasons. In colder climates, mint will have a
dormancy period in the winter months but much of the time in warmer temperatures it will grow all year
round.
To harvest mint you can simply cut off the leaves as needed, leaving the stem in-tact for future growth.
Parsley
Level: Beginner
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Growth: Medium
Type: Perennial/Annual
Parsley is another very good option for beginners as it is relatively resilient and can be grown in most
climates for most of the year. Parsley can be a perennial plant if the weather is warm, but in colder climates
parsley will die during the winter making it an annual crop. If you are in a warmer climate, you can actually
start growing parsley in the late winter though it will grow more slowly during these periods.
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Like mint, parsley can be harvested by simply cutting the outside leaves as needed. If you are in a colder
climate growing outdoors, be sure to harvest your parsley before the first freeze of winter.
Basil
Level: Intermediate
Seasons: Spring, Summer
Growth: Medium
Type: Annual
Basil is a very popular herb for home gardening, but it is far less resilient than parsley or mint. Basil is
extremely sensitive to cold so if your NuTree is setup outdoors you will likely only be able to grow basil in the
spring and summer. Basil also needs a decent amount of sun to grow well, though it is possible to grow with
only 5 - 6 hours of sunlight daily. Basil may present a bit of a challenge for those new to gardening but it can
be used in a variety of recipes and we think it is well worth a spot in your NuTree.
Like other herbs, basil can be harvested by cutting or picking leaves as needed. Be sure to harvest your whole
plant by mid-autumn if you are growing outdoors.
Thyme
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Seasons: Summer, Fall
Growth: Medium
Type: Perennial
Thyme adds a great aroma to your NuTree. It loves the sun and warmth and, therefore, can be harder to
maintain and will have noticeably less growth in colder weather. Although French and English thyme are the
most common types of thyme, there are over 50 different types for various culinary uses or tea leaves. We
particularly love lemon thyme for its fragrance. Thyme also produces lovely bee-attracting flowers so this
herb has a lot to offer! Thyme can be harvested by cutting or picking leaves as needed and is easy to shape.
Rosemary
Level: Intermediate
Seasons: Summer, Fall
Growth: Medium
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Type: Perennial
A member of the mint family, rosemary is a classic herb in any garden! Like thyme, rosemary favors warmer
weather and lots of sun, ideally 6-8 hours, so it is often better to plant outdoors. In addition, rosemary is
generally pest resistant as well but can be prone to powdery mildew if being grown indoors. It is a
slow-growing herb but can still provide year-round harvests and grows lovely purple-blue flowers.
Rosemary can be harvested by cutting or picking leaves as needed and can be easily dried and stored as well.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens require a bit more TLC than herbs but they are still very easy to grow in a
NuTree system. While growing herbs can be great to enhance your recipes, this is where we
get more in the realm of growing your own food. Here are a few of our top picks:
Bok Choy
Level: Intermediate
Seasons: Spring, Fall
Growth: Medium
Type: Annual
Bok choy and other mustard greens are a good place to start when growing leafy greens in your NuTree. Bok
choy is fairly resilient and only needs about 3 - 5 hours of direct sunlight each day. Bok choy can be reliably
grown in the early spring and again in the midsummer for a fall harvest. In winter bok choy does not grow but
exposure to a light frost in fall can improve the flavor.
To harvest bok choy, simply pull out the full plants and store them for use in your kitchen. Do not freeze bok
choy or other leafy greens for later use.
Kale
Level: Intermediate
Seasons: Spring, Fall
Growth: Medium
Type: Annual
12

Kale is an ever-popular ingredient in salads and other dishes, and it is relatively easy to grow in your NuTree.
Kale needs lots of sunlight to grow (about 6 - 8 hours daily) and may attract pests like aphids. Though it is
reasonably frost resilient, severe freezes will damage your kale. Plant in late winter or early spring and again
at the end of summer for a fall harvest.
To harvest kale, you can cut the leaves as they are ready and keep the central stalk growing for a better yield.
Harvest in full by the first freeze of winter.
Collard Greens
Level: Intermediate
Seasons: Fall, Winter
Growth: Medium
Type: Annual
Collard greens are a delicious and nutrient-rich crop for your NuTree. Collard greens need lots of sunlight
(about 6 hours a day) but are very resilient to cold. Collard greens grow best in cool weather so planting in
the early autumn for a winter harvest is ideal. If you live in a colder climate, consider planting earlier for a late
autumn harvest. You may encounter some pests but it is not as common as in kale or lettuce.
To harvest collard greens, cut leaves as they are ready to eat. Harvest in full before it gets too cold.
Fruiting Plants
Fruiting plants can be a challenge to grow in a NuTree but we have done it ourselves so it can
certainly be done. The yield will most likely not be as good as herbs or leafy greens, but you
can certainly see some good results if you work at it.
Strawberries
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Growth: Slow
Type: Perennial
Strawberries are our #1 recommendation of fruiting plants to grow in your NuTree. They can grow in shade
or full sun, and go dormant in the winter so they can be harvested year after year if properly cared for. Plant
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in early autumn for best results. Slugs are a common problem for strawberries so be careful if you are
growing outdoors.
To harvest strawberries simply cut the berries, keeping the plant intact to continue growing. If your
strawberries are in good health they may survive the winter and can be harvested the following year after the
dormant period.
Tomatoes
Level: Expert
Seasons: Spring
Growth: Medium
Type: Annual/Perennial
Tomatoes are a definite challenge to new gardeners. Though tomatoes are technically perennials, they are
grown as annuals in most of the US. Tomatoes need full sun and are very sensitive to cold. In addition to
attracting a variety of pests, tomatoes are also susceptible to blight and other diseases. We don’t recommend
tomatoes for new gardeners as they can be difficult to grow in aquaponic setups. Still, if you are up for a
challenge, feel free to give it the old college try.
To harvest tomatoes simply pull the fruit from the stem.
Japanese Eggplant
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Seasons: Summer, Fall
Growth: Slow
Type: Perennial
Japanese eggplants are a small, slender varietal with a sweet, mild flavor and a delicate lavender flower. They
have all the great taste of a traditional eggplant with the additional benefit of being able to be harvested
earlier in the season than its thick-skinned cousins. They are an excellent perennial plant so long as it is in a
frost-free location, although it does prefer warmer weather and full sun and is a nutrient-heavy plant to grow.
They can grow to be quite large, but can easily be trimmed back with regular maintenance, and may require a
trellis if the plant becomes too heavy.
To harvest Japanese eggplants, simply pick them from their stalks. To increase growth, pinch off the first buds
of the plant once it reaches 6 inches tall to increase the growth of side-branches (where the fruit grows).
Harvest as soon as the fruit is ready or else fruit production for the rest of the plant will slow down.
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Chili Peppers
Level: Intermediate
Seasons: Summer
Growth: Slow
Type: Annual
Add a little spice to your NuTree with Chili Peppers! There are dozens of varieties to choose from, but
generally, they love warm temperatures and need full sun. Many will still grow in partial shade but their
growth may be slower. Chili Peppers are not frost tolerant. They are a slow-growing plant and can take 2-5
months to bear fruit depending on the varietal. Pinch out the buds on the first flowering shoots to promote
more branching and increase the harvest.
To harvest chilis, simply remove from their stalks. These plants will go to seed in the winter and new chilis
will need to be planted. Wear gloves if you’re handling particularly spicy chilis!
A note on flowers:
You can definitely grow flowers or other aesthetic plants in your NuTree rather than crops.
We have focused on crops in this guide since they require a bit more maintenance and TLC
generally. That being said, if you are planning on growing flowers more resilient types are
probably your best bet. You might want to stay away from growing things like roses as they
can be very particular about their environment. We also encourage you to do some research
on your local plants!
CHOOSING FISH
15

Perhaps just as important as choosing which plants to put in your NuTree, is choosing which
fish! But before we talk about fish, there are three key factors you may want to consider as
you build your wetland ecosyste  m.
It’s possible to not have fish in your system, but you will need to supplement your NuTree
Bonsai with hydroponic fertilizer. The plants still need nutrients to grow!
Diet
Firstly, what will your fish eat? If you don’t mind feeding your fish every day with pellets or
other fish food you will have a few more choices.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to have to worry about remembering to feed your
fishy friends there are other options. Many fish can survive solely on the aquatic plants you
introduced earlier.
There are pros and cons to each approach, but the key is to make sure the fish living in your
NuTree can survive on a diet of your chosen food source.
Friends or food?
Another thing to consider is what you plan to do with the fish in your system. Are you
raising fish to eat? If you are, having a few larger fish may be preferable. If you simply want
fish to produce waste to feed your plants, having a variety of smaller types of fish might be
a better option.
The number of fish you can have in your tank is also going to vary greatly depending on the
type and size you want. Generally, though, we recommend starting with one or 2 fish for
beginners regardless of these factors. As you begin to add more fish, be careful to consider
how many gallons of water each fish of a given species needs to thrive.
For instance, a full-size NuTree’s basin (~325 gallons) could easily support 10-15 tilapia
(or more), but only one koi. When choosing fish species, you can find information about
how much water they will need online or from the pet shop or retailer selling to you.
Environment & Temperament
The last thing to take into account when choosing fish is the general temperament of the
species. Some fish need to be in schools of their own species, while others thrive in a more
diverse environment. Some fish can be aggressive and others docile. It is important to
include fish that will get along with the other species in your tank, as unhappy, anxious fish
will be more likely to die prematurely.
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Another environmental factor to consider is water temperature, as different fish survive
better in different climates.
Type
Now that you have thought about your food source, environment, and ultimate purpose of
your fish here are some recommendations for species to include in your NuTree.
Tilapia
Water Temp: 72 - 86 F
Diet: Food pellets, insects
Temperament: Sometimes Aggressive
Edible
If you are raising fish as food, tilapia is a great place to start. Tilapia are great for aquaponics as they are very
resilient and grow quickly. Tilapia are fairly sensitive to cold so a higher water temp is ideal for raising these
fish. They can also be aggressive to other species, especially smaller ‘prey’ fish so if you are raising tilapia a
more homogenous environment may be preferable.
Catfish
Water Temp: 78 -86 F
Diet: Food pellets
Temperament: Docile
Edible
Like tilapia, catfish need warm waters to grow well. Unlike tilapia, catfish are more sensitive to water quality
and pH which can make them a bit harder to raise. Catfish grow quickly and can get very large so if you are
not planning on cooking them, they may outgrow the NuTree before they die of natural causes.
Though catfish are not aggressive per se, they do tend to try to eat anything smaller than themselves so if you
plan to raise them be sure to keep them with other large fish.
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Angelfish
Water Temp: 75 - 82 F
Diet: Flake food, aquatic plants
Temperament: Docile (Territorial)
Ornamental
Angelfish are a beautiful addition to your NuTree and they are pretty easy to raise too! The main thing to
consider with angelfish is water temperature as they are very sensitive to cold. Angelfish can eat store-bought
fish flakes and other similar foods. Though they have sometimes been known to eat duckweed and other
aquatic plants this shouldn’t be counted on as a reliable food source.
Though angelfish are generally docile they can become territorial if there are too many other fish around
them.
Goldfish
Water Temp: 60 - 75 F
Diet: Flake food, aquatic plants
Temperament: Docile
Ornamental
Goldfish are perhaps the easiest fish to raise in your NuTree. They are very hardy and are not terribly
sensitive to temperature. They produce a lot of waste to feed your plants, and they are easy to find and
inexpensive at any pet store. Goldfish get along very well with other fish and do well in diverse or
homogenous environments. They can survive on a diet of store-bought fish food or duckweed and other
aquatic plants.
Goldfish are a fantastic addition to your NuTree and we highly recommend them for anyone new to
aquaponics.
Please Note: It hurts our hearts to say this, but sometimes fish...die. Sometimes you can
chase the reason down to water quality issues or disease, but aquaponics does have a bit of
learning curve. Go easy on yourself.
BASIC MAINTENANCE
18

The NuTree is designed to be a relatively “hands-off” system, so the maintenance needed to
keep it healthy is pretty minimal. Still, there are a few things you will want to do on a
daily/weekly basis to make sure your NuTree is performing to the best of its abilities!
If you decide to add additional fertilizer to your tank, make sure that it is aquarium safe and
not simply a hydroponic fertilizer. Although these fertilizers can be great for plants, they
can be harmful to your fish so make sure the fertilizer you are using is either aquarium safe
or specifically designed for aquaponics.
In terms of drips, the most likely places that these will occur are at the elbow joints of the
PVC spiral. This can easily be remedied by applying marine epoxy to these joints, although
it will make the PVC spiral harder to disassemble. Another source of drips is if plant roots
become too large and start to become unwieldy, and this will cause an overflow. This can
be remedied by trimming back the plant or mildly adjusting its positioning. The NuTree is
designed so that these drips are contained to fall over the tank and minimizes splashes.
Daily Maintenance
These are things you will ideally want to do every day. Though in most cases skipping a
day here and there will not be much of an issue, especially once the system is established.
Prune plants as needed
This one is pretty simple. Basically, you want to remove any dead or excess leaves from
your plants to help stimulate healthy growth. Remove any dead leaves from plant nets or
the pond basin as they can invite bad bacteria.
Check flow rate
This one sounds much more complex than it is. You want to make sure that the water is
flowing into your basin at a more-or-less constant rate each day. If you notice that there
seems to be less water flowing into your basin than usual, this could be an indication that
you have a root blockage in the spiral terrace, or the pump could be clogged. If you notice
algae growing in the small section of hose that goes into the center pipe, we suggest
painting that section or covering it with tape.
Scoop out leaves in the basin
Though this may seem like more of an aesthetic issue than anything else, it is important
that leaves shouldn’t be left to sit on the water for more than a 24 hour period. If the water
surface is covered by enough leaves, it may inhibit the growth of your aquatic plants by
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