Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

...but I know I have a ton of reading to do first!

However I have a few questions which can probably tell me whether it is worth proceeding or not.

Firstly, pretty much all of my garden is in shade, the only thing I can get to grow with any sucess is parsley, and I hate parsley.

Secondly, when I do get a plant up and going it is immediately attacked by caterpillars, furry white jumping bugs, and aphids, which my touchy-feely organic natural pesticides do very little to hold in check.

So can I sucessfully grow anything decent in the shade?

Is there an effective way of controlling the pests without killing the fish? In the past I have used nicotine and chili tea but I think this was worse for me than the bugs and I wouldn't want to swim in it.

Also do you need to pour a concrete base for the IBCs, they look to be pretty heavy but also look a bit flexible.

Thanks for looking at the thread!

I would say if you can't grow much in dirt, the same will be true for AP grow bed.

I find vegies need lots of sunlite, only a couple will tollerate lots of shade, cucumbers are good as are lettuce, but doesnt look good to me

Cucumbers aren't bad!

Sunlight is the main issue though! I am starting on a program of slowly removing some of the over hanging neighbours' trees, they have Mock Oranges higher than my house and they lean heavily into my garden. I get a few hours at midday but not much direct sunlight in the morning or evening, the courtyard isn't too shady or damp now that I have started clearing.

Can the fish and water tanks be in the shade and the garden beds in the sun or do the fish need to be in sunlight as well?

Thanks

The fish don't need to be in the sun, and generally its better if they are shaded due to algae etc.
However from reading this forum I believe algae is only a problem for new systems...

A few hours at midday might be enough for lots of things during summer. I have just discovered that the sun I get for half a day on my new garden is too much for the cherry tomatoes (don't know why, used to grow them in townsville in full sun.

The timing of the sunlight is important. If your vegies are shaded up till say 10am, then get full midday sun till maybe 2pm, they will suffer.
The plants dont get a chance to warm up before the direct sun hits, thats why morning sun is better than afternoon sun.
The results from only midday sun are tall spindly plants, yellowing and constant wilting..... even if enough water is supplied.

That makes sense of what has been going on in my dirt beds, no wonder you are "Bordering on Legend".

The plants at the front of the bed are doing better than the ones at the back and this is mostly due to the shading, I think I may have to have the water piped around the garden to the beds that are in more sun, they are pretty low to the ground though, might have to do some digging to sink the water collection tank, I will have to have a think and thanks again for the info, I would hate to go to all the trouble and then have to modify it to get it to work, might as well do it right the first time!