Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

here is another commercial set-up, this time in Hawaii
http://www.friendlyaquaponics.com./index.htm

Nice, I'm waiting for the job openings for a fish feeder/lettuce picker. I really need to get back to the islands. Toooo dang cold in Iowa.

Here is another one right here in Australia
The system is based on the UVI system and principles. The system is now up and running. It is stocked with silver perch and is growing lettuce and basil.

Wow.... is that one of your installations Murray...... nice DWC channels

How many Silver Perch are they stocking??? Will they need to heat the tanks through winter???

Is it a more of a home production system and an intended small scale "local market" commercial system??? ...

Couldn't find a website for them ....

Impressive for sure, well done!

gees can I openly advertise my business in here?

Hi Rup,
No it is not my install but it is my product.
I do not know how many fish etc, I have had no direct contact with the farmer, but I understand it is going well with the crops already pre sold to local business. Including the fish.
Evidently there has been some sort of scare in the area re bad seafood in recent months and the particular farmer has been swamped with people wanting a secure source of fish for food. So the farmer is already talking of doubling the size of the system.
The farmer in question bought Joel's book a couple of years ago and set up a small home system which worked well, then when their water allocation from the Murray was cut they decided to do aquaponics for an income as they had already accumulated experience from their home system.
It is a good outcome for the farmer. At this time it appears to be all positives for them.

Murry, have they applied for GANRAD membership?

don't think gonad exsists anymore.

GANRAD assisted them in getting a Gov grant for part of the cost and some other costs associated with the project.

Looks more like it's based on Wilson Lenards system. Yes it's floating raft, but all the components of the system have been set up like Wilsons, ie swirl separator, biofilter, raised beds etc...

You are correct EB, there has been input from there.

Looks pretty cool.... Very well done. Those fibreglass tanks look neat too...

I still cant get it through my head though how DWC systems can operate as efficiently as the run of the mill grown in media setups.

That biofilter is doing a LOT of work. Granted in this system there won't be as many fish. I know these systems work but to what cost to maintenance and fail safety. Plus there is extra wastage ie. Solids removal. Surely water changes may even be necessary...

Maybe I am just jealous because they have no gravel to wash....

Probably just as well... don't suppose you can tell approx cost Murray?....

I'm figuring there wouldn't have been any change out of $50,000+..... handy being a drought declared area and having incentives to diversify income...... oh, and to save water

I really don't know what the final cost was Rup, I only supplied the tanks etc, but I would think you are pretty close to the mark.

and TimC, The main advantage is that it is much easier to plant and harvest large numbers of plants in a floating raft system than it would be in a large gravel grow bed system.
The solids are used for worm farm etc. There are many other possible uses for the solids.