Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Today I must be very inspired and in my reloading of aquaponics I decided I'd start a discussion about what I see as the only viable way to make a small profit from aquaponics and get some insight as to why this isn't more commonly widespread as a notion.

So I have always kept up with Rupert's information of how a commercial aquaponics facility has yet to show some real results without free or volunteer internships/offering courses to have free or easy work, and so on. I also smiled when I read EB's phrase the other "if I had a dollar for every time I read 'I would like to go commercial ith this some day'..." And this prompted me further to share this point of view.

So what I personally believe, and wonder why more people aren't doing this right now, is why people focus on "Commercial Aquaponics" from a 'produce' point of view ("I'm planning on selling plants and fish to gourmet restaurants or farmer's markets") and not from a "systems" point of view, meaning I think that (having gathered enough experience, expertise, know-how, and at least a few years after starting with aquaponics) it'd actually be easier to start a business - as per the BYAP model - where you actually sell pre-made or commercial systems or you do custom installs for people who can't go the DIY route.

(To be more specific, I'm talking mostly to non-australian members here, seeing as there is already a quite successful business as this forum and website proves over there - also because I've noticed that most people who'll say "I'm planning to go commercial" are not from Australia . Adding to this, I've also noticed that most Commercial Courses are held outside of Australia too).

I'm not saying commercial from a produce POV isn't any good, but I honestly wonder why people don't at least integrate the two. In fact, one business model I truly admire in this - huge props to her for her work - is TCLynx's, where she works as a consultant, she installs systems, and sells somewhat pre-made systems or components to make your own easily/modular, but she'll also sell the produce, this way integrating these two aspects.

So, BYAP forum, this is my question to you all: why is there such a little number of peoplelooking to be system designers/consultants/makers?

PS: please keep in mind that it is one and a half in the morming here and I'm kinda rambling, also sorry if the issue has been previously discussed but I couldn't find anything pertaining in the search function.

tojo

Selling systems and or being a consultant is probably a good way to go in terms of business rather than focusing on the produce side however in my opinion it is actually more of a leap than selling produce. What I mean by this is that in order to be a successful consultant you need to be extremely knowledgeable about both fish and plants, aquaculture, horticulture, aquaponics, pumps, plumbing etc. You need to have a multifaceted in depth knowledge of these things and that's not easy. If you grow produce you just need to learn one way that works and tweak it but if you are going to sell systems to people and be a consultant then you need to have a much wider field of knowledge and be able to communicate this well to people. Both selling produce and or being a consultant selling systems is not easy, however being a consultant means that you need to know aquaponics like it's second nature to you, know it well and be up to date.

That's not to say that it can't be done. It's just my theory as to why more people aren't doing it.

If you had the pre-requisite knowledge in the all the aspects required above... you'd be a multi-talented genius...

And a highly sort after... very well paid consultant.....

Why would you bother making generic "kit" systems... and do yourself out of your core consultancy business...

The reality is that location... fish species... market profile... regulations etc, etc... means that every client will be different.. and require a different system... even if the basics of design principles remain the same....

A good consultant may well have specialist knowledge in a particular area of expertise... but more importantly... they'd be aware of.. and seek specific expertise in other areas... to provide an overall solution....

The current hobby farm "commercial systems".... are being promoted by people with little, usually no... expertise in RAS... or in hydroponic growing...

And seem totally oblivious of even the fundamental designs... and scientific knowledge backing the current profitable commercial operations/models ... both aquaculture and hydroponics... let alone what's required to combine the two disciplines...

Well said Rupe. I didn't mean one would have to be a genius but I guess it came out that way.

In order to be a really good consultant you would need to be well versed like Rupe.

Actually this forum is like a hive mind genius

If you are dealing with customers on a daily basis you can't keep checking or asking the forum for answers.

This looks like a genius at work:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12006

I believe that if you're going to try and sell fish and veggies the last requirement, AP as a second nature knowing it well and being up to date, is just as important, seeing as you're also dealing with more complex regulations, laws and people's health.



That's what I was looking at, all your data citing how no one actually really had yet accomplished the whole commercial thing, which led me to wonder why people looking for money out of AP don't look at it from another perspective...

I'm not saying going all out with roto-molding your own GBs but starting from a low profile ad on somewhere saying you're willing to install basic systems (IBC, barrels, something simple) could be a good start.... Of course backing it up with some prior personal knowledge (operating a system or more at home)...

Very true tojo that it's important to know aquaponics very well when dealing with produce.

I'm sorry... but I fundamentally disagree with you.... (and it's the rationale used by every Tom Dick & Harry that pops up every five minutes...)

Farming fish for profit... and growing hydroponic produce for profit... requires firstly... that you have some experience of actually doing it....

The equipment used... is completely irrelevant... unless you're doing it with something completely novel, and proven over time to be commercially advantageous... in which case you wouldn't bother "selling" the equipment... you'd sell the consultancy... or licence to build....

And then you still need to acheive a level of scale... and successful integration of the two disciplines... without compromising the integrity of either....

Backyard designs... and media beds.... just wont do either....

Commercial "aquaponics".... or more correctly "integrated aquaculture"... will be driven by professionals in both the disciplines of RAS and hydroponics... and business managed by people with both the same levels of expertise....

And the fundamental academic knowledge... designs... and methodologies... already exist....

It just takes... as is occuring .... the succesful integration of the two... without compromising the integrity of either....

And media beds... IBC's, barrels etc... just wont even be considered....

And then there's the marketing and business skills required....

I guess what I am trying to say is that one should be professional about it

Nah Rupe I think I didn't make my point clear... I agree with everything you wrote about but you probably misunderstood (read: I wasn't able to convey) the title of this thread.. What I actually mean is not installing commercial systems or claiming to know how to run them, but very simple backyard systems for people looking to get started with AP, essentially what Joel has done (thoug I admit I don't know enough of BYAP history to be absolutely certain of this)... From your post I don't understand if I made this clear though so sorry for causing any misinterpretarion...

Ah... OK.... but I still miss your point....

There's about 5 "experts" every day.... that pop up on Youtube or Kickstarter... basically doing exactly what you say....

And none of them has ever seen it necessary to have any "expertise" at all.... heck, some of them don't even actually have a system...

Case in point... every permaculturalist and his recycled dog.... is now running aquaponic workshops... showing how to build IBC systems... or offering "kits" which are a few bits and pieces with some lovely "dressed" wood surrounds...

I'm so gunna burn in hell... I'll be torched not only by the "aquapons"... but by the permies as well

Haha well then I must be oblivious (lucky for me???) to all the kickstarter and commercial courses of permies

i just thought it was a little-discussed subject and could be useful to people in the US for example, where interest in AP is gathering momentum if I understand correctly, but many might not be willing to Do It Themselves

It just amazed me that (even on this same sub-forum) so many (not all, most.) people jump into the whole concept of commercial aquaponics (the main type, the produce-selling kinda type), sometimes investing tons of money, without having any idea?

Well then this thread needs a big "nevermind" because it turns out many people are approaching it the way I mentioned (questionably so, as you say Rupe...)

Can I sell a lettuce to my neighbour Rupe or am I upsetting the cart