My Bride very generously treated me to a BYAP Balcony System for our 33rd Wedding Anniversary back in October after our trip to the Royal Show with the Grandson a couple of weeks earlier
At the subsequent visit to BYAP her stated need for minimalism within the house ( we are currently undertaking some renovations ) made me choose the smaller Balcony System over the Budget System - despite her urgings to go for something larger in the backyard ( all 3/4 acre of it )
Although we were heading off for an overseas trip in a week or so after the inital purchase, I set the system up, sans fish
Purchased seedlings were chilli, carrot, butternut pumpkin, strawberry, lettuce, capsicum, carrot, corn, cabbage and cauliflower
At this stage I should mention that the cautious technofile in me planted 50% of the seedlings we purchased from BYAP and our local Bunnings in the ground, so we would have something to compare the growth with
I should also mention that my wife had very diligently laid out some of the seedlings with other plants she had planned to plant on the other side of the house, and as I couldn't find them ( domestic blindness / not asking ) , they were left to wilt in the sun for the best part of a week
We then headed off on a 5:30 am flight to Malaysia after leaving our daughter with explicit care instructions for Dad's new toy
On our return some 2 weeks later, I was both relieved that most of the plants were still alive in our pseudo hydroponics set - up, and thrilled at their growth, despite the lack of added nutrients
Having realised the shortfall in my brillliant self - sufficiency plan, and despite harvesting a number of edible strawberries since the initial setup, I commenced adding Seasol in various quantities to the water reservoir over the weeks since our return and was again thrilled - this time to see the growth spurt in my crop except for the corn which is very stunted and insipid - looking
Sadly, not so for my earth - bound plantings. All I have surviving is three lettuces ( letti ? ), two butternut pumpkin, and interestingly,
ALL of the cabbage and cauliflower
I will add some "before" and "after" photographs as soon as I can get the 'phone software downloaded and installed
In the meantime, I can add that I picked up 8 of the Golden Ponds 10 cm - odd Barramundi today and have added them to the system
In preparation I purchased a 300 watt heater earlier this week, which allowed me to add the fish to 26 degree water. So far, no fatalities
Here's hoping for an increased vegetable crop and some edible fish in a few months time
I'll keep you all posted
Regards
Geoff
Backyard Aquaponics
I am sure it will be no time before the bug bites proper and you are buying more tanks to extend your system further. Hope to see some pictures of your system soon.