Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thats the thing though GD, over 2 years of research in Canada by Dr. Savidov has proven that aquaponics growth exceeded hydroponic growth, with no additions to the aquaponic system apart from iron..

He was a sceptic of aquaponics at the beginning of his experiments, and he finds it difficult to define exactly why growth rates are so much better in aquaponics, but he has the data and photos to prove it.. Evidently this led to a great uproar at a recent hydroponics convention in Singapore, hydro growers didn't want to hear it...

its silly, you would think they would welcome it - after all its eco friendly, more product to sell and the taste is better - not to mention adding "100% organic" to the label of their product opens up a whole new area of the buyers market to them!

That's if you could get it certified as organic AM - which you can't (at least not here) at this stage.

EB beat me to it!

The good doctor was so surprised, that he had the aquaponics water analysed and made up his own hydro solution to contain EXACTLY the same NPK and trace elements as his aqua water and did the whole experiment again.........SAME result!

There's that mystery element at work fellas. Now the good doctor is going to try and find out what makes the mature system so damn good.

hmmm... perhaps someone should let the good doctir know - its just nature doing what it does best!

I've got a fair idea, but the good Dr insists beds don't work and solids be removed. I'll find another scientist to share with who doesn't rubbish our good works as he is wrong. Oh that's right, I've got one

AA, don't confuse good doctors there were a few of them that we have been quoting

True, due respect to all involved as well.

I need lettered gentlemen to prove what I already know.

Hi all,

The golfish are about 70mm body length now, AA.

Just wondered if any of you knew where Dr Nick has published his findings?

Does anyone know of any solids left in vs. solids removed aquaponic trials? or are people like Rakocy and Savidov merely surmising?

Also, on the organics front, I know that here in the UK the people who hand out organic certification (the Soil Association) don't want to know unless you're growing in soil. From what I understand a lot of the reasoning behind this is they want growers to work in conjuction with micro fauna etc and maintain ecosystems within the soil. If, however the 'magic ingredient' in aquaponics is a healthy population of microbes, I would imagine there could be some scope for change.

Neal

It will take time Neal, but it will happen.

Interesting that you mentioned solids. The guy that runs the virgin island setup stated that they could control their nitrogen level (lower it for flowering and fruiting of plants) simply by leaving the solids in their seperator longer. In the seperator it would undergo anoxic bacterial process that converted the nitrate to nitrogen gas, thereby leaving the water with a proportionatly lower N levels compared to K and P (these would still increase becasue the fish were still being fed)

All really interesting stuff. Might be why joel has quite abit of luck with fruiting type plants, as there will be a fair bit of this action going on in the very bottom of the growbed. (maybe?)

Talking about fruiting plants (sorry for taking off topic a bit) what did you guys make of all the conductivity speak from the NZ hydro guy and the suggestion that tomatoes would be no good in aqua, particularly in winter, due to low (or is it high) conductivity. As I have no hydro experience, it is a concept I am clueless on. I did speak to him about it afterwards, so understand a bit more, but am still fairly unclear.

Don't think i heard that one VB

Here's a quote about scientists from a man who knows

"Scientists are a joke. I know, I was one. They are good at polishing
the apple, but get them to do something original and outside the square,
forget it. They will also rubbish anybody who thinks laterally as wild
dreamers etc etc.

Pity they can get money though. They are part of reinforcing the system
and keeping the status quo going."

Keep thinking outside the box folks. Most research grants are for keeping status quo, and lots of papers get trashed (never see daylight) if they are not what the govt wants.

Don't be sheep. Be leaders in the field.

And taste? How does aqua taste vs hydro?