Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Ozzie
I ws a bit scaptical about vermi originally, but it is certainly good for planting seeds in. There seems to be a variety of grades, the first bag I got was quite coarse and settled well, but the second bag is very fine and the whole gropwbed actually floats up on the flood cycle. Doesn't seem to upset anything because I have got Bok Choy in there at the moment, and I am also trialling one tomato seedling against the others which are in road gravel, so far the vermi one is doing better.
cheersRodney

Hi All
Time for one of my updates, not a regular series, but the system seems to be cruising along quite well

Here's a couple of pics of the vegies today, as you can see, peas heading skyward and suplying plenty of pods, spinach, celery,and greens all keeping us well fed. We have eaten all the carrots and radishes, but the beetroot were not a real success.
Tomatoes are in flower, note the stake system, its cut from a panel of that wire fencing that you see around schools etc (No I did not nick it) There are letteuces planted amongst the tomatoes, you really can use all the space.
Trying a few water chesnuts, they are up about 15 cm at present.
Trout are growing well and nearly ready to harvest as soon as I work out how. tried a worm on a hook, but they sucked the worm(s) off, then sent the goldfish across to investigate. I will try it again with a smaller hook.
Late message,I left a net in the pond this morning and this afternoon, a trout had found its way into it. Had to let it go cos I need 2 for dinner.
cheers
Rodney

Once summer hits you'll want the water outlets to go under the gravel rather than splashing.

Vegie growth looks good.

thanks Ozzie
easy done and the advice is appreciated
cheers
Rodney

Just turns into a big black ugly slime fest otherwise

My peas never got as high as that, just planted some more to see if I went too early.

That is great growth. Excellent work.

Regarding peas - normally they are a winter crop. Mine finished a month back. I miss them terribly, we were eating them most nights and no complaints from the kids :-)

I like the fence in the GB. Would make it easy for the plants to climb up. Did you have to treat the bottoms so the zinc doesn't get into the system? Or is it bare steel.

I guess that the fence section is gal, didn't really think about it, just hit the panel with the angle grinder to cut in half and tapped it into the gravel. Its an old piece of steel, so pretty stable.

A small amount like that probably wont hurt too much, its only when you get a whole tank of it.

Well people,
Its been a long time since I added to the page.
The system is just brilliant, fingerling trout I bought in March are now ready to eat at about 12 inches long, so they are on the menu, and the plants just keep on coming.
Got my early tomatoes in last week, broccoli, spinach, cauli and chard still going really well. Trying some garlic and that is already up to about 12 inches high.
Now, the big news is: Mary (wife) has just released her new book "Fabulous Food from Every Small Garden", published by CSIRO, and it contains a section about my AP system.
PLUS, the same Mary is the covergirl on Grass Roots Magazine this month, and the main article covers out vege garden , including the AP section. Photographer was here a week or so ago, followed by the CSIRO video man, and he is putting a Vodcast on tnhe CSIRO website soon, look out for it!!
Its been a busy time!!
cheers
Rodney

Notably awesome... Don't forget us here

Good stuff Rodney... can you provide links...

Excellent thread Rodney. Enjoying it!

Are there any links available for the video or articles?

THX

CB

and here is the address:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CSIROpublis ... SJ9uq11n4Q

Geez, September since my last post, time goes get away quick
A couple of visitors of note: Milne (Food&Fish) dropped in last year, always good for some new knowledge and an exchange of ideas, keep it going M.
Also Ken from Tiaro, Q, near Marybororough, read Mary's article in Grass Roots, saw that we did aquaponics, and dropped in for a chat. Most informative, he and a group have AP and HP going up there, its different because of the climate, but the thread is common.
Well all the trout were pulled out in November and have been eaten, smoked or frozen, and late Jan I got 50 SP's and 10 Catties from Glenburn. They are going really well, no losses and have about doubled in size. I think its best to leave them at the hatchery as late as possible, so they can grow big and strong before we take them away. Also have introduced about 10 yabbies to another tank, dont know much about them, a couple have karked it, and I found one on the lawn yesterday morning, so today I have made a lid. How do you feed the critturs? any ideas?.
Tomatoes just about finished, eggplant and capsicum and cucumbers doing well, and I am getting ready for autumn/winter crops , as soon as the cabbage moths disapear, I will be planting.
Sorry about late update, will try harder next time
cheers
Rodney