Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Nearly a month BM. Show off them Toms.

No sooner said than done GF.
I haven't worked out the cost effectiveness of this plantation yet, but I'd say it's about the same as catching whiting - by the time I purchase fuel, replace missing tackle, drag the boat 90 km to the sea, pay launching fees etc. that can work out to around $100 per kilo of fish. I think these tomatoes would be suitable company for those fish as they will work out at about the same per-kilo price.
Only joking, it's good to see a result from the system and it is a start to bigger and better ponds and gardens.
I'm getting some meaningful readings at last - Amm - 0, Nitrite-0, Nitrate-5, pH-7.8. Easy to keep pH up, the tap water here is pH 8.

levels look good, tommies look good. Onya big mick

Tomatoes are looking nice! Our tomatoes are done for the season. Now I face 7 tomato-less months since the grocery store tomatoes are terrible. My AP system is indoors and I don't think I can do fruiting veggies with the amount of light I have.

I keep telling myself that it will all pay back in self-satisfaction. However, a nice batch of fresh pesto in the dead of winter is worth quite a bit. I noticed fresh basil for sale in the grocery. A few lousy sprigs in a little plastic box, at a price of US$61/pound!!! I was pricing out payback using yellow perch fillets at US$10/pound. I think I'll work with pounds of basil and gourmet greens instead!

They look great BM. They must be taking up all of your nitrates. Funny you mention the cost, if I priced it out right now I have eaten around 10, $450 dollar salads. It's all profit from here on LOL. The reward in it all is priceless though.

LOL, thats close to the prices i pay for lunch in the city

I don't like to think cost - I just like to think about the pleasure of watching the big fish rise for their food. I have always found watching fish to be very relaxing.

Yeah, don't worry about the cost. Great to see the fruit on those tommies. Time to get some edible fish Mick!!

What, you can't eat goldies ?? I've seen Vietnamese anglers beating each other up over a bucket-full of shitties, and you tell me you can't eat goldies. Fish patties-mmmmmmm !

Mick I know you are living in the scrub, but there's a limit to what you should and shouldn't eat LOL

Yeah, I know mate - goldies are safe (for now !) - tonight's choice is either pork chops, hogget chops or steak, and none of it's seen the inside of a butcher shop or a supermarket.

Good god Mick .. hogget chops.

I haven't heard anyone talk, let alone know about what hogget is since I left NZ and that's bloody near 30 years ago.

Given up asking at the butchers... they just look at me like I'm some sort of old sheep farmer

Gotta grow your own, I guess Rupert. Tastes better than 'lamb' and we can get 5 days of sandwiches and a feed of rissoles off a roast after the initial Sunday lunch !

I hear you BM. Pass the mint sauce

OK, What's a Hogget? Goat?