Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,
I am really having a nice time reading all of your threads, the info is wonderful and I am very excited about setting up a bigger system.

BUT something has been niggling at me and I have to mention it.

Are your tanks secure against little children climbing in and drowning?

I know it is a Nanny statement to mention it and I am sorry but we only need a couple of drownings (heaven forbid) and we will be clamped down upon like a giant hammer hitting us and all sorts of rediculous restrictions will be applied, if not bannings. It wasn't very long ago townies were not allowed to have water tanks, now everyone is catching water in all sorts of containers in their backyards (not to mention the mosquito breeding going on!). We must be vigilant.

Banns and fencing restrictions would make life very hard and add additional costs for us.
It would inhibit our creative juices from flowing and creating our wonderful systems.

sorry to be a party pooper

Dale

Rules and regulations vary according to different areas and I always urge people to use their own common sense as regards to safety. (Seems to be dying out these days from what I have observed of late.)
People should contact their local council for such information.
Some schools have arranged covers that can be padlocked as well as to stop people stealing fish. It also prevents birds from removing fish from the systrem as well as cats and dogs.

You're not being a party pooper at all Dale... it's an important point, and one that we always raise when doing an installation for a family with children...

Often the only regulations pertain to dams, or swimming pools.... ponds, and fish tanks afre often not included... an oversight in my view...

But as Faye says... it really is a matter of commonsense...

Covering your tank is also suggested in order to shade the tank and prevent algae from forming... and to stop fish, especially trout, from jumping out...

I dont have kids. no kids visit. and i'm behind a 6ft paling fence. Why should I have to cover a fishpond? If someone did manage to drown in it, they would have to have been trespassing, and thus are not of my concern.

In your case Orcy, your bases seem to be covered. You dont have the risk.

Same for the people that didn't have their pools fenced, they didn't have small children and the family had grown up, was a real eyesaw when the rules changed and people had no choice but to fence their pools a few years ago. Totally impractical in some cases.

Yes Fish tanks should have covers, I repeat it often. Keep fish in and stuff out.

Now an ornamental fish pond is kinda another story, putting a cover over it kinda defeats the purpose but being in a fenced yard makes it protected so long as it isn't easy for stranger's children to access the yard.

As to the whole issues of liability, well over here the world is crazy and even if some one is trespassing, nay even on your roof breaking into a skylight and they manage to fall through the skylight and break their arm, apparently they can sue and even win the case. (apparently there was a case of some one breaking into a store and they got hurt in the act and sued the store owner and won!) Ridiculous I know, so even if one does have proper fencing around their yard, and has done all due diligence, that doesn't mean you are safe here. But we all must still do what we can, I'm not gonna stop living cause some one might do something.

But keeping small children from harm is only one of the reasons for a cover on a fish tank. Keeping the fish in, keeping debris out, birds out, other critters out, and also for supporting the shade or light blocking material to keep the algae out. Many good reasons for a cover over a fish tank.

This is known as "Attractive Nuisance" and varies by state (no idea about Australia).

In Vermont we have an "open land" policy to encourage landowners to allow people on their land so liability is limited.

I wonder if (for those that don't have kids and don't cover tanks) SHOULD someone be stupid enough to break in and drown in the water. If you put a visible sign-up that states anyone entering the properly agrees to indemnify the owner against any and all injuries obtained...

Would that work? I might ask the local lawyers for a thought on that one.

I agree that being diligent about safety will help us as a community to remain unregulated. With a bit of thought lids can be made to be functional and not look like an eyesore. Having said that my tabk at home has no lid as the tank is over 1m high and is a fence in iself, as my little one grows however it will be likely to get the same treatment as the school tank - I already have the two 200x200mm posts ready to suspend it all off

No, that wont work if Attractive Nuisance is part of the local law. There are people who can't read/see/whatever.

Ah - I see what you mean now.
However if one takes all reasonable measures to ensure safety, IE: high fences and/or removal of any easy access to a roof.
Is it not the intruders fault for climbing onto the roof via a non-safe method?

Scaling a brick wall for instance and subsequently falling and hurting themselves.


It's rather stupid that laws are in place to protect the guilty in the event of their own stupidity...

"Have you ever read a box of toothpicks?"

Sometimes it seems we should put the whole world in an asylum for it's own good?

Rules in West Aust vary from Suburb to Suburb or Local Government, Here in Narrogin rules apply only to swimming pools and spa's, but my system is well secure

Gnaw - not everyone - just the politicians.