Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Joel is your original systems still going if possable a few of us would like to see some photos [if you dont have time just send Faye around with the camera ]

Yep.... Still got two original systems going at the moment... Not very well cared for, but going, I'll go home now, hopefully there will still be enough light for a pic or two...

Well as I said, not very well maintained...

This system basically runs on water cress filtration. Every few months I hack back big chunks of the water cress and it regrows very quickly.

There's 5 big silvers in here that must be at least 2kg I would think, plus another 15-20 smaller silvers about 300g. Damn hard to get a photo of them though. You can see that the water is still reasonably clear.. The barrel system in the background has been switched off for a long time now.. too many systems to look after...

The water cress ball from another angle, to give you an idea of the size of it, the growbed burried in underneath is about 1.2m diameter.

4 bed system still ticking along.. I've only got about 20 silvers in there, this system has been getting a more minimalist approach, plants in here have resown themselves for the past 18 months or so, quite healthy plants, celery, parsley, tomatoes, strawberries,etc, all growing in amongst each other, and yes that is a tomato on the ground, and no, I didn't plant it there for the picture..

As I mentioned, not exactly pretty at the moment, but still going.... )

Thats good to see it it still looks good to me just goes to show systems will still run and produce with little work Thanks maybee will have a look in person soon

Legend among mortals
Sounds like fun F&F

Good to see the old "original" is still ticking over Joel....

Looking at the rest of the yard... I figure Steve must have borrowed your mower... and hasn't returned it yet...

Yes good one Joel.
jim.

Backyard Blitz to the rescue, when are you coming Food and Fish!
We will have a get-to-gether, would you please make the dessert pizza F and F?

It's funny reading this thread, looking at Joels old system, it was what sold me so to say about the whole AP idea. Feels like memory lane now, even though I am relatively new to the whole thing. One thing I have learnt is to have spare's of everything ball valves and joins aswell. (might have to have anouther go at the BYAP shop online....or I will be calling for help )

may not be pretty, but still robust enough to 'look after itself'
I like it and would not mind a copy of that system over here

Me too....I would love one like that

And here's me thinking, gee I'd much prefer a new system in there, with nice new beds and tanks, and clay instead of gravel, and I could fit more beds in. I won't do it though, leave it as is and see how long it lasts. When I get some more time I'll clean it up and plant some more into it, there are a few gaps here and there.

Turned out to be an interesting thread

So what do you do with the cress when you give the big ball a hair cut?