Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Sabaidee (hello in laotian),

I very new to aquaponics! never done any gardening also and i have not started any system yet!

I am considering trying my luck at a simple DIY barrels system first. Any advice? Should i try something else?

My aim is to provide my wife s restaurant most the ingredients she might needs and if successful others.

I am planning a IBCs system on 2000 sqm land without greenhouse, precipitations could be huge during the monsson season in lao and temperature might be low during the cool season (see details in attached file) is it an issue?

Looking forward going through the forum for knowledge and advice from time to time. Might even post about my laotian aquaponics adventures!

All the best!

Somvang

Sabaidee Somvang, welcome to the forums

those temperatures dont look all that different to here in Sydney, Asutralia..

I have three systems
First is a Koi Pond with the water being pumped through tubes with cactus growing it them.
The Second system is IBC based, with two FT's (Fish Tanks), two ST's (Sump Tanks - in series) and three GB's (Grow Beds with clay balls..
The third system is a split system, where the fish grow in an AquaCulture system and the solids are removed to a digester, and the remains used in a hydroponics system..
I would strongly recommend this concept, as it would mean that you can keep it running, irrespective of the fish, and everything remains stable because you don't have to rely on sufficient plants to process the nutrients, or having sufficient fish to provide the plant nutrients..


again, doing a barrel setup and dutch-buckets and the like, can get it all working very quickly, and the nutrients can come from other sources - eg Buff-Poo

You have a good area to get started on, but I would be looking at providing some Monsoon Protection, just so you don't loose all your nutrients from the gardens..

Sôhk Dee Deuh

Hello Buidoi,

Thanks you very much for your reply! You are quite right about the monsoon I should consider some protection.
The greenhouse is probably the safest but will require a significant investment! Any other alternative I should consider?

An hybrid system seems to be the way for my needs, flexible enough to produce a wide range of greens. But so far I found the UVI system quite interesting but should require a lot of water and I have not understood yet all the technicalities of it!
I can find here Second hand IBCs for around 100 usd each, clay balls are difficult to find at a decent price, river gravel is available for around 100 usd for 9 m 3, nutriments for fish are easily available but in several qualities. Nutriments for Greens have to be sourced from Thailand.

Concerning the barrel system I am just thinking about it for training purpose (mine) and probably later as a demonstration system for customers.

Lately we have been experiencing heat wave over 40 degree Celsius for several weeks! (same in Thailand) Water can be found in the ground around 25 to 30 meters deep but i am very unsure about it usefulness! I am located inside the city and the ground water is probably polluted! My best option so far is the city water! It is affordable on the contrary of electricity which is very costly!

Krop chai lai lai der!

A lot of crops in Costa Rica are protected during the rainy season by a little plastic microtunnel over the top -- much less than a greenhouse. Perhaps something simple like this would serve your purpose?



--
Sam