Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

A little background about my slow beginnings in aquaponics...Where have you been all my life??

My first exposure to aquaponics began when I began reading every book and research publication by Jack Todd and the New Alchemy folks back in the 1970's. I was already an organic gardener at that time, and it seemed like their research might be the answer to my quest for balance and harmony without wasting natural resources. Then the oil embargo came and out of necessity we pulled out the oil furnace and switched to wood heat and a wood burning cookstove; we got a milk cow, a couple of chickens, and 2 baby pigs; and I started to make bread. No time left to pursue knowledge.

I guess the Fates did not think the time was right for total independence at that time. Grants for the New Alchemy Institute started to disappear and although the seeds were planted by this organization...the "How-To Instructions" were missing for the remainder of the 20th century.

Never stopped the research though and found that Bill Mollison's Permaculture had introduced raising fish with the gardening design and this made so much sense! Why go buy fish emulsion and seaweed extract when one could raise the fish and feed them with garden leftovers!

Thank you for creating this website! My children are all grown now and I have recently retired. Now maybe it's time to put my remaining years back into making my dream a reality...with a little help from you all of course!

P.S. My goal is to build a recirculating system with minimum-to-no dependence on imported fishmeal.

Glad to have you living the dream along with us. Do you have any system plans as yet?

Since I have no real experience yet, I am going to start with a very low-cost DIY hydroponic unit using outdoor gutters mounted on an outdoor wall. The author of "Hydroponics - Soilless Gardening Explained", Les Bridgewood had a variety of illustrations to offer along with advice from his own experiences. Once I get the vegetables started, then maybe I will feel confident enough to invest in a greenhouse next fall and add some fish.

Being on a limited income makes it difficult to jump right into aquaponics without weighing the costs of each step. When I get a chance I will forward the hand-drawn schematic to post here.

All-in-all, the only problem I can foresee is how to get enough protein to any carnivorous fish which would overwinter...like trout...without adding outsourced fish meal. Am considering tilapia for the spring and summer here and from what I've read they are vegetarian and more tolerant of higher summer temps.

Welcome to the site.

You always can make your own fish food. Every now and then when I have enough time, I do make it myself, and fish eat it real good. In your case, that you are fully retired, you have all the time needed to make the fish food.

Check here for the fish food I make.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12077

When you get to it, post few pictures too. Here everyone likes pictures.

welcome to the forum

good to have another North Carolinian in the house...

looking forward to your system

jT

Am so grateful for your reply, Zubin, and the link to the homemade fish food. Very neighborly of you! Will post pictures once I put my plan into action...will be seeking more advice along the way, too.

Have to tell you DecalsbyJT that when I googled NC Aquaculture it listed your link here at Backyard Aquaponics and this is how I found the site. Thanks for the welcome!

glad you found us.....

if your down wilmington, nc way, stop in

jT