Just to say Hi .... and ...........

AbbysMum

Hi

Name is Susan and I live in Victoria in Narre Warren. The aquaponics bug struck me a few years ago, however, my personal life took me in another direction at that time, but like Anrie says, " I be backkkkkk" .. and well here I am

Have been reading a lot of the material and decided to join up and ask more questions and give more headaches I am sure. :lol:

Can or do I ask questions here or find appropriate areas to ask them. My gut feel says here is as good a place as any to start with.
Right now I have only 3 burning questions which I would like answered BUT I am sure there will be more

1) Is it best to buy a system in or create one from scratch :?:

2) If I buy a system is it better to start small ie a Balcony System and build from there ? :?:

3) I see most people either use clay as GB medium or scoria or river peddles. However, commercial systems use a float raft. Would a float raft be better for a home situation :?:

if not why not :?:

KudaPucat

1) depends on your effort:cash ratio, there is no better way.
2) it's good to start small, but always keep in mind where you may expand, having to redisgn everything in order to expand sucks, believe me, and changing plans halfway through cos you have changed you mind is equally evil.
3) Media serves as a biofilter, giving bacteria somewhere to live. Scoria provides trace elements for plants. Not all plant like floating raft, as they can get 'wet feet' also oxygenation comes for free with flood and drain media so root-rot is much less likely.

it is my opinion that flood and drain with bell siphons and continuous running pump is best, but that is just my opinion.

jessy

Hi Abby's mum and welcome

1 . to buy or to scab, depends on personal preferance.....I chose to buy an BYAP system because I could NOT beat the price and believe me I tryed..They are reasonable and a turn key system, so value for money, and no headache's getting the damn thing to work.....plus then you also have the team, for support

2. I choose the largest system, andI still think it is too small........would love a masive AP garden decked out it in, so as most of us think, a system can never be too large

3. THE floating raft......never tryed it, and I don't think I eve will, depends on climate, for me......growing medium is the easiest for myself......

Have fun......and go for it, but back to the turn key systems, and a self made system, it is totally a personal choice.....really....for many factors :cheers:

bundaberg kid

I might have a couple of spare bath tubs

Jaymie

Hi Susan,
Welcome

1. Do you want a system that looks great and works well, or one that works well and you have put effort into each part of (more personalised)

2. How big is your yard? Do you want to have a big system, do you have the space?

3. Some folks are trying a combination of the types. More of the fun of AP :mrgreen:

Food&Fish

KudaPucat wrote:

1) depends on your effort:cash ratio, there is no better way.
2) it's good to start small, but always keep in mind where you may expand, having to redisgn everything in order to expand sucks, believe me, and changing plans halfway through cos you have changed you mind is equally evil.
3) Media serves as a biofilter, giving bacteria somewhere to live. Scoria provides trace elements for plants. Not all plant like floating raft, as they can get 'wet feet' also oxygenation comes for free with flood and drain media so root-rot is much less likely.

it is my opinion that flood and drain with bell siphons and continuous running pump is best, but that is just my opinion.

Hi and welcome
Well said kuda
my 2 cents worth look ask a lot and plan and when you think its right look again

AbbysMum

Hi Kuda, Jessy, Jamyie, F&F annnd Howdy Neighbour to Bundaberg Kid :lol:

Thanks for the replies your a special group of people in this forum

and the responces make me feel welcome and a tad overwhelmed also

Where do I start ?
Kuda, were you waiting on line for my post ?? hehe.

Back to business... starting small is an option, for 3 reasons:-
1) A balcony set up which receives shade could be useful for growing veggies/ fruit which prefer a more shaded position in the future. So it may not be a waste, but eventually we would like to have a BIG back yard set up. I think we have the space. Personally I have always been into sustainability and barter and see this as future directions.
2) My wonderful husband is more hands on than read/ look and understand a set of diagrams from a magazine or DVD .. yep have purchased both from Joel. He feels, HWMBO (he who must be obeyed), following a set of plans is achievable but doing it from scratch seems daunting to him and to me also at this point in stage. I can soooo see more than one altercation looming in this. :pain10:

3) Sourcing the equipment seems daunting also and choice of equipment, I fear we would drive you all totally nuts with the selection of it all.

Maybe a suggestion is a working Bee... where :newb:

like us, could help build someone else’s system and learn ... Those who install systems ... could capitalise on offered hands and those who take part would benefit from the experience.. win win situation I think

The point is well noted on “wet feet” for plants, however, in the commercial systems and in hydroponics they seem to thrive. How is this achieved? Where is the biofilters in these systems?

Hi Jessy
One can assume, although assumption is a risky business, that you purchased your system directly from Joel. I have looked at these and think they look great and good value for money also. Has anyone got feed back as to what is missing from the “Turn Key systems”? Improvements etc? What size is your system?

Bundaburg Kid
Bath tubs .. thanks for the offer ... brain is still in thinking mode here, but will keep it in mind

Hi Jamie,
Looks are only superficial in all walks of life, IMHO. I honestly want to be able to fully understand the system and have it working properly. I read so much on here of the trials and tribulations others have .. and know I do not want that.

jessy

AbbysMum wrote:

Hi Jessy
One can assume, although assumption is a risky business, that you purchased your system directly from Joel. I have looked at these and think they look great and good value for money also. Has anyone got feed back as to what is missing from the “Turn Key systems”? Improvements etc? What size is your system?

.

The only thing missing from my system where the worms, but I think Faye and Joel have sorted that part out now aswell, from my understanding from the worm supplier.

I have a 3 kL , 6 tables........one younge fellow on here has 9 tables.....6 tables is OK, but 9 would be so much better.....my idea of AP is to get it cranking to a situation for 90% vegitable production for the home.

I am just in the process of having a steady supply of seedlings to be able to bring in a small income, and to have adolesent plants on the ready for the system to be planted out

Sorry the pics are upside down :oops:

.

Attachment:

File comment: to this one and a half months later....maybe well over 150 Kg's of tomatoes, and heaps of produce

monster tomato plants (Small).jpg [ 105.25 KiB | Viewed 3818 times ]

Jaymie

contact Live Beyond, he is the Melbourne agent for BYAP

tamo42

In the NFT setups, the filtration is a separate step before the plants receive water. Of course, there are pros and cons.

NFT pros:
less media is used, and it's concentrated in one place - so it's lighter/less hassle to set up
more modular / easier to expand

F&D pros:
very large filtration capacity
grow beds provide mechanical support for plants
easier plumbing
don't need extra aeration

i'm not really sure which is more space efficient.

Overall, F&D seems to be easier for most starting out.

novaris

tamo42 got in before me

but still

AbbysMum wrote:

The point is well noted on “wet feet” for plants, however, in the commercial systems and in hydroponics they seem to thrive. How is this achieved? Where is the biofilters in these systems?

They usually add air via air stones regularly placed in the channel. With AP they use filters i.e rolled up bird netting to provide mechanical and bio filtering.

If you can afford it the turnkey setup is safer and makes life easier.

AbbysMum

Jessy,
I am Soooooooooo envious but all things need to be started and from small beginnings big things develope. What area does your system occupy ?

AbbysMum

Thanks tamo42 and Novaris for your responces also.. now I have a better understanding

creative1

Abbysmum - I also have a BYAP system from Joel...
Nothing missing in that lot :wink:

System is a 4 bed , 3000ltr FT and 1000ltr sump :cheers:

tamo42

AbbysMum, we are all happy to help. We remember what it was like when we started

.

I had so many questions when I began, that DD said :

Quote:

Hey Tamo just re-read your whole thread, it's a good concise chronicle of several issues that come up when a system is being put together.

in my 2nd system thread. So keep reading, search/ask the forum when you have a question about anything.

Backyard Aquaponics A place to discuss aquaponics

Just to say Hi .... and ...........

Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics