Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have been following BYAP for a couple of years and have only just started turning earth this month (July 2009) for the ponds. Lots of questions now that I have actually started (will start in FAQ).

I run a business hiring and servicing aquariums in and around Melbourne so I have a fair knowledge the aquatic theorys and practicalities - but my only experience with vegies is eating the stuff. I hope our system will take over from our existing weed infested clay based vegie garden which my wife struggles with now (about 60 sqm of it).

Welcome

welcome to the madness.....

looking forward to seeing your progress....

jT

60 sqm is ambitious for an AP project! I can't wait to see your designs. I don't think many ppl are that big, maybe RupertOfOz...
60 sqm means 20,000litres minimum Fish tank size. Wow.
Are you planning greenhouses too?

As 60sqm is the clay veggie patch, you will get a much better yield with AP, and therefore probably not need it so big. Oh well, it's fun dreaming

Good luck with it all.

Settle Kuda ,, easy mate:)

Relacing a 60 m garden ..... and as we all know AP gardens are far more efficient ,, so 20 m will do the same,.....,, UNTIL the addiction sets in.

Hi if you would like to see a three year old system running fairly well send me a pm and arrange a time

I'm sure you will enjoy the AP.

If you still want a little dirt garden on the side, I've heard some tricks to making it a little more manageable. Granted, I deal with sand instead of clay but I expect the lay out the cardboard and pile on the compost method would be even more helpful over the clay. (I do it like lazy lasagna gardening. Lay out cardboard, hold down with thin layer of wood chips or whatever free mulch is to hand. Bring in a load of mushroom compost and make mounds for garden beds. Use more wood chips or leaves for the pathways between the mounds. Lay out drip irrigation and plant. Only the tall plants don't seem to like this method so much cause they can't get past the cardboard in the first season, everything else seems to do great.) I've heard that this method can really help for softening up the clay under the beds over a few seasons. I know it helps improve my sand soil. Every few seasons the running grasses tend to get into things and need a good weeding out or a re-do of the cardboard treatment.

Looking forward to your progress

Food&fish ,, your neighbour has a system?

Do yea maybe they have already have been here [ gees i am getting forgetful]
oh well if they haven't they are welcome
On a different note i am shore i told someone i would call some day

Note to self 'get appointment and visitor book '
further note remember where you put it
Now where did i put that beer

Milne, He was picking on ya cos you said: "running fairly well "
Just tell him to shut up until his system's better

Yes it's true the LOTC POTC does beautiful things to clay soil! If you keep the cardboard moist (I seldom do this enough) and have earthworms under there, clay becomes very fertile soil and the weed seeds can't get anywhere. If not kept moist, it just takes longer.

Take advantage of clay by digging wet soggy spots deeper and establishing rain gardens of native plants. Use the diggings to raise the veg beds...

The AP garden takes much less ongoing hard/heavy work like digging.

well unless you are like me and just can't seem to stop building it bigger I don't seem to be happy unless I can tinker with something. But luckily my tinkering doesn't seem to have messed up the system in any major way so far.

Indeed, yet it takes a lot of digging first up, depending on how you design the system.
I too just can't seem to stop building it bigger