Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

isn't that basix plastix setup something like yabbies (mr damage)was inventing on another forum????

carna pies!!!

Another to add to the band wagon and possible easier to fish and clean (still not easy but easier) is Bundy tanks

http://www.bundytanks.com.au/
under the Tank Sizes and Styles Picture at the bottom
Aqauponics tank only @$1100
fully setup @$2250
( I think this includes delivery to certain locations as when I saw them at farm fest they said the one they had there was $950 if I took it from there but if I wanted one after it would be $150 postage)

The grow bed ontop is to small to do much production but good as say a fingerling tank or even use it with one good sized growbed for a cosmetically pleasing system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKZoTU0_s1Y

(btw its about the same size as their larger planter tank which is 1670lt)

And for the same price than either of those systems, you can get a BYAP "Courtyard system... with greater tank volme, grow bed area, and other components...

And both stock/plant and harvest both fish and plants much easier.... and more of them...

Not entirely correct Rupert, the Bundy tanks one has a greater fishtank capacity @ 1670 ltr with the courtyard system only being 1000 ltr

The Basix one is also noticeably cheaper but is smaller so not really apples with apples.

There are also different things that people must take into consideration when designing an aquaponics system, both the Bundy tanks and the Basix one are more kid safe for small children. Also designed to be more compact and atheistically pleasing. If you were building in a green house a square tank would make better use of the available space.

If you were looking at a compact high production green house setup you could use something like

Bundy tank - $1100
BYAP growbeds x 2 - $730
BYAP Growbed Fittings kit x 2 - $190
besser blocks and wood for growbed stands ~ $100
water pump ~ $200
misc pipe work ~ $100
Scornia / drainage gravel ~ $50
Air pump and stones ~ $100

Total - $2570

This would be direct competition for the entertainer system, would have an extra 670 ltr in fish tank size, slightly larger growbed space, would fit easier into a green house with less wasted space, would be more child friendly. Admittedly the entertainer system has 1000L of expanded clay (approx $800) which could be ditched to bring it to the same cost, then there are stands ect that could be swapped out for besser brick stands to further reduce the cost.

More royalties cheques... KA-CHING, KA-CHING!!!... still waiting on the royalties cheque from Zman... but when all these cheques start rolling in I'm gonna be flush!

Yep, OK Masterspon... in comparison to the Bundy system.. the courtyard system does have a smaller tank... and yep by changing/deleting the media and or grow beds... costs can be made comparable etc...

And, my bad... I was comparing the 1000L planter tank... whereas you listed the larger 1670L version...

Does the "Bundy" planter tank system(s)... come with media supplied... and if so what is it??

If you want a direct "apples" to "apples" comparison... then compare either product to the BYAP "Balcony" system....

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/shop. ... egory_id=8

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/compo ... ystem.html

As to child proofing the BYAP systems, or any other systems for that matter... it's easily done... and should be done....

according to their youtube clip the Bundy tank setup comes with expanded clay

apples and apples comparison using the BYAP Balcony System is with the Basix 250 ltr system, BYAP one has a better design because you have a larger grow bed area but the fish tank capacity would be about the same after some quick maths. Would be whatever suits your tastes from those systems.

Don't take this as I'm trying to put down the BYAP system, just your comment read to me as "you should of just bought a BYAP Courtyard system instead of wasting your time with that junk" and I personally believe that the more products available to the community the better, we are not all the same, don't have the same budget, space or requirements from the systems. The single most frustrating thing with my build as it is out of the ordinary is the limited availability of useful components, these tank companies have the ability to build the products that we want, I have even spoken to a few and they are willing to produce aquaponics specific products if we can show them that they will sell.

There are already two dedicated suppliers of extraordinarily good proven aquaponic kit systems in Australia... both backed by real aquaponics experience... and understanding of aquaponic principles...

Most of the "tank companies"... while no doubt perfectly good rotomoulders... have zero aquaponics experience... and the same amount of understanding of aquaponic principles...

I've no doubt that many more will design "aquaponic system" components... as they're aware that a potential market exists..... and many have already done so... regardless of whether or not they have determined a real market....

Their interest is primarily, and solely... a "sale"... not the advancement of "aquaponics".... they're basically "box movers"... and their complete lack of experience is/will be reflected in either their designs... orand/or their lack of ability to support their products...

The "Bundy" planter has been around for a while... the "Basix" model is relatively new... and there are several others.... sure, they'll work... but they're limited....

As to having spoken to various manufacturers about designing products, which I suspected might have been the case... please be mindful that this forum, and the other Australian forum, are both hosted by the suppliers of the respective aquaponic systems and components... and curtesy would suggest that "advertising"... or "referencing" competitve products should be kept to a minimum...

Yeah, that's an awful lot of pushing of Bundy stuff, for your first few posts ever on this forum Mr Spoon... Might want to start a new thread if you want to compare systems and components rather than thrash Rosey's thread..

Point taken

sorry Rosey for the thread hijack

How is the system going anyways ? got fish in it and cycled ?

master spoon you said nothing wrong ,you were just comparing products in a civilised way. And you made excellent points, especially about safety for small children. Looking at the basix plastics tanks IMO they are very neat and tidy(thats why i bought one).

Seems to me that poor old RupertofOZ gets a bit excited when someone metions another product that he doesnt sell. Rupert I used to be a sales rep, and my step father has been a rep for over 25 yrs, he always told me that the best reps never put other products down.

Also I have met Glen from Basix Plastix and he would have to be one of the most fair dinkum blokes I've ever met, he couldnt be anymore helpful. He also rings up every couple of weeks to see how my tank is going.

Yes there are places out there to get on the band wagon and make a quick buck, but the more producers out there usually the better the prices become, so healthy competion is a good thing, I feel.

So at the end of the day this forum is here to help people get interested in AP and also to learn and bounce ideas off each other, not to BAG PRODUCTS.....

Seems that poor Rosey isn't going to have her thread left, so I started this new thread.

The purpose of this forum is to offer points of view, and all view points can be valuable, to a point... When some ones first 4 posts on a forum are talking up 1 particular product, then it's fair enough to question motivations... So far as some of those product talked about here, I question some of the design aspects of them, they have some design aspects which are seriously lacking and will make for problems in the long term and possibly short term as well.

And before you say anything, yes, our products are out there and up here for peoples scrutiny.. We used to sell and recommend Ebara pumps, now, we will never sell or recommend one of them ever again, and we replaced dozens of them at our cost because they became such a poor product. So openly bagging them on here might save many people having problems with themin the future.

So it can be a place to bag products, if products deserve bagging then people shouldn't just be quiet about it, things should be examined and critiqued otherwise things don't change and move forward.

Oooooo this is juicy stuff, I love it.

Sorry just thought Id stir the pot a little more...

What you say is exactly true, products that are crap need to be brought to peoples attention,so we dont all get ripped off .But rupertofoz seems quit to criticise a product that he has not tested ,seen in the flesh or talked to the manufactors about.Mate Im sure you guyz sell awesome gear but I have two young boyz under the age of 5 and I cant leave them alone with the bucket of water that i have for the dog let alone be confident to leave them in the backyard with a 1000L FT ,(what if my 3 yr old fell in) ,so this product was right for us ,as was the price and it also looks great.It may look limited to the trained eye ,but I think it will do for us ,for now

Well as long as we are comparing, this is a BYAP 1000L tank with a galvanised mesh to stop children from falling in. The half circle tank cover is actually pretty heavy to lift. And based on the angle of lift and the weight, I believe it would be pretty difficult for a 3yr old to be able to lift this tank cover and slip in at the same time. And if really necessary, you can secure it down.

Actually IMO, the Bundy tank system is actually more dangerous. I would make sure you padlock that piece of galvanised mesh they are promoting as it would easy be lifted by a 3yr old. Once they get in, they have two confined space area they can crawl into. And I can assure you that once in there, they could be shouting and you would probably not hear their shouts. And climbing up to the tank itself, believe me they are pretty resourceful...

I think the competitors system stated here would be pretty impractical to actually harvest fish. And the beauty of most BYAP systems is that you can keep the tank separate from the growbeds, hence maximum access to both fish and veges. IMO BYAP system are designed for people who are really serious about food production and keen to expand.