Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Is it possible to build a moderate sized aquaponics system indoors that will be cost effective to run?

From crunching numbers and doing research it seems that the cost to produce fish would be in the $2 to $3 range per lb...this isnt economically feasible, so I was curious if there was a way to make it more economically reasonable.

Would you share your numbers? I'm about as far north as you, and am also thinking about running an indoor system.

They're $2 - $3 if you're getting your veggies for free.
Look into fish that eat greens, and you can grow food for them.
Numbers would be helpful.
Bigger is always more cost-efficient. Fingerlings cost less, food is less per lb.
But inside there's a limit to the size. There's some affordable lighting being discussed in the 'lights' thread.
Also, if you grow dope, the fish will pay for themselves :-) j/k :-)

Geez I thought 2-3$lb was cheap for fish you knew where they came from,
and veggies you get for free and are also clean!

I can't duplicate those numbers... Can you share with us how you got them? Are you counting anything for the veggies?

i agree, AP is about the veggies and the fish, as you'll get more veggies than fish any way. Checked the price of good quality veg lately?

Even better...checked the price of good quality fresh basil lately?

What are you terming moderate.
As cost effective goes, its all a matter of your perspective.
What's it worth to know where your food comes from etc.
I have yet to see anyone leave any part of an AP salad uneaten and thats not because I stand over them with a stick.
Last time I took some leaves to work one gent was even grabbing the last few leaves out of the bowl and dipping them in dressing left on the side. I think he liked it!
Cost effective? I grew a single Cantelope last summer, I could of paid $1.00 for 2 at the local market, so for just the coin aspect I spose not in that case.
From the knowledge, now that they will grow in AP...priceless.

Also a question of what you mean by "indoors"?

In a fully enclosed (learn something every day Oxford dic IN/ENclosed samething) building artificially heated and lighted it may be really hard to make it economical.

Its really a question that is impossible to answer as you have asked because there are so many variables. Also it is impossible to quantify your resourcefulness and ingenuity and what resources you have available.

aside-IN/ENdorsed as well Stuart

John- the cost of your cantelope @$1 for 2 plus fuel and shopping time, wear n tear and freshness. Also added to the unseen cost of food is the freight, storage, labour, taxes and admin, subsidies etc...
...as we know cheap is not always best!

Also depends if you are growing meat or (more valuable) live fish. Some of these buggers are amazingly valuable...far, far more than $4/lb.

Some of the fish in the aquarium trade are outrageously expensive. I wonder if you could spawn and raise discus or redtail catfish, for example.

If you could find something to tie with the set up then that helps to make it economical.

For example checkout the composting water heater thread.

If you had a waste product that you where A paid to except and process and B which could be used for at least one stage of the AP process then that would give you a good start.

which is where commercial AP comes into play................

hydro growers get free fert + a fish cash crop

Fish growers get free water filtration and drastically reduce water consumption + a free veg cash crop.

i forgot about a home grown pumpkin that i'd sliced up 1 week ago..............looked unter the foil (it was in the fridge) looked the same as when i cut it up. i wonder if a store bought one would have lasted the same time?

reets is cooking it up now

Gah! You guys talk too much!
*goes to read those threads*