Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I toast to that! I love having grow beds 3 feet off the ground! No bending, very little weeding; I have to pull out an elm tree once in a while. Which I have not figured out how they get in there to begin with (leaves?). No tilling, no, watering.. Ahhh Its great!

I wish you success!

I'm a great fan of those GBs (have 6 in my system)...think you have done the right thing in using hydroton as the gravel I used caused the sides to bow a little, easily fixed tho

...and now the AP madness begins

Hi Everyone
Its about time for an update, and its great to report success!!
The 51 Silvers are doing well, they are now about double the original size, and seem to be loving their new lifestyle.
The plants are rocketing along. These vegies were planted 18th March and you can see the progress.
I planted some seeds in the vermiculite bed on the 6th April and most of these have now sprouted. Carrot, Beet and radish, so we will see how they go, might be a bit late for carrot, but I can erect a mini greenhouse over the bed if required.
The pictures tell the story
cheers
Rodney

Very nice good when it all comes together

Hi People
Its been a while since I added to this page, but what a successful enterprise it has turned out to be.
I have lost 2 SP's cause unknown,but the other 49 are still alive, although they seem to have gone into hibernation.
Curently experimenting with a solar water heating system made from a window, some timber, black poly pipe and black plastic sheeting, see pics.. Now of course, the sun has stopped shining, but I am sure it will return soon. Water temp is about 13 to 15 degrees C and i would like to get it to 17 if poss.
Meanwhile the plants continue to provide plenty of food, harvested some cauli and broccoli this morning, and the radishes are ready to pull. No food miles here!!
The number of cabbage moth larvae is diminishing, I only find about 3 per day now so the SP's are having to do without their regular meat.
I intend to start an additional bed soon for some Asian greens in a Vermiculite base, got hold of an extra bench last week, and am just strengthening it and painting it so it fits in with the overall asthetics.
I am in north east Vic and any AP'er is welcome to call in for a look and to exchange some ideas. All tips most welcome
cheers
Rodney

Nice Notable...I have been planning along the same lines with a visit to the local demo yard for an old glass door/window...then making a box out of sheet aluminium in the same mould as yours

Purchased a couple of lengths of S/S 12mm tube to run the water through last October, so this has been on the drawing boards for the odd day or so

Good to see you have done it (might motivate me now ) - keep us updated on the heaters progress

Chaulk up another AP success story.... good to see Notable

Will be interested to see how well your heater works, wouldnt mind some temp readings once it's sunny

I have lots of poly, and spare pumps

Rodney there is a clearing sale at Merton Sunday 5th July that will be of interest to you. See page 33 the Country News of Monday June 23.
Alex

Thanks Alex
I presume you are indicating the gas spa heater and the garage heater, not the John Deere 1020 tractor and associated farm equipment.I am trying to reduce my energy usage, so I think gas heating is not for me. I try not to go to weekend clearing sales, they end up full retail prices, the best are mid week on bleak cold days, but FishFood may be interested, it's just like the Sunbury tip but a bit more crowded (and expensive).
I spoke to the guy at Buxton Trout farm yesterday, 5 inch fingerlings @$1.20 each, so I may get 20 to keep the system going over the colder months, he will sell any quantity, just rock up and he catches them on the spot, Probably go down tomorrow.
cheers
Rodney

Rodney if you are thinking of trout at this time of year you would want 6 to 8 in ones otherwise they wont have time to grow before the water gets to hot [23 deg]

OK I've been a bit slack on the page, but here's an update
Lost most of the silvers due to water temp which dropped to under 10 during the winter. 25 trout are doing well. did lose 2 when they jumped out and got eaten by the cat. Now the first thing the cat does every morning when we let her out, is walk round the fish tank.
Water temp these warm days starts at 12 overnight and gets to 18
Vegetables, well thats a real success story. Fantastic winter crop, caulies, sprouts, broccoli, Asian greens etc. Had to pull the broccoli beacuse it kept shooting and we just got sick of eating it. Spinach and celery going really well, we just pick some when we need it. Pulled the carrots out of the vermiculite bed today, see pic, and currently growing tomatoes, more asian greens, onions, lettuce, basil, capsicum. silver beet, peas, eggplant and cucumbers. I will plant cucumber seeds in the verm bed this week.
A successful operation, looking forward to eating and smoking some trout in the next few weeks
cheers
Rodney

So good to see everyone eating the stuff out of their own backyards....

Pretty rewarding stuff eh!

yep, vermiculite bed is quite high on my agenda