Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Somewhere I have, here perhaps? Think I read they were going to do a startup in Vegas?

Wow. I want to call my small business Urban Aquaponics, glad it's the website not the company... doh!

Interesting they mentioned prisons. I tthought aquaponics would be ideal with all that free labour, something good for the prisoners to do and learn, and of course, a massive eventual saving in feeding prisoners (grind em up for fish food )

Yes, prisons as with any "village" type setting where labor is shared or free would be ideal. That is where I think the strangth of AP lies, not in commercial production per se. If Skyfarm LLC intends on doing this in Vegas they got another thing coming. There are TWELVE, count 'em, Tilapia production farms within four hours of Vegas that produce 75% of the harvested Tilapia in the United States. Talk about market competition.


There are a more "consultants" and "engineers" than there are farms. With few exceptions, I have not yet seen a large production facility.

AP that is

How large is large? Aquaranch?

John I would say Aquaranch is probably one of the largest commercial operations, yes, and one of the few exceptions I know of. I think the cost of that setup is prohibitive for most, and I would venture to guess they are still in the red. There was a local guy here in California, Kirby Peak Ranch, who went belly up in the middle of the whole thing. Rebecca Nelson helped get him set up, but she hasn't heard neither hide nor tail of the system. Interestingly, she consulted the project yet she doesn't know the status? I think i would be vested in the success of a project I consulted on, and therefore keep informed or at least be able to say, yea I consulted but the owner ran dry. Is there a lack of real world application of AP?

you are interested in the commercial aspect of this as I am, but where is the application really? Anyone care to discuss?

Well I do notice all the commercial sites that I am aware of also offer AP training, AP Kits large or small, and consultation. Is this because they want to spread the AP bug? Is this making a market where little exists?
Do they have to do this side business to make a profit?
Seriously growing tomatoes and lettuce and marketing to the local area is not going to make one rich. IMHO. There are so many paths available, market fish to eat, market fish for aquariums. Set up small systems for people. Offer tours of your system to schools etc, An AP bed and breakfast. You could grow starter plants for the dirt garden industry, flowers. Its seems endless but I'm sure it is not. If space is available and you have an outdoor big fish pond, folks could fish that for a fee. One of the things I like about AP it offers so many choices. On the most important part, enviormental resources its just the thing to do. KISS feed your fish and eat your veggies.

Looks like it is an Australian project here in our capital city Canberra. Other than that I have not heard of it.

and get council approval (sorry - not trying to sound negative)

There is that as well, must have permission. Ohh and you could raise bait fish for the sports fishing industry.

I'm interested in the commercial aspects of AP Michael. What I'm looking at first is a smaller owner/operator sized system that can support a family. Nothing to get rich off, but something providing lifestyle (short hours) as once AP is set up well it can virtually run itself. This to be a scaleable model for larger production. I think small scale models are ideal for inner city where markets are readily available for good produce.

I'll start a new topic. Cottage Industry.

My bad MF its another group that is doing something in Vegas, Tailor made fish farms. do a google (vegas aquaponics)

guys, start up your threads under "commercial systems" discussion, there's probably heaps to talk about