Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Orgainic veggies as far as i have seen are pretty pricy, so i can't see it being a strech to grow them for yourself cheaper. Keep in mind that joel has had sucess with stuff like capsicums and tommies aswell.

GLR, i reckon you could hook up with a reasonable system for under $100 easy. 2x blue barrels -$40 1x submercible aquarium pump - circa $40 0 for some pvc and gravel. Fish- you can hook in with another local BAP freak for fish, they usually come in at $1 ea + delivery

Grace, you are looking for a location that does the following as best possible

1) Good water drainage (won't puddle up or create a mudpit if flooded)
2) Good insulation for the winter (if temps dip below 15.5 C)
3) Good access to natural sunlight

If you have space build a real cheap pvc hoop style greenhouse.

Thanks steve and MF for your advice....

M_f thanks for the tips. I'll 'observe' my backyard re: sunlight etc. I think the drainage thing could be solved reasonably easily as i'm on a slight slope.

Steve, at a reasonably cheap set up price like that steve at least it's worth a go, and i haven't lost much if I don't enoy it.. and also... it's probably good training for if I get addicted and want a bigger one

What type of thing could I grow in a simple 2 blue barrel system? (i'm sorry if this is an already answered question somewhere.. i'm trying to catch up... so many posts!) I guess it would have to be something light feeding? like lettuce or herbs rather than tomatos -yum- or something? can you put fish into blue barrels? are they too shallow? what breed etc?

Any other Brisbanites use insulation in the winter? I guess we'd still have to do something because it does occasionally get cold? especially at night.

GLR, check out the download area for the Barrel-ponics manual by Travis H. That will give you an idea on the blue barrels.

Ta Gotfish!

Cooked fish????????

More newbie questions...

In summer, how am I going to prevent my fishtanks from getting really hot? Or is that ok? I'm in Brisbane Bayside area...

It was already like 29 degrees last weekend and my brain (now AP focussed) started wondering at what temperature fish just totally can't cope.. mid summer in blue barrels they're gonna be sooo hot!!!!!!!!

Any feedback/ideas?

30 is probably your upper limit, as a general rule, but it will depend of fish.

DO capacity of the water becomes a problme at higher temps.

BUT (now you will understand why i say go as big as you can in your fish tank) Water has a huge specific heat, meaning that it takes a fair bit of energy to either heat it or cool it. You'd be surprised how stable 1000L of water can be.

Steve

Cheers steve

DO = dissolved oxygen right?


Yeah, I know that larger is better, it does make sense re:specific heat - but the DO thing is interesting... I wonder why temp and DO are related?

I just don't know how big I can go.. I have a fair bit of space but I don't want to make a rod for my own back in terms of going to big first up.

"but the DO thing is interesting... I wonder why temp and DO are related?"

As the temp rises the water molecules expand which means less oxygen fits in... not well explained, but I hope you understand

Oh that makes sense... I forgot about the expansion/contraction factor of water molecules...

wait a sec... frozen water expands... is that the molecules expanding too or something else?

I would have thought it was because as the water heats there would be more molecular activity and as such more kinda convection... meaning more oxygen released... is that right? or am I totally off?

I understand the principle though... hotter water = less DO

chemistry was a very long time ago, but yes the principle is good

LOL Thanks Jaymie... Chemistry, evil Chemistry, was the reason that I quit doing Science at uni.... biology is so nice... and chem so mean... It was an abusive relationship.. so I left..

LOL I actually did quite well at chemistry at uni... oops, but I've had two kids, and my brain was removed during the operations... sorry who are you?

LOL!!!!!

Can't remember the specifics of why....bad steve!

Water is a very curious chemical........not given enough credit

Most things contract (get more dense) as they get colder there is a curious thing with water in that its minimum density (or was it viscosity) occurs at 4C