Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well this is my first post here. I have read a whole lot and my good friend Matt and I are about to start up a system here in the orphanage. To bad Matt is home in OZ right now.

The system is really going to be a mix and match of different ideas. Using flood and drain and some DWC. The great part about being an orpahange you get some great deals like free grow beds and discount prices on all the hardware.

So I will be using what i can scrounge up around here to make do at first and as it goes on move into some more profesional looking hardware.

For now we are starting off with a 1100L fish tank and about 1500L of growbeds. It will start as a flood and drain system and then have other parts added as we experiment.

Well off I go to to dig through trash heaps and find those gems that are left behind!!!!

FANTASTIC!
sounds like my kind of system - I tend to use as much 'recycled' stuff as I can - half out of choice, half out of budget constraints
If you have a digital camera it will be great to see images as your system progresses.
So what are you intending to stock it with - tilapia?

Welcome and keep comming back!

Jonathan, welcome and have fun!
It's great trying to scrounge up what you can from friends and local businesses.
If you need to convince some, try lines like "its good for your soul to share with the kids", "It's a tax write off" (not sure on that one, is it in Indo?), "I'm helping you clean up your yard for the storm season" and"because the fish need it".
Good luck and don't forget to ask for advice from all the really smart people here! (note: I don't have any practical experience with a system yet, so I don't include myself in the experts!)

For the orphanage. Awesome. Count me in any advice you need i'll take the time and give you nitty gritty detail.

We have a lot of Aqua bright sparks here, you'll have to excuse Jaymie, she farms rocks.

but they're really good rocks, very high nutritional value

Hey mate, sounds like an awesome idea. My mum helps to raise money and collects clothing etc for an orphanage in Bali, in Ubud I think, she has been to Bali something like 23 times and was there with the family when the first bombs went off (I was due to arrive the next day). It's great that you are also giving something of yourself to these kids, and you will get plenty of friendly advice and feedback here.

Good on yaa JT Sounds really good. The community feeding side of aquaponics has a lot of potential, and it's great to see you guys getting into it! Keep us all posted on your progress

AM: We are looking at puting in Gurami as they are real easy to get here though talapia maybe be introduced later on.

Jay: Yeah the orphanage card works ok, but not so well on Indo's as they see white people as a walking dollar sign. The good thing is I get local prices at least when i mention i am with the orphanage.

And of course I will take up anyone on added advice. Even stone growing though being from BC I think I learned a whole lot about growing those.

Do you have the big ones there - the ones you can eat?

Yeah The nice big ones and at about 20 cents a head they come at a nice price.

Does anyone have any info on growing celery in an AP system. I got told that if i can grow proper celery here some hotels will buy it from me for a ridiculus price. (the local varaity has no stalks so it has to be imported from oz) This would allow me to sell the celery and by 3 time the veggies at the local market for the kids or pay for the needs we have right now. Like LPG and lights.

I grew celerac - and it grew strong and healthy - was a good indicator plant to show I had some elements lacking in my system - celery should grow well in an AP system

I think joel has had really good luck with celery

Hi Jonathan:
Sounds like an awesome project! Welcome to the gang! I love pictures, especially of tropical places when the weather gets cold!

:profileright:

Hi jt welcome to AP - the gang here are really great and oh so willing with info, advice and a good laugh!! Sounds like a worthy project you have got going on there - would be interested to hear more.

You wont have any problem with celery. if you want to know plants for Aqua just google "celery and hydroponic" or "tomato and hydroponic" - with whatever you want to grow. If it grows in hydro it will grow in Aquaponics.