Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am a small farmer who has dairy sheep and dairy goats. I make farmstead cheeses and use my animals fiber to felt blankets, rugs etc. Many of us are pretty much 'used up' trying to stay ahead of feed/hay costs and the drought conditions. Originally I had found the hydroponic green fodder production. From there I found aquaponics and thought it might be much more worthwhile to go the aquaponic route. My idea is to create a system which would provide enough green fodder (grass) for my animals, provide me with fresh food and have the fish as a back end sales for the locals. Where I live they are 'hunt and fish' obsessed. I already have 'orders' with the locals for fish to stock their ponds/tanks. I'm still at the info stage and am about ready to 'start something'. I would certainly appreciate any ideas from people. I view this forum as a 'think tank'. I am hoping to come up with a workable and reasonable cost solution for not only myself but for the many other small farmers who without some kind of solution soon, will be forced out of business due to the continued escalation of cost.

Welcome twotrees!

Howdy TwoTrees... welcome

Welcome. I'm sure you will find lots of info. There are even other AP systems up and running in Texas if you are not too far away (I know, whole other country and all it is a pretty big place.)

I've done research on this topic too- it is another project planned further down the road for me.

I would suggest running the fish tank water through a gravel grow bed, then pumping it to the fodder. You don't need a lot of nutrients for starting plants that only live 10-16 days on average and you'll have cleaner plants and won't need to worry about anerobic zones as fish waste catches on roots.
I have read that you can only feed 50% fresh fodder or risk scours in your livestock. I don't think that is necessarily true but I would start out slowly. I have had lambs get bloat with early Spring growth and this is basically the same thing.

I forgot to add the other major advantage to using fish waste water is the elimination of CO2 injectors.

Seems like you are talking about a pretty big system. How many animals and people are you planning to feed?