Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yeah saw that. I'd need about 10

So it could be a real winner for Yabbies?

King Erik, see this link.
http://www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm

This website claims that a 150 gallon filter can filter a 4500 gallon pond keeping the water crystal clear. Obviously it's probably not nearly as densely stocked but you might want to look into it. set up 3 of these and you're good to go.

There are bio-filters out there that can handle far larger amounts of "tank/pond" in a far smaller footprint than what flood and drain gravel can. Just remember that most of those "bio-filters" require solids pre-filtering (usually the foam pad in the skimmer box that you have to wash out a couple times a week) and those bio-filters won't provide a nice handy place to grow your plants to use up the nitrates so you still wind up having to do water changes or have some other way to grow plants to use the nitrates. Also, those "Bio-filters" usually need extra aeration provided to the system some how where flood and drain gravel gets it's additional aeration from the flood and drain so any extra aeration needed in a flood and drain gravel system is just to support the fish load and not required by the bio-filter.

I wonder how much nutrients a system with just shrimp would provide? I seem to recall that Friendly's grows prawns in their raft beds and they just take care of cleaning up debris in the root zones, not getting much if any supplemental feed.

I used to work in a shrimp aquaculture research facility. I can't say exactly how much nutrients they release but the are pretty messing animals. They produced quite a bit of waste. The good thing about them is they are CONSTANTLY scavenging for food. They pretty much break down all the larger particles.

the good thing about bio filters is they do the conveting of nutes so you still dont have to do water changes as long as you have enough plants, you can have less area of grow beds, NFT for example and you can have the bonus of clean clear water in your fish tanks.

Good to hear grunta, I'm planning a new system that will use a bio filter so I can have less gravel GB volume and more DWC GB volume. That's the plan at least. We'll see how it works out.

anyone know what those rafts are made of?? Looks pretty interesting....

they look to me like molded plastic to me. That is why I mentioned that they looked like a possible cool product.

+1 trevi!

Ralath/TC: That's his actual business. He sells the raft systems. Check out the other vids and his website. Here's one for example of his stall in a trade fair.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3kaXoOd ... re=channel

And Rupe: Those are his own children - not labour. Wonder where you got that idea from (cultural cringe comes to mind). And the "game" is to teach them about aquaponics! A la all those school systems that abound this forum.

And folks, he is from Taiwan not China! Two different countries!

... yep, well there could be some differing points of view regarding whether or not Taiwan is a "seperate" country....

And Ok... so they're his own kids... so what... cultural cringe be buggered... I've got absolutely no "cringe" in my body... now as to the gutlessness of "western" businesses that exploit cheap labour (child or otherwise) in eastern countries... that's another story... I definitely have a cringe...

And yep Tervi.... I am not disputing that China, or other Asian countries haven't been involved in "aquaculture" for centuries...

I contested your point of view... that the singular "aquaponics" system posted... suggested that the Chinese/Taiwanese.... lead the world in aquaponics...

Thought I made that point before... apologies if I wasn't clear...

And I'm not knocking the implementation posted... it obviously works for it's intended purpose, with it's intended aquatic stock...

How efficient it is may be dependant on other details not shown... similarly how much maintenance is required isn't known...

How profitable it is might be totally dependant on relevant costs applicable to the location...

And the system just might not be capable of supporting fish stock... overtime, anyway...

They've been around for a while TCL.... they clip together (groups of three) into whatever size you want...



And come in various pretty colours...





Not cheap here in OZ though... the only place I know of that sells them wants about $18 per set of three (including net pots)...

Huh??! I don't get this.



How suddenly, has a businessman from Taiwan making floating raft systems for Aquaponics for the past (at least) 6 years turned into a "western business" exploiting child labour! I hope you aren't confusing them with Nike shoes!

FFS... I never said that... or that it did.... ... and I should probably have left my personal viewpoint regarding "western business" expoliting child or low wage workers out of the post... as obviously it has confused the other points being made...

Perhaps read my previous post to put it in context .. :groan:

And having looked at the other "youtube" videos... there is nothing to suggest that he makes "floating raft systems for aquaponic "... as his business...

It appears that his main business is the sale of flowers etc... that he grows on the floating rafts...

But so what.... it is an "aquaponics" application... and if it works successfully for him within his context... good for him...

But sorry, IMO... his adaptation isn't anything startling new... or so significant as to show that he/they ... "have far greater knowlege of aquaponics than we Australian do"...

Or any of the other members here on the forum, from many countries ... who have used a floating raft arrangement...