Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone
Just a couple of pix to show you my first attempt at aquaponics.
On the right hand side of the bottom picture, you can see some concrete bricks they just make a barrier for my drain,which goes under the bottom right of picture.
Cheers

Looks pretty good there big daddy

how many fish are you goin to have ?

Cheers
pete

Hi Bigdaddy.... Your off to a good start !

May have nothing to do with aquaponics.........but,
what are the rectangle bins, up against the house, under the window ?

Thanks, keep up the great job......

I think you might be looking at worm farms there David. 3 tiers, with an ice cream container to catch the worm juice for the garden...

Nice and tidy, well done

Seems those big green tubs are popular down in S.A..

Hi everyone,

Sorry about not replying, guys and girls, went off the radar there for a while,
but I'm back, thanks Hopefulls for the encouragement.

The green tubs are pretty handy, Earthbound, just get them at your local Bunnings, I just wanted something readily available that didn't cost the world,seem to be doing the trick at the moment.

Yes, David, they are worm farms with ice cream containers to catch the juice.

I've had worms for ages (for my garden I mean) Just increased them recently. the local council subsidises the purchase of worms and worm farms now - great idea, worms are excellent, and so easy to keep, just make sure they don't get to hot in the summer, in the farms, in the aquaponics, no problems at all.
I started off with a mixture of tiger worms blue worms and red wrigglers.Now I have entirely red wrigglers working for me at the moment, I think they are very good.

Hi Delgrade,

At the moment 10 Barra in each large tub(20), started off at 100mm fingerlings now all about 190mm long. They are such a cool fish.
Will probably set up a small 600 litre trout system get some trout for that just after Easter, nurse these barra through winter till Chrismas(it may come early when I see my next power bill) and about October, change both systems to Barra for the summer then trout for the winter next year to minimize heating.

When I have my timing right, I will probably have 10 barra in each tub so as it stands all connected up at the moment 40.Then add possibly another 30 for the seperate trout system so all up,I will have 7 tubs and 70 fish(but will happily receive advise on how many trout I should buy just after Easter.)
3 x 200 litre fish tanks,with a 600 litre grow bed, so maybe 30?

Phew, hope you can understand all that.

Cheers.

Hi folks,

I just got back from holidays.

The barra are about 220mm long now and looking good, brought 20 mid Jan about 100mm long.
luckily it hasn't been too cold here
Asked a mate to look after the fish veges and system and I was very grateful for that, he did a good job.
Wouldn't mention it to him, because no one can look after your system like you do, but I did hit the veges with dipel the day before I left, but he didn't do what I would of and that was check for grubs each day and take them off and kill them.
Got home and the broccoli & bok choy,were well munched on so was the chilli and the strawberries and tomotoes are going great guns,Egg plant slowly.
Oh well that's the price you pay for going on a holiday I guess.

Thought I would do a small update on my system for you.

Cheers.

Hieveryone just a couple more photos to show the progress of the plants.

Just a few more photos

and some more ,grubs got to the broccoli and bok choy then I finished off the bok choy and broccoli, tiddying up and cutting limbs and branches off the bush and letting the wet ends drag and lay on the veges, just about summed up my day actually, the bat behind decided to trim the beautiful bush on the fence and throw all over my back yard,made a mess again.. real nice to come home from holidays to that... malicious cow... She can't do what all the other good neighbors do including me, trim the bushes and put them into your own green waste bin and not worry any more.Oh well I'll go in the next week or so and get some more seedlings and plant to keep the system balanced.then take out the destroyed veges.

Cheers

And one more just to show the ball valves,

I am in the process of fitting an auto siphon just have to get some more fittings so the hybrid will do for now.Auto siphon in conjunction with float switch fitted to pump.Is working sort of OK pump fills grow bed to within 25mm of top of media in 3 1/2 mins every 35 mins.

Cheers

Measured a barra today 230mm and looking good.

Cheers.

What size are you aiming for with the barra?

Neighbours - who needs them, especially when they are like that. Nice productive system you have their.

Hi Rmcpb,

I would like to get them to plate size, if my next electricity bill doesn't give me a heart attack,I'm not sure how long they will be maybe 300-400 mm
I hope to have some nice fresh barra on the barbie at Christmas.

Yep, she gives me the two bob bit, but I haven't had a go at her in all the time I've been here,who knows, she may cop a spray yet.I'd rather not.

But seriously, I'm looking forward to sharing my fish and other produce with my other neighbours if they want.Well, that's the theory anyhow.

Seen yours looks a neat little setup you have there Rob.

Cheers.