Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

See on tonight's garden gurus they installed an aqua system from hydroponics express there was so many things wrong or miss quoted it wasn't funny
It looked like a 1000 litre ft and quote you can grow100 kg of silvers barra trout yabbies ect
Seems like another one jumping on the bandwagon

Yep, they're the "Hydroponic Xpress" guys over in Canning Vale WA...

They reckon the "standard" growbed depth for hydroponics is... the same as the standard hydro trays, which they sell... i.e 150mm....

And that you need a 1:2 ratio.... as they put it ...

"For example, 50 litres of expanded clay to every 100 litres of water."

And what fish can you grow....

"Barramundi, Silver Perch, Trout, Golden Perch, Catfish, Murray Cod, Jade Perch, Australian Bass, Black Bream, Eels and Yabbies are suited to the climate in Australia as are goldfish, koi and other
ornamental fish."

http://www.thegardengurus.tv/tv/factshe ... ponics.pdf

Don't know their fish pooh from their clay...

Reckon they must have lobbied the program to get a spot.... pity the Garden gurus didn't search their archives... or trot down the road to Jandakot where they could have seen some real systems... staffed by people that really know what they're talking about...

You can find the "factsheet" ... and watch the clip by clicking to the "Aquaponics" link...

http://www.thegardengurus.tv/tv/latest. ... nt=2&sub=a

Dickheads

What a *sigh*.?
Jim

I hope somebody puts pen to paper and contacts the garden gurus and puts them right
this kind of info out there is only bad
Nevil should know better he has a byap setup
Maybe it was a payed setup

yes guys,

IMO,A snip like that destroys the cred of The Garden Gurus completely Let alone the damage to aquaponics info like that can do.

Cheers

No way! im new at this but that grow bed is way to shallow for my liking. Maybe i am biased but i love my BYAP

It's not so much that it's too shallow, although I tend to agree.... it could be ok for lettuce and herbs...

But it's just way to small in terms of capacity to perform the necessary filtration for the tank... especially with the stated stocking densities...

And appears to be a "continuous flow" system...

They've taken the definition... that aquaponics is a "combination of aquaculture and hydroponics"... literally... and being in the hydroponics business... assumed that they can merely "bolt on" some hydroponics equipment to a fish tank... and call it aquaponics...

They obviously have done some "google" research... but haven't understood the underlying principles in any way shape or form...

There system(s) are doomed to failure... because of that lack of understanding...

They are even growing their "lettuce"... for the better part of a month... hydroponically, in net pots... and then just planting them... pots and all... into the system...

Tossers ,Rupe. BYAP all the way!

Email the "Garden Gurus"... I have... particularly pointing out the stocking densities... and stated that IMO... the systems are doomed to failure .. with 100% fish fatalities...

And IMO... the mis-information potentially brings both the fledgling aquaponics industry... and aquaponics as a concept... into disrepute...

Good idea Rupe. The thought of fish fatalities due to ill proportions aint right.

I have emailed them also if everybody does they may do something about it

I'm not really that surprised unfortunately. the Garden gurus are just a marketing/advertising programme loosely sheathed in an "informative program". Those that pay get the best coverage. I avoid it for all those reasons.

This is what I sent:

Having just watched your article and aquaponics, I was quite disappointed with the amount of misinformation provided. I've been running aquaponics for some time now, and have a fair idea of the basic requirements, plus a bit more advanced knowledge.

The stocking densities you mention are bound to cause fish deaths, the growbeds would be too shallow for anything except lettuce and some herbs, and the ratio of growbed to fish tank is also totally incorrect.

I expect better from you guys. The article presented on Costa's Backyard Odyssey left yours to shame. His was factual, and far more informative.

Whilst Hydroponics Express may be hydroponics specialists, they've shown they are certainly aquaponics amateurs.

Call me cynical, but I assume Hydroponics Express lobied and paid for a spot on the show, which causes me to suspect your program as being more infomercial that information.

Regards,
Ryan