Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

A quick hello,

Having eye'd off the aquaponics system's at the Royal Show for the last couple of years, my partner has decided that for my big birthday this year that he's actually giving me a system (one from the suburban farmer). Just a 1500L tank and one grow bed at the moment, but definitely room for expansion.

So now I'm trying to learn all I can as fast as I can before it actually arrives! I've kept a variety of fish tanks over the year (including my fav- which was a 2m long marine tank). Now no fish, but we've been making moves towards self sufficiency and have chickens, Jap quails, a worm bath and a nice solar system on the roof. We've also planted quite a few fruit tree's which are now starting to bare fruit (hmm at this point I should probably mention that our suburban block is only around 750m2 - so I'm running out of room to expand)

Anyway, looking forward to getting started. The anticipation will probably kill me, and I expect I'll have many frustration's along the way. But it is a lovely present

Liane

Howdy Liane, sounds like you're in the right place...

Good luck with that, love to see pics when you are set up..

I just joined today. Good luck.
I have gold fish and strawberries. Mommy said if I can keep those alive I can have a puppy.

Good luck guys and take it slow, and spend lots of time reading this forum

Thanks for the welcome - I've been reading a few threads, and loads to go. A wealth of information.

One question - I was wondering if we actually have a native BSF population in Perth (we're up Joondalup way) ? As I'd be interested in setting up a BSF composting system (although prob the wrong time of the year to be thinking about this).

Off to do some more reading now the kiddies have let me back on the computer

Liane

BSF's can grow, I know Chillidude had a great crop up in the hills, we had loads last year, but not so many the summer just gone...

Good to see another new Perthie
When do you get your setup?
I am going to see my new BFF Faye on Friday
And because we are such great friends and I am going to advertise the system so heavily she is going to give me a fantastic discount (she just doesnt know it yet!)

Andrew

If you suck up to EB he might give you a hat...

You can never have too many hats!

There's those elusive hats again.......

What hat.......?

Yeah. mine is still producing, but that's from an existing population. If you have trouble byt next summer, let me know.

Word of mouth is wonderful advertising - I keep hoping our solar panel guys will chuck another kW up there because I've referred so many... no luck so far

My birthday is less than a month away - and Mike has promised delivery and installation before then Mike already provides us with organic chicken feed. If I was down the southern side I'd be heading into BYAP. But being on the northern side, and unfortunately having two special needs kids + working part time, well I always seem to run out of time. So being able to get things delivered was pretty much our reason for going with Mike. Well that and he's a nice guy lol.

I do however have Joel's manual and DVD's (onloan from another friend who is interested in setting up his own system - but he'll be doing a DIY one). Done the reading, still need to do the watching.

Thanks for the offer chillidude - I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a system established, I have a feeling that I saw these hanging around the passionfruit vine this year - thought they were wasps at the time (but hey - they MAY have been wasps, right body shape, didn't check the legs). If I go pulling apart the compost bin I use to age the quail poo I may just find a healthy population - I know I've thought it odd a few times that the bin has gone from full to less than a quarter full over a period of a few weeks....

Who is mike do you have a link to him

welcome smallfry
stick a solid box with a lid and no bottom beside one of your fruit trees stick all your chook , quail , dog , cat poo in it the bsf will find it by them self when the weather warms up and it will also feed your fruit tree or get a heep of small boxes the same build and put one near each tree and feed them all the same way the fruit trees will love it no need to spend $$$ on fertilizers