Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Aquaponics is bigger than you think since the article at least 10 people have contacted me say ing i have a set up ,' yep i now have seen a few '
These are just quietley ticking away in backyards [I dont know how successfull they are ]
I wonder how many systems are out there that nobody has ever seen

When I picked up my tilapia yesterday the guy said that he's had 70 or 80 people in the area come to get fish for aquaculture or aquaponics. It's definitely bigger than i thought .

It cant be bigger than I think.

I have delusions of grandeur that encompass even my idle pastimes.

There is a Lady in Goomalling (40kms away from me) with a pool AP system that I have been wanting to see for awhile now....but don't actually know whom she is

I'd expect that there are a lot more out there,

Basically anyone whose ever kept fish understands the nitrogen cycle, and also that plants remove the waste. From there its a logical progression to larger reed beds, or aquaponics beds.

I know my brain made the logical connections more than ten years ago, but until the last year or so, I never had the time, space or inclination to do anything about it. Now, with all the information out there freely available, its pretty easy to get a start and make it work without ever asking for help or showing it off.

I agree with you F&F, I reckon that for everyone we sell there would be at least another one or two maybe more that we will never know about. Gavin is one who gets to see the most when he delivers the fish. We could make him a roving reporter.

I have to disagree with you on that one Orcy, as I certainly did not understand the science behind it and I know that a lot of our customers never will. It is like understanding pH to a gardener. Many, many people garden with good results and don't know about pH.

I have been interested in aquaponics for a long time. Coming from an aeroponic background as a hobby i started meeting a few people over east and here that are hobbyist aquaponicists and found a good percentage to be quite clicky and very set in their opinions. Which put me off seeking any further information about it other than online.
Dont get me wrong i have met a lot of great people that were friendly and open but for average joe out there all it can take is a chance meeting with the wrong person and they will keep their hobby to themselves.
Im also involved in archery and bow hunting and i can say that there's tonnes of people that stick to themselves because the clubs are terribly clicky so its not just aquaponics.

I must admit after finding this forum it has been eye opening the amount of information and knowledge here is amazing especially for me as a novice and the majority of people here are friendly. I just think some people need to remember that they were all novices once too.

flame away.

Ive talked to literally hundreds of people so far this year that are needing help constructiong/designing AP systems (In the states that is). It's growing extremely fast.

Spot on Faye, of this years Trout sales for aquaponics systems 30% were to people who use or have used this forum at some stage. I have noticed that this year there is a large increase of DIY systems up and running.

Wow, that's a big percentage...

What do you reckon the percentage is of people who haven't been members of the forum and don't have our gear or haven't been here to the shop..? Just done their own thing on the quiet..

well i havent been to the shop yet... simply because i didnt know you were there until i joined the forum through a search on google.

I have been hanging out to come for a while but i know ill want to spend money haha

There definately are a few folk doing aquaponics that dont even know BYAP exists but I recon it would be less than 10%.



Yeah but this years figures are probably a bit distorted as people who read this forum knew of the upcoming Trout shortage and got their orders in early. There are plenty who were none the wiser and have missed out on trout this year as a result. It pays to be a regular reader of the BYAP forum!!

I know of 6 in kalgoorlie, none of them are members of this forum although they regularly spend time on here for ideas and information.

I reckon about 80-90% aren't members... and about 95% are DIY'ers.... at least in NSW...

I reckon I get about 1 sale of some sort of gear... for about every 50 people who visit... and most of those that don't buy, openly say that they're going to put something together themselves...

Especially after seeing most of my systems are "bits and pieces"....

I'd probably be better having a dedicated shop front with only BYAP systems on display... and not doing "home visits"...

But demand is slow, real slow... and IMO.... aquaponics is still very much a DIY concept... more so now that money is tight...

Yep just had a call from a bloke 1/2 km away with a 4000 litre ft will go and have a look soon he has never herd of the forums or byap i will quiz him just to find out how he started