Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well I am very happy to find this forum , I am so excited about aquaponics . I have rounded up a tank ( six foot diametre by one metre height ) , I am thinking that an old canoe I rescued will make a good grow bed and also have an old bathtub that will be good for something . Right, now I need to put it all together I need to now about pumps and pipes . I fish with an alvey reel and I love the simplicity of it , so I'm hoping to keep my system as simple as possible .

Back to my introduction , I live with my wife and two children close to the ocean . When the jew fish are on I catch em , I already have a decent vegie patch and chooks . I am also a serious guitarist as you may see on my youtube channel , as well as how to catch beach worms one handed . I am painting to pay the bills .

Questions , I feel as though all i need is a pump out of the tank into the grow bed that drains back into the tank for airation ?

Could I use crushed oyster shells as the grow bed material ?

Also what fish like the northern nsw climate ?

I am aware of a fish hatcherie in Grafton is anyone familiar with it?

Thanks in advance , look forward to being a part of this community

Hi Kev,
yep, its all good.
There a million different ways to do it, but simple with one pump is a good way to start. You will find a heap of info on aeration and stocking levels etc on here. Looking forward to seeing the results

Welcome Keven.....you seem to be my nearest AP neighbour.
Systems seem to be only limited by your imagination. Maybe the tank you have pictured there may need coating inside if it is exposed zinc galvanised.
Check it out with some of the more knowledgeable guys here.

Hi Kevin, and welcome to the forum.... yep, aquaponics can be as simple, or as complicated as you want to make it....

One important point to grasp from the start, is that the amount of filtration you have... will determine tha amount of fish you can stock...

As your grow beds, (unless you employ some solids removal or external filtration)... are your filtration component... then you may need to expand beyond the canoe and single bath tub... or stock accordingly...

Don't stock to your tank volume...



You could, but the oyster shells by their nature provide a pH buffering which would probably cause you significant problems with trace elements uptake/lockout over time...



Northern NSW is the hub of the Silver Perch industry in NSW... Jade Perch, Murray Cod and Eel-tailed catfish are other options.. as are possibly trout through winter...



If you're thinking of the DPI facility at Trenayr just outside of Grafton.... they were, until recently, a research facility rather than a hatchery... although they may have now become a hatchery if brought by a private operator...

There are several major Silver Perch farms and hatcheries throughout the Northen & Mid NSW... and I can point you in the right direction if you want...