Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

I'm just a tourist here at the moment as I have not yet started getting parts together to build a system.

My inspiration for looking into aquaponics was simple; I have a 1000+ litre fish pond about 2 meters away from where I am currently growing my capsicums, eggplants and chillies in pots. I'm not too fussed about eating the fish from this system, rather just using them to grow better veggies.

I am looking at getting 2 or 3 old bathtubs and setting up some kind of flood/drain system (still a complete newbie so I don't know all the pros and cons of this yet) with a sump tank for the drain which then gravity feeds back to the pond. The sump tank is to stop the water level in the pond from changing too much.

My biggest concern is that as I have an engineering background I will get bogged down in the design process, make it over complicated and then loose interest.

I am looking forward to reading more of the info on the site and I am inspired by the progress of some of the other Darwin locals like UpNorth.

Thanks.

Gday and welcome aboard

Maybe you could go have a beer with UpNorth and discuss a simple approach into AP so not to over complicate. Having a background like yours Im sure you will come up with something spectacular.

Keep reading and ask as many questions you need.

Welcome your addiction has just started. Couple of things, a good white wine for upnorth works wonders. Have you downloaded the IBC of Aquaponics available free from the link up top. Principle remains the same no matter what you are using for your tank and grow bedd.

Where abouts in Darwin are you, I will be up there at Christmas for a few days and will be looking at getting together with upnorth for another session of deep aquaponic discussions and the suttle differences between red and white wine.

We have just bought a house in Adelaide River and look to returning to the Territory in about 12 months. Cheers

Thanks for the welcome and the info guys.

I am in Darwin's northern suburbs.

I have downloaded the IBC of AP and now I am even more inspired to get started. I will go on the scrounge this weekend for a couple of bathtubs and check the head and flow rate (at desired head) of the submersible pump I already have in the pond. Why use it to drive a water feature is it can be used for AP instead?

i still need to do some reading to get a better idea of what kind of system I should build and I will post a few questions in other threads.

Thanks again and look forward to collaborating with you all.

D.