Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Almost all of the current "commercial aquaponic" "gurus and/or trainers.... are basically backyarders....

Almost all of them have never designed or built a commercial hydroponics operation... or even operated one

Almost all of them... have never designed a fish farm... built one... or even operated one....

And almost all of them... have never built a "commercial aquaponics" operation...or not a proven successfully commercial operation...

But they're all out training people.... in how to build "commercial" aquaponics farms...

Of those that might have actually built one... usually within months of having built it... or even only a week after getting the fish

Without any real empirical data... and/or tracking... and without being prepared to even actually provide basic proof of the viability.. and returns.. of farms built on the various incarnations that are promoted....

Rupert, all of that I agree with, but we are posting on a forum called 'Backyard Aquaponics' - the comment seemed unnecessarily directed at people specifically on this forum. You might have used another term given where we are posting.

Understood... but the OP specfically said



And that's the context within which I was discussing it.... sorry if that wasn't clear...

I love what we all do in the backyard... and I think every one should turn their backyards into aquaponic systems...

I do it too... and have for a while now... even totally abandoning my soil gardening... well a slight deviation back to some wicking beds...

Unfortunately people need to have frequented the site on a daily basis for about 12 month before they can follow Rupe's vain of sarcasm that runs through multiple threads.

Rupe's flame is against small operators dealing in the backyard AP market who have never run commercial AP farms, claiming to be commercially qualified and providing commercial training.

Unfortunately it is getting to the point where new members can not follow this long running theme of ridicule against such operators, which a number of members participate in, and are misinterpreting the jokes/sarcasm.

Hi all,

While the forum's sociodynamics is quite entertaining, don't mind if I steer it back to the subject: Gravel Filter / Worms!

Now I've read in a couple of threads that some people actually keep worms in their grow beds. Am I safe in assuming that the worms won't drown?

I'm also guessing that it's only applicable in flood and drain systems?

Thanks!

I also have read enough threads on this forum to know exactly where Rupe was coming from. Journeyman you were just unlucky to have read a particular post without others before it.

Many of us have worms in our GB's, usually red wrigglers. They dont drown because the water is oxygenated.




They live fine in any style system for the reasons above.

Woprms need a layer of water adhered to their skins (surface tension)... in order to breath.... take in oxygen...

They don't drown... but they sure can suffocate...

As posted... because our aquaponics systems are well oxygenated... worms thrive...

Thanks! Never realised them worms could swim

Regarding the worm castings and worm tea...won't that flow back into the water and affect water clarity?

Do you guys put some sort of membrane at the out pipe to catch the worms as well? I suppose the fish would appreciate having one flow out from time to time...so that shouldn't be too much of a concern yea?

Ermm...while we're on the topic of worms....I'm thinking of picking up either the Can O Worms or Cafe Worm farm from Bunnings. Is anyone using them at the moment? And just how do the little buggers migrate from one layer to the other?


I gotta say...aquaponics....the more I know, the more I realise how little I know....

As far as I can tell from reading about them, you start at the bottom of the worm farm and as the worms 'eat' their way up you add more at the top. I've been thinking about getting one of them as well but they look fairly easy to make for yourself as well. Google DIY worm farm.

If I leave them outside, would they be able to handle Perth's mild winter?

Yes they will be fine. They will handle Perth's mild winter much better than they will withstand Perth's hot summer in a garage. Had mine in the garage and was looking after them well then during one heat wave opened the garage to find them all trying to escape.

Got some worm farms outside now and they are always doing good.

I think they are quite tolerant but will migrate to find better conditions.

The worms you want for your GB's are compost worms or red wrigglers. Not earth worms.

IIRC, Bunnings has them ion containers so building a worm farm should be OK. If they aren't available separately then I guess a Can-o-Worms or similar is the way to go to get stock.

thanks!