Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey, I just moved to Melbourne (from Sydney) and am finally renting a place with a big backyard. I've recently become very interested in permaculture and aquaponics. I'm hoping to set up a single barrel system (http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/syste ... -system-1/) within the next couple of weekends. However, I wanted to do it outside (the only area that gets enough sunlight throughout the day) - but I also understand that outdoor systems are unwise in places that get cold (and Melb winter is sorta cold). Do you think I could get away with it? I plan on having gold fish and growing spring onions and basil as an easy starter (as they're sort of forgiving plants). Any tips for outdoor systems? Should I be trying to protect it somehow? Thanks in advances!

Alsoooo... if there are any experienced people in Melb, I'd love to have a mentor. I can pay you in gratitude and lots of tea and snacks! Haha

Welcome to the forum

There are a few members from your area so hopefully they chime in and give experiences on how they tackle the winters.

I hope so! But no luck, yet. Any recommendations on what board I should post this question, re: the Melbourne winter?

Hey there, welcome to the forums. I'm not in Melb, but I lived there till a couple of years back.

Melbourne does get cold but something to remember is it also has more sunny days than Sydney. I wasn't into AP when in Melb but I don't see any reason why you can't run a system over winter. You might want to cover your GB as I think basil is sensitive to frost and cold. Not sure how goldfish go at growing in the cold but I had 2 that survived well outdoors last year in Bendigo so while they may lay off the eating a bit it shouldn't kill them.

The GB is a heat loss issue - perhaps you could make sure you have plenty of aeration then turn off the flow to the GB overnight - this will help maintain the heat absorbed during the day in the FT. The GB's are the reason heating the FT is not a good idea - you bleed the heat out through the GB.

Another possibility is to get a greenhouse to put your system in.

Hi Hannahmarymei welcome to the forum. I'm just starting out in Melbourne myself and things are looking OK for now but as the weather starts to cool off it might then be a different story.

There are quite a few guys here into Aquaponics here in Melbourne that will be able to advise you on Melbourne's winter problems and I will also look forward to their expertise over the coming months.

Joe

Hi Hannahmarymei welcome to the forum.
Our AP System is in Mitcham - what suburb are you???
You are welcome to visit - and we will help with any questions.
Regards - ColinW

Thanks to everyone for your replies! Colin, I'm in Bentleigh East, I would really enjoy visiting your set up and getting some hands on tips! It'll have to be on a weekend as I work all week. Let me know what's good for you

As for protecting my system, I've been thinking about creating a makeshift 'greenhouse' with plastic sheet and rods/pipes as a frame. I might take a photo later on Thursday to show the area I'm thinking of setting up in.

Hannah the sort of fish you want to do is all you need to wory about in melbourne.
You will see alot americans doing it indoors, they get snow, we dont, they seem to think indoors is a good idea for some reason too - most do it in thier basement under lights instead of in a sunny window.

Stick to doing "winter veges" in winter and fish that can handle the cold days - trout, silver perch, native bass, goldfish, murray rainbows etc - and you wont have any problems doing it outside over winter.

Here some broad beans growing in my outside system last year. Pic taken in July. Trout in the fish tank

Welcome Hannah!!

I'm in melbourne too, out west in Melton.
take a look at my systems listed below if you want, i'm always happy to have visitors and so are my parents if you want to check out the systems.

So this is the area I'm hoping to set up in. Ignore where the barrels are for now. I only want to set up one for the time being, to get a feel for it before attempting more. So what do you think? Can I get away with an unprotected system? Where would you set it up in this area? The whole area gets sunlight for most of the day, except to the left side where there's some trees making shade.

Also thanks for all the welcomes and such! Really appreciate it. I can't wait to get started