Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all, new here. Embarking on a project at the local community garden. We wold like to start with a small proof of concept system running mains power before we embark on a larger solar powered system. We are leaning toward a flood drain gravel bed system to begin with, or a raft system. We would like to grow soft herbs, lettuce, tomatoes and chilli to start with. Fish species is as yet undetermined, Cherax spp. is likely, would like to try some fish also. There is sooooo much data here that it's hard to know where to get started! Anyone in the are keen to get involved is welcome. Our emphasis is to try to attain an organic certification and make use of as much suitable recycled/upcycled material as possible and of course, as all things community, on a tight budget. Any help or advice is heartily welcomed. I'm perusing the stickies now, but wow, there's so much to comb through!

Why are you trying to obtain organic certification???

Ap is naturally organic

Where is Mullumbimby?

AP organic cert will depend on what the fish are fed if im not mistaken. Organic cert will be a bonus anyway. We would like to down the line commercially sell our produce at local markets and to the resturant trade (im a chef :-) ) Mullumbimby is inland from byron bay.

You wont get organic certification for an AP system in Australia... unless you grow your plants in a "soil" media...

And you certainly wont get certification for your fish....

Frankly... I don't think the cost of any organic certification.... would be justifiable anyway... for a "local markets" and "restaurant trade" approach....

Lastly... I'm not sure what you might define as "commercial"... and the definitions vary widely.... but it would be a major mistake to pursue a commercial operation... based on, or incorporating... media grow beds...

Thanks for your feedback. First things first, we would like to set something up that works. That's the short term goal. Next is to scale up and work on a concept that will work commercially, be it NFT or what ever. Longer term goal is to scale up further again. The main thing is that we produce something of high quality with minimal environmental impact. Bill gates reckons the future of meat is vegan, we reckon it might well be aquaponics.