Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello everyone,

At first I wanted to thank everybody on this board as I think it all started here,
(And I don't say that only for lack of sleep, whites haires and 2 years spend In my basement )

We are two French aquaholics, trying really hard to start a commercial farm in France,
We have been through a lot of things, like power failure , people thinking that aquaponic was a
"mickey mouse" thing... and beginers mistakes (no you don't learn from others - at least not efficiently)

Anyway looking at our fish swimming (except for the power faillure) and our lettuce army growing peacefully
was enough to keep going.

We now have a working system producing 50 really beautifull lettuces a week in our basement, and are nearly
ready to scall it up, but we still need some little things, like a costly backup - so we can get out... to see if the
world is still there and to see the price we can get for our lettuce.

you can get some pictures here https://www.facebook.com/ProjetOsmose

We are using trouts, not Tilapia as it's too cold here, and that make things more complicated.

It's a commercial system scalled down, so I'm not allowed to show everything, hope you will excuse us for
that.

So, here we are, but time is playing against us, it took us more time than expected and we are running out
of money, but I'm not here to ask you for money, (of course if you have too much of it...)

I'm just asking for a vote here http://www.auvergne-nouveau-monde.fr/up ... jet-osmose
It's a regional contest that will help us to get some visibility for latter crowdfunding.

And more than a vote, sharing it with other aquaponic enthusiast you know is the key as we need something
like 300 votes more, at least...

Hope I could help you back, let me know how even if it seems you already got everyting on this board,
(Tilapia, 30°C and sun... that's not faire )

I can't say a lot on our systeme but I'll give you a usefull tip for trouts ; Don't use them ! They die in 15 minutes without water flow, they need it to breath, no matter O² level or density...

Thank you for reading,
Florian

I almost deleted this post rather than approve it, because it seems that your main motivation is to get people to like you, vote for you or whatever to try and promote yourselves/business. However, I sense that there is some will to share something in your post, although you repeatedly say you can't share.

So I'll say early on, please don't use the forum as an advertising method..

But please come here to ask questions and share experiences..

All the best..

I agree. I struggled coming to a conclusion to let this one through but I hope a language barrier is the issue.

When I first read the post, i read "We're two french alcoholics..." and though to myself "Well, Aquaponics takes all types!"

Ok so first thank for accepting my message, feel free to remove It as I'm definitely here to get help for our project. (and we need it...)

But making aquaponic a reality is definitely not a bad aim... and were are definitely not business man looking for money... aquaponic is definitely not an "easy money" thing.

There won't be small systeme everywhere in Europe like you do in Australia we simply do not have a proper climat to do so. So we will need big farm to reduce heating cost and keep things alive during winter if we want aquaponic to become a reality here too.

I'm not saying that I don't want to share, as this board helped me a lot for my project,

Just that there is things that I can't say, things I get from commercial farms.

Then there is all the things I learned by myself that I can share with you, but it's mainly about advanced indoor gardening, advanced plant physiology or complexe recirculating aquaculture system and I tough just that it may not be what you need most - but if someone need that kind of knowledge, I'll be more than happy to help.

My main idea was that tilapia, proper climat and small system everywhere is an easy answer to a lot of concerne we had to go through and that for me it seem that in this condition I may be useless.

A member MP me to know about aquaponic situation in France, suppliers and so on to make a backyard system not far from where I live. the only answer I could give him is that AP in France is a joke... but I'll try my best to help him.

So here we are and yes we need all help we can get I won't hide it, but I'll also be pleased to help if I can.

Hi
I disagree with you on one thing. No need to upscale. Small is beautiful. I do believe that in any country and particularly in large urban areas there is a niche market for good quality food.
Grow for your family, sell the surplus locally.
Any large business, particularly farming, requires expertise. You either have it or you buy it in. Knowledge costs money. The bigger you are the more expertise you need. You just have to work out the economies of scale.
On the plus side;
You have a system up and running.
You have made the initial capital investment.
You know you running costs. Rent,Electricity, water,taxes,labour etc.
You have two years experience.
Fish choice? Move on from your love of tilapia.
If trout is a problem. What about European Perch? etc? Or even eels?
Would the French pay a premium for eels?
Why lettuce?
What veg or herb would sell locally at a premium? Don’t forget local ethnic markets.
Do the math! If it runs a profit good luck. If it just feeds you family and you enjoy it then that too is good.
I wish you well but I will not vote for you.
Too much public money is spent on vanity projects.
One question. Do you use a microscope regularly? Ok! Three! What do you use it for? How essential do you consider it?
Titus

Ok, so In the end it seems that I can help,
In my memory this board was all about tilapia, but it's not anymore, cool

(I repeat I really lived in my basement during 2 years)

Oh and Titus, find me a small farm getting money from AP only, not sellings training or systems then we can talk.
(and if you have to wake up at 5 everyday to sell until 13h then plant, harvest and all the stuff from 14h to 22h in you farm - then you will be dead in ten years...)

Farmer got a really high suicide rate here... planning and optimisation is the key

Not sure how you define "small". But, I would think Ryan Chatterson's might fit the bill. I believe his system is 3-4000 sq ft and is profitable. He does not sell training or give tours...although i would pay for either.
A niche market and superb quality, along with a very high "AP IQ" , and a willingness to work very hard seem to be serving Ryan very well. I believe he in planning or building on to his existing system, but that also makes business sense...starting smaller and scaling up.

Ok, seem prety nice, but it's in florida... so cheap greenhouse, tilapia (hard fish) and limited or no heating cost ?

Definitely not something that will work in colder country

But thanks for trying

edit : "Better than Organic" omg I always wanted to say it but I would never have...

Sur I will now .

Premium prices, here we are

Wouldn't call it cheap, but less expensive then glass. A double poly, air insulated GH is suitable for temps in your area. Add a wood burning heater, and you could be in business. Premium prices are a result or premium products.

Everybody wants premium products, And I can make them that is not a problem, even with a broken arm (need some gadget still)

No the problems is "consumers willingness to pay more for quality" and it doesn't look that simple...

Human is a really weird species... Buying discount food with his big car on the park... I know I leave near a discount supermarket...

Not sure where you got that idea because in most states of Australia Tilapia are illegal.

Try to spend two year in your basement seeing only artificial lightning and you may get a start of answer...

Depends. In Australia Glass is only slightly more expensive than poly and once you factor in the cost of recladding poly houses every few years glass starts to look cheaper pretty quickly.

Interesting. can you still buy kit GH's reasonably inexpensive? I know I was looking at a few that were complete with all hardware, side curtains, poly, etc for a few thousand per 1000 sq ft.