Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all!

I've been lurking around here for some time now and am currently building my first small scale AP (the last parts I ordered came in today, finally..). As I saw some users being Belgium and I was hoping to unite the forum members coming from Belgium and The Netherlands.

The reason I want to unite us is because I had a pretty hard time translating and gathering all the necessary parts. We don't have a lot of physical hardware stores that are well supplied in aquarium/pond parts (at least not in my area). Also we have a pretty cold and rainy climate so there are many AP factors different out here. And of course we have our own local fish and plant species with their local succession rates which differ from international varieties.

So, if you are from The Netherlands or from Belgium, please comment on this post . Also, please share which (local) plant and fish species you prefer and which thrive in our climate!

Don't go speaking Dutch/Belgium in this forum though, that would be kinda rude to everyone else.
We can contact each other in our native language via Personal Messages when needed.

If there are a lot of Dutch/Belgium users reply, I'll create and maintain a list of those users in this top post for easy contacting.

Welcome aboard.

Thanks Charlie, but by the looks of it it's more like "welcome abroad" . I guess the Dutch/Belgium members aren't that many haha. Doesn't matter, maybe they'll show themselves someday.

Today is someday!

Same here. Lurking around, gathering info to start my own setup.
Btw, i'm Dutch living in Belgium so Dutch/Belgium does apply to me [WINKING FACE][THUMBS UP SIGN]

Hello fellow dutchman,

I live in the Netherlands and have been experimenting with aquaponics for 2 years now. I have 2 glasshouses. One polycarbonate to do my experiments and one tunnel greenhouse. Since a couple of months i have a professional vertical commercial alignment. I like to share knowledge. I have read your post and i am already past these obstacles concerning shortages and problems with the build of complete aquaponics systems. I can deliver all fertilizers you need that aren't sold in the Netherlands.
Including EDDHA iron chelate. I don't have to make money on this and you can get it for purchase price. if you need help and i can mail you in dutch just send me a pm.

I invented an eb and flow system that only uses 4 hours of electricity per day and doesn't need a siphon. This electricity can be generated by solarcels or a windturbine. All my pumps work on 12v. and deliver 1500 liters of water per hour. You have to use one pump per growbed but because these pumps are very low in price, (€30,00) this isn't any problem. Even with a small budget. I also grow on claypellets size 1-6 mm. I have been experimenting with them for the last year and have had many succes with this small size. Not only do the plants grow better but i can grow tomatos, cucumber, broccoli, lettuce, herbs and others all in the same growbed without any shortages.

If you go to my website and click the link to facebook you can see both glasshouses and the vegetables i have harvested.

Hope to hear something back from you.

Ferry

Interesting photo. Over the years, everything I have read about greenhouses lists building with 2x4 as a distinct disadvantage because the dimension of the lumber causes shadows across the plants, not only do you use 2x4s but have this huge canopy over the plants. I have always been a bit suspect that the framing could have much of an impact, but those overhead shade monsters... have you had a need to compensate for light?

Poppa,

This photo is from a couple of weeks ago. A week after this photo was made i installed 10, 3 watt grow led lights per frame.
But that is only for the winter. In the summer i don't need any led light. In the summer the sun goes from right to left. In the morning the right side of the right framing gets enough light. in the afternoon both sides in the middle get enough light and in the evening the left side of the left framing gets enough light. I have experimenting with this before. Otherwise it would be stupid to build a professional commercial system without trying out first.

The greenhouse is a littlebit more then 3 meters high. I bought it so high to get as much light inside as possible. Allthough i don't want any sun to come in. The sun will burn the leaves of my plants so i use chalk on the greenhouse in the summer to reduce sunlight.

Ferry

Hi Ferry, you must be Belgian by reading the description under the pictures. :-)
I didn't know it was know in Nederland/Belgie as well, but I haven't been there since 2010. And that was only for a 5 week holiday.

Wilsil,

Are you originally from Belgium?

Ferry

Nope, I am Dutch living in Australia.
No regrets at all.