Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

G'day folks

New to Canberra, new to Aquaponics and first post in this forum.

Having just got my own place am really keen to set up my AP system. I've always been fond of keeping fish and have bred and reared many varieties of ornamental tropical FW fish.

I'm hoping AP will be the next step in this hobby and will ultimately be far more meaningful and satisfying.

Any Canberra residents around who have their setups going for a while and willing to show and tell...??

Farhad

Hi Farhad

My gardening is going reasonably well. I posted up some recent results of plant growth in my build thread and our very first 'homemade' trout dinner in the 2015 trout appreciation thread.. I type this from my phone so can't provide the links sorry ;

I was all set to build a green house out of the carport my system is currently located under, plus add a few (read bunch) more grow beds while I was at it however recent plans to Reno the house have put a slight hold on that until I know what remaining space I'll be dealing with.

If you have already kept fish you're more advanced than me already because I've never kept any kind of fish before. In many ways AP has been successful but that's not to say I haven't had some teething issues along the way, not only with the system but also just timing around the seasons and warm temps because of stocking trout. We are slowly getting the hang of things and really just want to expand it to get more produce and get rid of 75% of the soil gardening and that's really just about conserving water and feeding our 5 boys who are eating us out of house and home as the saying goes...

Happy to have a chat anytime, I fear I won't be much use to you knowledge wise but understand the benefits of keeping touch with others in your local area/conditions. There's many more ppl here I have relied on for solid information and I wouldn't want to lead you up the proverbial AP garden path that said if you want a beer and a gander then you're welcome anytime! I wish I'd had the same opportunity as it would've changed a few things that's for sure!

Here you go farhad - as you can see it's definitely a work in progress.....I hope to have a much larger expansion coming soon.



Our first trout dinner!


Tomatoes in Oct!


And similar growth in soil

Hi Cunningstunter,

I've read through your build thread, and your pics above, wow I'm envious. You've had stunning success and those trout look great...

Most of my experience with fish has been with fish under 3" and I've spent the last 15 years in desert country so there is plenty I will be able to learn from any and all local aquaponics practitioners.

I have been preparing for this with a fair bit of book study and online reading, now itching to see live examples of successful setups. Will be moving into my new place in a week or two, I'd really want to set up the system and get it fully cycled etc. before summer is through.

I'll PM you if you don't mind, do not want to derail this thread.

Farhad

Yo, Canberran APers. I am here too. Just to let you know :-)

Hi Gurkan,

The ACT thread doesn't seem to have much action...

How is your system going?

It is going good. I have 34 silver perches (1 very small one died the other day) and the water chemistry is pristine. FT is insulated well and hopefully they will withstand the cool weather of Canberra.

With the cool weather approaching, I already lined up seeds for winter. Onions, snow peas, Lettuce mix, butter lettuce etc.

I recently bought 2 more IBCs, to be delivered this Saturday. I will build another system quickly as I want to have trout too. So there is a lot to do this weekend. I need to move my topbar hive and that is not a small task.

That's terrific to hear Gurkan... I'm hoping mine will make it through winter. My winter water temps (undercover so not in the frost) last year were 7 degrees!

With the insulation I have it goes down to 8C on mine. I will turn of the pump at night in Winter.

Wow I thought with insulation yours would retain more heat.....

I turn my pump off during the day in the peak of summer, off during the night in depths of winter....seems to go ok.