Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Firstly thank you for allowing me to join. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the vast amount of information on here. There are some awesome set ups getting around.

So a little bit about me. I'm new to aquaponics but have spent a huge amount of time reading, researching, investigating and trying to decipher the huge amount of info that is out there.

I have just started building my system and will post pics once I have something to show (don't hold your breath though lol). I plan to build a small system in the backyard to play around with and get my head around the whole concept. I have bigger ideas planned down the track but more on that later.

I have a background in horticulture and I love fishing so aquaponics works for me on both levels.
I plan on stocking trout to begin with but would love to hear from members in this area as to what they are growing. I'll be growing a range of vegies and some herbs.



Thanks
Josh

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Welcome aboard..
The only observation that I could make is that splitting that.AQUA and.PONICS, could be worth considering

The benefit, is that you can provide far.greater temperature control, when you don't have grow beds absorbing.kW's of heat into the fish tank.. eg. My insulated system got to a maximum of 24C , which would have been safe for trout, when.we.had a string of 40C days

IMHO.. it gives far greater versatility.. and allows greater stocking densities..
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G'day Josh, welcome aboard. I'm in Pearcedale, are you nearby?

Thanks Buidoi,
Could you expand on this idea please. How do you seperate aqua and ponics as my understanding is the fish water is pumped through the grow the plants/filter water then put back into the fish tank. I'm not sure what you mean by seperating them.

Thanks
Josh

Hi SSproutwell kit ammo,
I'm just up the roadfrom you in Karingal. Just finished reading your AP setup. What an awesome setup and great build. My initial setup will be minimal to start with but have big plans down the track. How big are your perch now, what's their growth rate been like?
Love your hothouse setup to, looks like a good setup.

Josh

AquaPonics = Closed loop system of feeding fish to produce Poo that feeds the plants

Aqua and Ponics.. = AquaCulture and Hydroponics..

Aquaculture = RAS = Recirculating Aquaculture System = Growing fish..

The system is simple... instead of. Pumping the Poo to the grow beds, you collect that poo and process it for later use in separate grow bed - Hydroponic Systems..
The advantage is that you can add any other supplements for the plants, without having to worrie about contaminating the fish..
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Thanks Josh. The 3 tandanus catfish have doubled in size and possibly more. The silvers are doing well but I can already see some are growing faster than others. They go bezerk when I drop the skrettings feed into the tank, which is a good sign. I'll post some more footage soon - just about to finish the permanent roof on the FT.

It's been a long week so you'll have to excuse my stupidity. I understand what you're saying as far as controling temperature but if you are running two seperate systems wouldnt it just be easier to do hydroponics instead of trying to keep the fish alive separately. Thats the whole point of aquaponics, running a eco system the sustains itself (with minimal external input).
I have some ideas I'll play with to help maintain temps two.
Running the fish seperately doesnt really work in my bigger plan which my current backyard setup will be a test run for so I'll just to try to manage temps other ways i guess.
I appreciate your comments and something worth keeping in the back of my mind just incase its needed down the track.

Thanks
Josh

Looking forward to seeing the updated footage. Where did you get your tank from if you dont mind me asking. Im just waiting for some more IBC's to turn up to do next part of my build.

Josh

From Melbourne Rotomould in Pakenham. It was a factory second with a deformed lid. They plastic welded some 2" poly pipe around the top for strength and put a bung near the bottom for drainage.

Cheers Sammo, thanks.