Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just thought I would post a link out of the local Advertiser, with a focus on Aquaculture. They reckon it's got the potential to be the best industry for the 21st century, even ahead if the internet. Interesting. Haven't read it all yet, but here it is.

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/se ... XT,00.html


aquaponics got a quick mention with regards to the person coming from the uni of virgin islands for the aquaculture conference in Adelaide

hey Stu, what does ESD stand for?

I'm tipping you don't have an intrest in Electro Static Discarge LOL

that is all i got when I tried your link monya

Sorry, I don't think they leave em up for long. ESD- ecologically sustainable development. As I have a background and interest in renovating and property, I am keen to find and implement ways to reduce our load on the environment when new houses are built. For example, most of the shoe boxes that builders build nowadays have no eaves and no consideration as to their orientation. Lots of windows on the east and west, no shading and hopeless insulation. with ESD, you try and build a house that is environmentally neutral I supose. It's pretty much impossible, but there are lots of clever things you can do that make a difference. As a broader thing, housing estates should be able to recycle their own stormwater for irrigation etc and minimum standards for energy ratings are in place. I tend to rave abit when I get started on this, but it really craps me off when I see the unimaginative crap that some builders come up with, when there is so much we can do at virtually no extra cost to make ourplaces more comfortable, without installing huge reverse cycle airconditioners. Sorry, enough of a rant, if you want to, check ou this site: www.nextyourehome.com.au. A friend of mine designs for them, and the architect that runs the business is really clever, has basically designed the whole estate at this site www.lmc.sa.gov.au/lmc/projects/Lochiel%20Park/index.cfm

Rant on... how else will people get the message! You have a passion so go with it, we understand and I know I support your point of view!

That was only a little rant AM, you should hear us when the whole lot of us get going, afew of my friends and my inlaws are into it, and some are doing it in their own projects. It's exciting stuff....

I agree, exciting stuff... but for a lot of people its 'too much effort' to change, and that p*sses me off, especially when it involves SMALL changes here and there, nothing earthmoving!

exactly AM

it's the whole thikng I like about Aquaponics, take the negatives of 2 systems and turn them into positives, whilst having useful outputs from it all. Makes sense!!

Yep, like I said just after joining and getting sucked into aquaponics 'it just seems so right, so commonsense'...

I'm completely anti the Aquaculture industry.

They strip fish our oceans to feed the fish in the farms (fish meal) and so an average 11 fish die to feed you one. I could use an awful lot of strong language to truly express my thoughts on this joke of an industry.

There is no way that is sustainable no matter how many scientists they get to lie about it.

Sure our system stops pollution and saves water. But without some serious forward planning Aquaponic farming will be depleting the oceans just the same via using fish meal based foods.

Alternatives are quite simple, but would require honesty and forethought from industry. call me cynical, I can't see that happening in the near future.

Agreed AA, I suppose that is why aquaponics should be so successful on a backyard, individual or community level. Hopefully, while remaining small scale, and aiming to produce our own foods like worms and duckweed, we can reduce our need for so much inputs. I visited an aqua farm not long ago and couldn't beleive the inputs and outputs

Yes, you got it. Through production of our own foodstuffs we can save this industry from otherwise inevitable collapse.

We need live feed farms springing up and expertise in entomology crossing over to Aquaponics.

Once we start to produce cost effective alternative proteins to fish meal on a large scale even industry could become sustainable long term.

That's a bit harsh. I don't think the whole industry works that way. There is considerable research and use of high protien grains like lupin in modern aquaculture.

I think that they were trying to make that point b2b - stop using other fish in the fish food and use alternative sources for fish feed... seems silly catching fish to feed to... fish!