Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi, this is my first post in the forum. I am a part time tafe teacher in marine studies and aquaculture and had an organic farm a few years ago as well. I have worked on different fish farms, worked for NSW fisheries and helped develop the first commercial aquaponics certified organic farm in NSW. I am not sure if there are any more in Australia. I have got an AP system in my back yard just to play with and collect data. My boss at tafe has let me develop an aquaponics course which I am very excited about. Which can be run at different locations on weekends or during the week, small classes max 10 we will have equipment pumps, tanks so people can build a system over two days and handle fish, teaching people fish management, plant species and management, and building a system. If anyone is interested please call 1800 064 242 we are in NSW but if we get the numbers I would like to take it interstate. I am sure the boss would be OK with that{can only try) the first one is planned for Sydney.

nice one fish head. I would be interested to hear about the process involved in certifying the aAP system as organic, some people I have spoke to said it wouldn't be that easy given it is non soil based.

Also what food inputs are you putting in? Cool stuff... Welcome.

Ok, you've got me interested fishhead, I'll call you....

Like Monya, I'm also interested in your past involvement with "the first commercial aquaponics certified organic farm in NSW".... didn't know there was one in Australia, let alone NSW....

Can you give us more details? Was it with Taylor Made up in Port Stevens??

I didn't know they had an organic certification....

I too await with interest some more info regarding the organic cert.

mmm...

So if I call fishhead, will Nerida Stewart know who I'm talking about when I say this bloke "fishhead" said to ring this number??

Fishead, Can you please tell me more about this first course in Sydney? What date is it on , how much does it cost, where is it and what does it cover in the two days? Is it accredited?

Faye the number given is from Hunter Tafe.

I could find several Cert II/CertIII Aquaculture courses listed but not an "aquaponics" module as such..... suspect perhaps it's still in development.

More details please Fishhead and a contact name

Thanks for the welcome monya. Sorry I can’t talk about the organic cert because I signed a confidentiality agreement, that’s what happens when you play with the big dogs. I can talk back yard stuff all day and night but please do not ask me about commercial stuff. It is up to the farmer and investors to make that stuff public.
No it is not Taylor Made.
The first course is planned for Liverpool area. I don’t think it is accredited. I would have to ask the boss that. It is what they call a commercial course and you cannot find it on any web site. Not sure of the price yet, they might have it on the 1800 number.
What you do is phone 1800 064 242 leave your name and phone number and if you would like to have it on a week day or weekend. You do not need a contact name yet, when we get the numbers we will call you.
. Just want to give people a good understanding before they commit to something and be able to ask the right questions. I have been forced to develop the course as the numbers for aquaculture enrollments are down and I am hoping that after the workshops that people will enroll in the national credited courses for aquaculture cert II and III to gain more skills or want to do a more advanced course in recirculation technology.

Topics to cover

Government regulations local councils
Fisheries regulations and aquaculture
Back yard system
Scaling up to a commercial system
Pros and cons of different systems
Different systems from around the world
Systems plumbing
Critical considerations fish and plants
Why bacteria are Important.
Water quality parameters.
Tank hydraulics
Waste removal
Biological filters
Aeration systems
Species system stocking density
System start up strategy
Feeds
Systems design and management
Disease control
Disease prevention
Emergency systems
Moving, grading and harvesting fish
Economic considerations
Heating systems
Site selections

Does this course/module have a name fishhead, or can you at least refer us to the head teacher/your boss, so that when we ring, whoever answers the phone on the number you gave will at least either have an idea what we're talking about or who to liase with?

Aquaponics is the name of the course. The 1800 number is just a office person how will collect the info and pass it on and yes they have a list of the topics to be coved and they will refer you to the head teacher, my boss.

Will the office staff be on duty during the school holidays fishhead?

I think so.

Great news.

I think Tafe at Epping here in Vic are planning on running an AP course next year. As for accreditation, not sure. Stay tuned.

I tried the phone number and it is not available from Perth WA. Please advise alternate phone number for course enquiries.
Thanks Faye