Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Today we started on the set up and design for our first AP system here at the farm

It will be contained in an 8m by 5.4 m greenhouse with a shed attached to the end for tank and sump.

The tank is 5000l fibreglass, the sump will be up to 5000 l dug in the ground and lined with 1mm thick edpm liner.

The growbeds are ex abalone tanks, they hold a little over 2000 litres of gravel at 40cm deep. In addition to these (4) we will have a t off the pump to 7 x 6 metre lengths of NFT channel.

There will be one pump in the sump hopefully pumping continuously to the fish tank which will michael ferrini style overflow to the growbeds with autosyphons, but if the size of the drains and any other issues prevent that, we will run it on timers.

The greenhouse was already here, but it was installed really badly so we lifted all the posts out using the old massey, and leveled off the ground using the slasher with the blades on backwards and upside down. Tractor purists will be quaking in there boots at this ill treatment, but we are making do with what we have ATM. Tomorrow we take delivery of a small dozer on poermanent loan from my DAD, so that should helkp out a lot.

We also extended the width from 4m to 5.4 by stretching out the hoops and bending little straight bits so the hoops can be fitted straight into the posts. We are also raing the sides so instead of the hoops starting at 30 cms off the ground they wiull start at about 1.5metres. Plenty of headroom for my 6 foot 5 high buddy Dan

The bottom 1.5 on the sides will be shadecloth as it is in full sun we will be needing some ventilation. Never again am I going to fight with a shady greenhouse site. If it gets too sunny we will cover with 30% shadecloth

Some pics

A quick pic of the 2 sheep who we are borrowing as lawnmowers, I think they are a bit overwhelmed by the head high grass.

And Rosie the goat using her mu as a surfboard. Very friendly goat that one, she comes and has a pat and a scratch and lets you pick her up.

What do they say about the grass always being greener on the other side. I see green grass on the left side of the picture, but it must taste better across the path, better enough to stretch the rope as tight as possible.

Yep, we have given up fencing her, the other day she actually goit stuck around her midrif in a mesh fence. She has her chain and a star picket and the kids stay close by because they are still feeding off her.

Reckon your lawnmowers are saying ..what are ewe looking at?

id say you need to borrow a few more mowers monya at least for a week or two till they get it down to ankle hight

everything else looks like its moving in the right direction though, wish i could say the same for my own system

kick arse monya,

keep the updates coming.

look forward to your progress.

Monya,

Give me a pm mate with you address ill send you one of my patented goat stays. I made a couple for my goats and sheep much better than a star picket

Also on goats they are very freidly ive found, our goats come with me and the dogs when we go for a walk, they follow better than the dogs

springa

Where did you get the abolone trays? They're awesome.

You say your tank is 5000L fiberglass - are you making that yourself? Or reusing something?

Gem... I think he has a few tanks to go round ... Good stuff Monya.

Gemmel, the tank is fibreglass made by a local aquaculture tank manufacturer. Yep tim we do have a couple up our sleeves Abalone tanks came from a place on the west coast (Louthe Bay) where they were ceasing their abalone operations, so we scored them (22 of) for 2200 bucks. They are double skinned with foam inner, tough as which is lucky considering the way we are treating them lol

Thanks Springa

have pmed ya.

That's great the way it is shaping up for you Mon - prefer the GH out in the open too

Now monya has a farm!! holy S*(t, I've been away for too long, great work.

It seems everyone is jamie'in (pimpin) there rides these days

Looks like a lot of fun down on the farm!

Looks like you have got yourself a MF35 tractor there - good work.