Comments on: Backyard Aquaponics http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/ Permaculture News, Commentary and Worldwide Projects. Wed, 16 May 2012 18:44:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Scott http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/#comment-58543 Scott Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:10:44 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=34#comment-58543 Craig, My limited experience with aquaponics (which is not a title I will be using in business!) & the very experienced contacts I have made in aquaponics, hydroponics & aquaculture tell me you are correct. You must input to receive output, whether it be nutirents out of a bag, a bucket or a fish's A*#? which you still have to feed every day to get the nitrogen. I showed a 27 year hydroponic veteran why he constantly had pests by using a brix metre.(refractometer) When we finally realised why we had pests it was like finding utopia! We went from $60+/week in bottled nutirents to about $5/week in blue metal crusher dust (60+ essential minerals in every spoon full!!!) There are mulitple outcomes from water based plant growth in aquaponics. We persevered to plug in all sorts of trials which gave us good feeds of fish, red claws & more greens than we could manage, our friends got a lot of basil & lettuce! Some of the aquaponic 'sales" people make some really extroidanary claims which when tested are found to be simply false. So, to answer your statement directly, they are the same but aquaponics has potential for multiple outcomes. Now if you integrated aquaculture, water harvesting & wicking beds with constant water flow from your fish ponds. Now your really talking mulitple outcomes. Hang on, that sounds like "Permaculutre" I'm a big advocate of doing your own research before jumping in feet first! HAGW Scott Craig,
My limited experience with aquaponics (which is not a title I will be using in business!) & the very experienced contacts I have made in aquaponics, hydroponics & aquaculture tell me you are correct. You must input to receive output, whether it be nutirents out of a bag, a bucket or a fish’s A*#? which you still have to feed every day to get the nitrogen. I showed a 27 year hydroponic veteran why he constantly had pests by using a brix metre.(refractometer) When we finally realised why we had pests it was like finding utopia! We went from $60+/week in bottled nutirents to about $5/week in blue metal crusher dust (60+ essential minerals in every spoon full!!!)
There are mulitple outcomes from water based plant growth in aquaponics. We persevered to plug in all sorts of trials which gave us good feeds of fish, red claws & more greens than we could manage, our friends got a lot of basil & lettuce! Some of the aquaponic ’sales” people make some really extroidanary claims which when tested are found to be simply false.
So, to answer your statement directly, they are the same but aquaponics has potential for multiple outcomes. Now if you integrated aquaculture, water harvesting & wicking beds with constant water flow from your fish ponds. Now your really talking mulitple outcomes. Hang on, that sounds like “Permaculutre”
I’m a big advocate of doing your own research before jumping in feet first!
HAGW
Scott

]]> By: Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/#comment-58537 Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor Tue, 30 Nov 2010 23:03:47 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=34#comment-58537 Thanks Scott - this is an area I've no experience in (aquaponics) but which my soil science study makes me very cautious of. I'd like to eschew hyroponics systems, and would like to know how aquaponics is that much different from it. It doesn't seem to be to me. Thanks Scott – this is an area I’ve no experience in (aquaponics) but which my soil science study makes me very cautious of. I’d like to eschew hyroponics systems, and would like to know how aquaponics is that much different from it. It doesn’t seem to be to me.

]]> By: Scott http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/#comment-58536 Scott Tue, 30 Nov 2010 22:56:56 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=34#comment-58536 Be very cautious of information sold by suppliers that sell hardware as well! Thats not good business! We are currently doing our PDC after spending many months building, studying & researching Aquaponic & hydroponic systems. We tested many different growth methods & found the most productive. Firstly, plants need more than just fish poo to grow to a "healthy" mature size. The plant needs to be beneficial to us by way of what it stores in carbohydtrates. This also keeps a lot of pests away as the plant is very healthy through to harvest. Any Aquaponic & hydroponic grower will tell you they are in constant battle with pests, why? Because their plants don't have sufficient mineral levels to keep the carbohydrates up! Their plants grow rapidly because of the nitrogen & the constant supply of water. That does not mean the plant has the health benfits to pass onto us! Plants need good humus, full stop! Please, do not believe everything you are told, from the hydroponic or aquaponic industries. We spent almost 5 years speaking with anyone that we could find & finally found through our own trial & error that plants need nitrogen & "ALL" minerals to keep us healthy! We were achieving mature growth in many different breeds of lettuce in our aquaponic systems within 25 days when adding the "Aquaponic" recommended nutrients which achieved unsatisfactory carbohydrate levels. We started adding a complete & natural mineral blend which obtained the same growth rates but doubled the carb levels in the plants. We even noticed a major difference in taste & our overall health. Please do your own complete research before investing time & money, also have a look at wicking beds with very wide open eyes & mind! Good learning Scott Be very cautious of information sold by suppliers that sell hardware as well! Thats not good business! We are currently doing our PDC after spending many months building, studying & researching Aquaponic & hydroponic systems. We tested many different growth methods & found the most productive. Firstly, plants need more than just fish poo to grow to a “healthy” mature size. The plant needs to be beneficial to us by way of what it stores in carbohydtrates. This also keeps a lot of pests away as the plant is very healthy through to harvest. Any Aquaponic & hydroponic grower will tell you they are in constant battle with pests, why? Because their plants don’t have sufficient mineral levels to keep the carbohydrates up! Their plants grow rapidly because of the nitrogen & the constant supply of water. That does not mean the plant has the health benfits to pass onto us! Plants need good humus, full stop! Please, do not believe everything you are told, from the hydroponic or aquaponic industries. We spent almost 5 years speaking with anyone that we could find & finally found through our own trial & error that plants need nitrogen & “ALL” minerals to keep us healthy! We were achieving mature growth in many different breeds of lettuce in our aquaponic systems within 25 days when adding the “Aquaponic” recommended nutrients which achieved unsatisfactory carbohydrate levels. We started adding a complete & natural mineral blend which obtained the same growth rates but doubled the carb levels in the plants. We even noticed a major difference in taste & our overall health.
Please do your own complete research before investing time & money, also have a look at wicking beds with very wide open eyes & mind!
Good learning
Scott

]]> By: Bruce http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/#comment-55040 Bruce Tue, 19 Oct 2010 06:46:01 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=34#comment-55040 This is just To let you know that I have included This Page in http://aquaponics-digest.blogspot.com/ Best Wishes Bruce This is just To let you know that I have included This Page in http://aquaponics-digest.blogspot.com/

Best Wishes
Bruce

]]> By: Frank http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/#comment-30159 Frank Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:33:35 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=34#comment-30159 Hi Steve, Check out Aquaponics Made Easy DVD available from the PRI shop. It explains the whole process of constructing an Aquaponics System from either a kit or recycled bathtub system. We were so impressed with Aquaponics that we now have a system growing food in our own backyard. It REALLY works! Plants grow like crazy - all powered on fish poo. Its a new industry and Australians are taking to it like never before. Suppliers are now making "Organic Fish Pellets" as there was some concern with commercially bought fish pellets being unsustainable and depleting fish reserves. You can also make your own fish food from harvesting black soldier flies or growing duckweed which has a high protein content. Google "Aquaponics HQ" and read more about it in that forum. Hi Steve, Check out Aquaponics Made Easy DVD available from the PRI shop. It explains the whole process of constructing an Aquaponics System from either a kit or recycled bathtub system. We were so impressed with Aquaponics that we now have a system growing food in our own backyard. It REALLY works! Plants grow like crazy – all powered on fish poo. Its a new industry and Australians are taking to it like never before. Suppliers are now making “Organic Fish Pellets” as there was some concern with commercially bought fish pellets being unsustainable and depleting fish reserves. You can also make your own fish food from harvesting black soldier flies or growing duckweed which has a high protein content. Google “Aquaponics HQ” and read more about it in that forum.

]]> By: Steve Patman http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/#comment-30141 Steve Patman Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:51:41 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=34#comment-30141 I agree we need to rethink our approach to many of the world s problems Highly recommend Peter Andrews Books " Beyond the brink" I am looking at building a natural pool and pond and incorporating some fish into the system in an aquaponics style but am a little wary of growing veggies without dirt. Aquaponics is probably a better approach than hydroponics but would like to see some research on the nutrient value of veggies grown with aquaponics Anyone know of any info I agree we need to rethink our approach to many of the world s problems Highly recommend Peter Andrews Books ” Beyond the brink”
I am looking at building a natural pool and pond and incorporating some fish into the system in an aquaponics style but am a little wary of growing veggies without dirt. Aquaponics is probably a better approach than hydroponics but would like to see some research on the nutrient value of veggies grown with aquaponics
Anyone know of any info

]]> By: Richard Swan http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/#comment-27548 Richard Swan Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:06:29 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=34#comment-27548 I'm interested to see Joel Malcolm's backyard aquaponic systems featuring in a permaculture website. What do all of you permaculture producers out there think about these aquaponic systems, water soluable fertilisers and plant obesity? I think these systems may form part of the urban solution (in the search for the holy grail of sustainability). We're living in a world where ideals need to be thrown out of the window to some extent - ala Tim Flannery and his sulphur dioxide solution to climate change. Does anyone have a take on this? I’m interested to see Joel Malcolm’s backyard aquaponic systems featuring in a permaculture website. What do all of you permaculture producers out there think about these aquaponic systems, water soluable fertilisers and plant obesity? I think these systems may form part of the urban solution (in the search for the holy grail of sustainability). We’re living in a world where ideals need to be thrown out of the window to some extent – ala Tim Flannery and his sulphur dioxide solution to climate change. Does anyone have a take on this?

]]> By: Activ http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/#comment-7138 Activ Sat, 23 Dec 2006 03:02:26 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=34#comment-7138 If only Kalgoorlie was run well? If only Kalgoorlie was run well?

]]> By: mat romney http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/#comment-4290 mat romney Fri, 20 Oct 2006 02:29:28 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=34#comment-4290 Joel, I am very interested in your ideas on aquaponics. From cost to self provision of quality food that our children should have a chance to taste. I would like to be able set up a system with marron. Could you please send me some idea of what the initial set up cost would be to provide for a family of four. I think it is wonderful that you are sharing this information as I believe that the freedom of choice has been taken away from us by ANZFA who will not lable how products are produced. Regards Mat Hi Mat you can contact Joel directly through his e-mail. Cheers Geoff Joel, I am very interested in your ideas on aquaponics. From cost to self provision of quality food that our children should have a chance to taste. I would like to be able set up a system with marron. Could you please send me some idea of what the initial set up cost would be to provide for a family of four. I think it is wonderful that you are sharing this information as I believe that the freedom of choice has been taken away from us by ANZFA who will not lable how products are produced.
Regards Mat
Hi Mat
you can contact Joel directly through his e-mail.
Cheers Geoff

]]> By: David Shepherd http://permaculture.org.au/2005/12/11/backyard-aquaponics/#comment-1731 David Shepherd Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:45:24 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=34#comment-1731 Hi Everyone, I have just been to visit Joel and have a look at his wonderful system,What a nice guy he is and we had a coffee and chatted while I quized him about all things both Aqua and Ponic, about his system and I came away with some inside information.A large pumpkin and a bag of his organic oranges. It was a great afternoon.Thanks Joel. Thanks Dave urban aquaculture has gerat potential to be developed and is one of the least applied methods of production in an urban setting. Cheers Geoff Hi Everyone,
I have just been to visit Joel and have a look at his wonderful system,What a nice guy he is and we had a coffee and chatted while I quized him about all things both Aqua and Ponic, about his system and I came away with some inside information.A large pumpkin and a bag of his organic oranges.
It was a great afternoon.Thanks Joel.
Thanks Dave
urban aquaculture has gerat potential to be developed and is one of the least applied methods of production in an urban setting.
Cheers Geoff

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