On TV

Aquaponics goes mainstream. As seen in Beautiful Homes and Gardens.

Restart Of My Aquaponics System

Moved to Gladstone, Australia a few months back. Managed to meet up with Andrew a South African working over here. He had an IBC system which he wanted to sell and so we caught up and looked seriously at buying. Decided reluctantly that it would not fit in our small garden. So turned down a good offer of a system already up and running.
Then a few weeks later I was out and about and was offered a IBC with the top cut off. (I.e. without the top !) for 30$AUD. Could not resist a second change to set up a new system. So now I am the proud owner of a IBC without any system, or place to put it. Just could not resist the potential, possible, maybe, outside chance to build a new system.

For added encouragement. I also got support from AB Aquaponics who kindly send me some drawings of his system. So watch this spot over next few weeks. And I visited the Gladstone Fish Hatchery which breeds Baramundi fingerling's. Should be some available in October. Plenty of time to continue to collect bits and pieces.

Release Of The Fish

Well here we go again. Will be the last posting on the the system till we set it up again.
So decided on letting the last 6 fish free.... We chose to release them out into the lake rather than eat them. Bet they have no idea just how lucky they are!!! So after swimming round in circles in a small blue drum for the last 6 months they are now free into a major lake about 6 kilimeters long. Must be like 7th heaven.
So of course to be expected a final video of their release. Bit soppy and nostalgic...
Please mark this page. We'll be back soon enough !!!!

Close To The End....Well For Now...

All good things come to an end or is it that all ends are the start of something new. I believe the latter. As an engineer we are always building something and then moving on. I seem in fact to have been constantly on the move. Well now is no exception.

Time to go to anew project and set up a new aquaponices system. The next one is going to be bigger. Not necessarily better. I have had so much fun with the Barrel Ponics System so a massive thanks to Mr Travis. Without him I would never even ha

ve considered starting out on this path. Thanks.

So one last look at the system before it goes....The sound in the section of me talking underwater is not so clear. Not so surprising I suppose.

So this posting is about closing up out existing system and putting it away till next time. The fish. I know we should be showing the cooking and providing the recipes etc. Not this time here in Thailand. We are returning the fish to the local lake about 50 meters from our place. All on video. We're doing it today as it is the official Queens Birthday here and it seems appropriate to to do now and not in a few days time.

So video of the draining of the system and setting free a few Tilipia!!!

It is in a sense a good thing to move on and start something new building on what we have learnt. A lot for the various aquaponic web sites and again Mr Travis.

Where ever we are next there will be fish and we will be growing.... So mark this spot and come back soon.

Paw Paws

Things have been plodding along. The paw paw tree has been growing really well. So much so that I was worried that it's roots would take over all of one of the drums.... What to do.

Take it out and plant it in the garden. Just look at the roots on it.... We replanted on Friday afternoon in the garden and it seems two days later to have been taken very well.

Ph was also checked still running at 7.5Ph. So all OK.

Progress

After my 'self pity' with loosing so many fish I've now got back into the grove. The seeds I planted a few weeks back are now in the system. Put them in yesterday. This morning they looked OK.

I did remove one of the large chili plants and was amazed to see how well developed the roots had become.

All in all things are following along with no real hassles. See no more moaning about the dead fish.....

The one plant that has amazed me in the Paw Paw Tree. It is going up and up getting into quite a real tree and many, just maybe will produce.

Light Reading.......

While waiting somewhat impatiently for my system to get back up to speed I've been following more closely some of the Blogs and info out there on the Web.

Sylvia Bernstein's Page as I am sure any read knows runs a super discussion board site located at aquaponicgardening.ning.com. And one of the more important posting in Sylvia's site is http://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profiles/blogs/basic-aquaponics-system-design?xg_source=activity

She has recently followed this up with a Business site
The Aquaponic Source which I am sure will do well. Wishing her good luck.
In all this reading it is obvious that one of the great things about Aquaponics is its versatility. You can make what you want in your dreams as a system come true. Well almost. It is up to you to make a system that works and for you to enjoy. This is a big difference to building something commercial. Economies of scale always come into play as do far more sophisticated systems and better control. Most backyard type systems seem to have a fair amount of 'tolerance' built in but when going commercial these 'tolerances' are cut right down for efficiency, with the over riding need to make a profit. Not complaining or criticizing. Just an observation which wanted to get down on paper. For now I'm keeping to my simple backyard system. Posting again in next few days on my revived system.