I am new and pretty overwhelmed

[gizzigoo]

Hi all,
I am just venturing into Aquaponics and right about now I am feeling pretty overwhelmed.:confused:
Does everyone feel this way when they first discover aquaponics?

I am so absolutely fascinated with the whole process and while I seem to have a very basic understanding of what it is I am not sure where to start learning.

I am going to read all back posts as was suggested, so my head is pretty much buried.

Could you recommend maybe a book that would help getting started.

From what I learn I have to convince my husband that this will be a viable option for us. And I have a friend who has asked me to learn how to do this so that she can implement it too!
Also are there any open days so that people can share their hands on knowledge.

I must sound so silly asking so many questions

[daniel]

I started with the book from http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/

it is an OK read. It definitely covers the basics and is a good intro, but really doesn't go into any great depths. It is also a bit expensive for what it is.

I ordered the book before this forum started and have found it is much easier to ask a question in a place like this and use the general consensus as a guide. Having said that, it helps to understand the basics before you start.

If nothing else, i would recommend starting a small system (i.e. as small as a fish tank and a grow bed above it, or if you are a bit more adventurous, even a small water tank or equivalent (i saw a 900L bucket style one at bunnings for $150. It had a lid and would make a great pond.). I am all for recycling, so those blue barrels you see at produce stores have been used before and are a cheap place to start.

I am by no means an expert, but i would be interested to see how other people got their start, or at least gathered their knowledge base

[Murray]

I also purchased the book you speak of, when I got started and it was a help to me in the early stages.
I am a bit of an experimenter and I must say I have learned most things by trial and error.
If you are close to Brisbane southside come down and take a look at my system. You will find that a big help.
And I agree with Daniel, start small.

[gizzigoo]

I also purchased the book you speak of, when I got started and it was a help to me in the early stages.
I am a bit of an experimenter and I must say I have learned most things by trial and error.
If you are close to Brisbane southside come down and take a look at my system. You will find that a big help.
And I agree with Daniel, start small.

Wow, I am learning already, I think I started backwards.
So I went to the first newsletter and think that this is amazing, what a wonderful amount of knowledge and you have written it in such a way that my husband is starting to talk positively about this idea.

I am located in the upper Brisbane Valley, Linville which is the other side of Kilcoy or Toogoolawah, so Brisbane is not too far to go for us. However I can't really get down there for 2 weeks as much as I would love to come today!

I am so thankful to Moppit for introducing me to the whole concept, best thing I have ever learned on treehugger.

Thank you:D

[gizzigoo]

I started with the book from http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/

it is an OK read. It definitely covers the basics and is a good intro, but really doesn't go into any great depths. It is also a bit expensive for what it is.

I ordered the book before this forum started and have found it is much easier to ask a question in a place like this and use the general consensus as a guide. Having said that, it helps to understand the basics before you start.

If nothing else, i would recommend starting a small system (i.e. as small as a fish tank and a grow bed above it, or if you are a bit more adventurous, even a small water tank or equivalent (i saw a 900L bucket style one at bunnings for $150. It had a lid and would make a great pond.). I am all for recycling, so those blue barrels you see at produce stores have been used before and are a cheap place to start.

I am by no means an expert, but i would be interested to see how other people got their start, or at least gathered their knowledge base


Thank you so much Daniel, I will try out the small first, my 15 year old will enjoy setting this up.

[daniel]

It is my pleasure. All for a good cause and all that.

Also, you may be interested in reading the Integrated backyard food production threads in this forum. it opened my eyes a little to a few other possibilities. Quail for example..

http://www.aquaponicshq.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=24

[doug.a]

Good afternoon to you all.
I too am a newbey and have also lapsed into overload. Gizzigoo i know where you are an amazing system and in the way of Dory Evans why wasn't i told years ago. It makes so much sense, but i have a question looking at the diagrams does the water in the grow beds go in from the surfsce or is it injected lower down.
I live in kulin western oz so am a long way from anywhere, although not so far from fremantle only 3 hr drive. i expect you will all get fed up with all the questions and i will apologise first.
Doug.a

[Murray]

Hi Doug.A,
The water in my system comes in from the top. You can see in the pix attached water coming in from the 25mm white pvc grid that goes right around the outside of the grow bed.
Pix taken down amongst the tree trunks of my Broccoli.

I know what you mean "Why wasn't I told"
Aquaponics is just amazing, no doubt about it.

Muzza

[doug.a]

thanks Murray,
I have one bath and have to put an ad at the store this afternoon for another a question that has come up is what is the total quantity of water that ios used in % of total capacity ie: 1300litres both fish tank and same size grow bed am a bit confused ( but at 62 it comes with the territory). The total used in grow bed is less quantity of gravel is that correct.
Doug.a

[sillyoldfart]

Good afternoon to you all.
I too am a newbey and have also lapsed into overload. Gizzigoo i know where you are an amazing system and in the way of Dory Evans why wasn't i told years ago. It makes so much sense, but i have a question looking at the diagrams does the water in the grow beds go in from the surfsce or is it injected lower down.
I live in kulin western oz so am a long way from anywhere, although not so far from fremantle only 3 hr drive. i expect you will all get fed up with all the questions and i will apologise first.
Doug.a

Doug, firstly hi.

It appears from your post that you may know Gizzigoo. I'm somewhat lost though as to " know where you are an amazing system and in the way of Dory Evans why wasn't i told years ago" ???

What do you mean??

and "but i have a question looking at the diagrams does the water in the grow beds go in from the surfsce or is it injected lower down."

Again, what diagram are you referring to?

[doug.a]

silly old****,
It ight look as though i know where gizzigoo is but i do not due to not putting in ommas i must watch that and i appologise for that omission imy meaning was i new where he was with the mind overload due to reading so much information the second part is that Dori Evans a charactor in the tv show 96 was always saying why wasn't i told i hope that clears up and again i apologise if i have offended anyone, There was a drawing in i believe it was on the practical aquaponics wesbite it showed a line diagrame which as very helpful it also explained some parts i was investigating. anyway enough from me and over to you have a nice weekend.
doug.a
:o

[Murray]

Doug, The theory is that you can support grow beds up to twice the volume of the fish tank. So if you have a 1000 ltr fish tank you can run up to 2000 ltr of grow bed. That theory came from somewhere......
In practical terms a 1:1 ratio is good.

As to volume of water in a grow bed. My grow beds are a total capacity of 585 ltrs. I have measured the water taken to fill one and it is 180 ltrs....so it is 405 ltrs of gravel and 180 ltrs of water. So there is 585 ltrs of gravel with a whole lot of little spaces in between all the pieces of gravel, it takes 180 ltrs of water to fill all those little spaces.
Those ratios will vary a little depending on what type of gravel (grow bed media) that you choose to use.
Doug, old bath tubs are a good resource to get an aquaponics system up and running. Use one for the fish tank and one or two for the grow beds.
They can end up looking a bit ****py in the suburban back yard, sometimes wife gets upset :mad: with the back yard looking like a junk yard ..... until you start delivering Tomatoes and Lettuce to the table every day.:)

[njh]

I started by just playing with small systems. If it doesn't cost much, it doesn't cost much to replace.

I think you could build a reasonable system with a few plastic organiser tubs and a small pump.