A Commercial system that achieves a ne profit of $40,000 per year

[MaxZero]

Hi

I live in Western Australia and I am looking for an aquaponics change!

I want to do something good and create a way of making a living as I grow older.

Rather than get into the details [of which there are many and I do fully intend to understand them] I want first to look at the end result or big picture.

Is aquaponics trully viable on a commercial basis?

If so, then

Consider a system that was capable of generating a profit - let us say $40,000 per year

What would that system cost?
What sort of land area would it require?

There are inumerous questions which follow

What is the energy requirement?
How much water is lost/used and needs to be replenished?
Choices
Fish breed
Type of grow beds
Feed for fish

Etc

Is this the right forum for these questions?

I would be grateful if someone could point me in the right direction

Many thanks for your help

Cheers

MaxZero

[ChilliBear]

Hi Max,

There is a mas of information available online. I did a little search and came across a sit called northernaquafarms who have lots of pdfs in their library available. Also lots of videos on youtube. If you are serious about setting up your own commercial operation I'm sure Murry would be able to help. If it was me I would read as much as possible and see where your nearest farm is and go have a look.

Hope that sets you off in the right direction.

ChilliBear

[fishfood]

From what i have seen and red to make $40,000 a year its a 7 day a week job for 2 people and if you know nothing about aquaculture one small mistake and its all over
Theres plenty of secondhand setups for sale who had the big crash and they got disheartened

[fishfood]

If you decide to go with the idea and are getting an off the shelf product or using a consultant ask to see the installations they have done and are still working after 2 years

[kellenw]

You will want to find a solid market niche. Offer a hard to find product. Don't try to compete in the commodity product arena. Sell food items that are hard to find locally and tend to be expensive.

...And most importantly, make sure you know what you are doing before you take on the financial risk of a commercial setup.

[Crusty]

Is aquaponics trully viable on a commercial basis?
Consider a system that was capable of generating a profit - let us say $40,000 per year
I am not sure seeking free advice is your best approach, unless you are completing a school project. You would need to engage the services of professionals to answer your questions on design and profitability, the later being a direct result of your knowledge in both aquaculture, hydroponics and farm management. If you are serious, you will need training in these areas or failure is guaranteed. I am sure the local tafe over there can get you started with some knowledge, assuming you know nothing of each.

[tonyabalone]

Hi MaxZero,

I'm a lecturer in Aquaculture and Aquaponics at Challenger Institute of Technology (formerly Tafe) in Fremantle.
As it happens we will be running a full weekend Aquaponics course on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of August.
We have been running courses every couple of months and the response from people has been very positive indeed.
All of the questions that you have raised will be covered as well as hands on training and visits around Perth to the various Aquaponics systems that we have set up. If you go to the Commercial Forum on this site you will see information and photos about the "Pilot Commercial Aquaponics System" that we have setup.
For more information about the course ring Merri on 92398008 during normal office hours.

[MaxZero]

Hi Max,

There is a mas of information available online. I did a little search and came across a sit called northernaquafarms who have lots of pdfs in their library available.
Hope that sets you off in the right direction.

ChilliBear

Thanks ChilliBear

Looks like a good source of infomation

I was looking for an Australian source and one that would be able to answer my first order questions

1. What would a system cost that could generate a net profit of $40,00 per year?
2. Wahat sort of land area is required?

Doeas anyone in Australia have a viable aquaponics system???

Thanks again

Cheers

MaxZero

[MaxZero]

Thanks fishfood

Where should I look for the secondhand setups??

Cheers

MaxZero

[MaxZero]

You will want to find a solid market niche. Offer a hard to find product. Don't try to compete in the commodity product arena. Sell food items that are hard to find locally and tend to be expensive.

...And most importantly, make sure you know what you are doing before you take on the financial risk of a commercial setup.

HI Kkellenw

Thanks for your thoughts

Thanks ChilliBear

I was looking for an Australian source and one that would be able to answer my first order questions

1. What would a system cost that could generate a net profit of $40,00 per year?
2. Wahat sort of land area is required?

Doeas anyone in Australia have a viable aquaponics system???

Thanks again

Cheers

MaxZero

[MaxZero]

I am not sure seeking free advice is your best approach

Thanks Crusty - I agree. Before I start I would like one person to help answer these questions

1. What would a system cost that could generate a net profit of $40,00 per year?
2. Wahat sort of land area is required?

Does anyone in Australia have a viable aquaponics system???

Why are these questions hard to answer?

Thanks again

Cheers

MaxZero

[MaxZero]

Hi MaxZero,

I'm a lecturer in Aquaculture and Aquaponics at Challenger Institute of Technology (formerly Tafe) in Fremantle.
As it happens we will be running a full weekend Aquaponics course on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of August.
We have been running courses every couple of months and the response from people has been very positive indeed.
All of the questions that you have raised will be covered as well as hands on training and visits around Perth to the various Aquaponics systems that we have set up. If you go to the Commercial Forum on this site you will see information and photos about the "Pilot Commercial Aquaponics System" that we have setup.
For more information about the course ring Merri on 92398008 during normal office hours.

Thanks Tony - I will be in contact

Cheers

MaxZero

[arachdog]

Even if someone gave you definite answer to those question Max would you really have any faith in its accuracy ? You exact situation is unique, climate, water quality, distance to markets, prices you going to get at those markets, the list of variables is long. Then even if there is someone close to you that has done all the work and actually has a realistic answer for you, I doubt they are going to go out of their way to set up a competitor right next door.

To answer your third question (poorly), not that I'm aware of. Gary would probably know for sure. My impression is that the people making by far the most money from aquaponics are those that are selling the systems. Kind of like the gold rush, it was the people selling the picks, shovels, and alcohol that really cleaned up.

[MaxZero]

Then even if there is someone close to you that has done all the work and actually has a realistic answer for you, I doubt they are going to go out of their way to set up a competitor right next door.
.

Hi arachdog

I must admit I am surprised and idappointed by the tone of your posts

I have noted that there are many, many details that need to be addressed

From the onset I said I wanted to get a feel of the big picture as to whether Aquaponics was viable commercially and that is why I framed my first order questions as :-

1. What would a system cost that could generate a net profit of $40,00 per year?
2. Wahat sort of land area is required?

Does anyone in Australia have a viable aquaponics system???

If you are able to answer those questions or point me in the direction of someone who can, then that would be appreciated

I am not in the market for negative comments, but for information

I thought that was what this forum would be about

A question for you - given what you say about the "industry" - why are you involved?

Cheers

MaxZero

[Rew]

Hi Max

Your questions are not easily answered. Like Arachdog said there are too many variables. Friendly Aquaponics in Hawaii will sell plans for a commercial system you can build for a few thousand dollars, while a young couple on another forum have built a system in Wisconsin (cold winters) that has cost over 300,000 so far. They have a completely climate controlled greenhouse which is 50 feet by 100 feet. (15 meters by 30 meters?) and a purchased top of the line system and filters..
It doesn't take alot of space but it will take a lot of research of local markets and conditions. Like any business the more you put into the research and planning the more likely to succeed. Good luck :)

[fishfood]

Thanks fishfood

Where should I look for the secondhand setups??

Cheers

MaxZero
Try ebay

[GaryD]

Hi MaxZero,

1.
What would a system cost that could generate a net profit of $40,00 per year?
2. Wahat sort of land area is required?
The reason you're not getting a straight answer to your question is because (as people have been telling you) there isn't one. Instead of getting impatient with people, you should make a greater effort to listen.


Doeas anyone in Australia have a viable aquaponics system???
I know some people who run a commercial aquaponics system but they'd be quite unhappy if I posted their details on a forum. What they've learned about commercial aquaponics has been hard won and they're not likely to be interested in educating their prospective competitors.

For what it's worth:


Set yourself up a small system - if you can't operate that, you won't be able to operate a larger one.

If you don't already know anything about aquaculture and hydroponics, an apprenticeship would be useful if you're not planning to lose your shirt. Knowing about business is even more important than knowing about aquaponics if you're planning to succeed in an aquaponics business.

Be careful of taking advice on commercial aquaponics from people who supply equipment. None of those that I know have any direct experience of what it is that they'll try to sell you.



Gary

[MaxZero]

Many thanks to those who have posted replies.

My apologies if I have offended.

I do understand the process of apprenticeship, learning and starting small

When I know that that path will, if properly researched, lead to the desired outcome, then I am more than willing to follow it.

I have tried to explain that I wanted to know first whether or not aquaponics could be profitable and operated on a commercial basis.

The web site has numerous forums with various threads including "Commercial systems"

I , therefore, thought I could seek information regarding commercial systems from these forums

Somehow this is considered inappropriate

Again I stress that I understand variability, need to learn etc

I'll stop now, but I am surprised that the question"can aquaponics be commercial - what system is needed to make a profit of say $40,000 per annum" is considered to be naive or presumptious or worse

When solving a problem I like to work back from the solution and plan the steps required to retrace the path

As I said at the beginning. I am looking for a change and, if aquaponics can be manged profitably, and if an appropriate system doesn't cost more than I can afford to pay, and if it doesn't require a land area/ location that I can't afford to purchase, then my aprrenticeship begins now.

If I can't afford it - or there are no examples of successful aquaponics operations, then aquaponics cannot be the change I desire

Thanks for all the fish!!

Cheers

MaxZero

[GaryD]

Hi MaxZero,


My apologies if I have offended.

I doubt that you've offended anyone. Any perceived frustration would be the result of your repeating questions that were being answered (albeit in a manner that may not have been quite what you were looking for).


I have tried to explain that I wanted to know first whether or not aquaponics could be profitable and operated on a commercial basis.

The answer is YES....aquaponics could be profitable and operated on a commercial basis.


I , therefore, thought I could seek information regarding commercial systems from these forums

The only information that I can provide is that we watch commercial operations with interest......but that the people who run them in Australia generally aren't talking much about it.


I'll stop now, but I am surprised that the question"can aquaponics be commercial - what system is needed to make a profit of say $40,000 per annum" is considered to be naive or presumptious or worse

I repeat that the problem seemed to be that, while people were attempting to provide answers, they weren't quite what you were seeking. I think it may have been your "first order" questions that were the issue. I doubt that anyone considers you to be naive, presumptious and certainly not worse.

The reality is that, if our members are not earning $40,000 per year from commercial aquaponics, how could they reasonably be expected to advise you on whether its possible?

There may be some scope for you to achieve the lifestyle change that you appear to be seeking......but you may need to ask different questions.

For example, you might consider a community-supported agriculture (CSA) approach.

As a commercial producer of fish or plants, you may not be terribly competitive with specialist producers of either fish or plants (unless you can identify a niche market that is prepared to pay you a premium for your produce).....but you may be able to add some other integrations (like quail, free range eggs or chicken, farmed rabbits, etc) which collectively put you in the gourmet produce category.

Hope this helps.

Gary

[MaxZero]

Thanks Gary

That helps a lot.

I guess I thought that as quaponics seems like such a great syste [environmentally] for producing food, and that there seemed to be a large number of people engard in it, then there would have been mor information available

I take on board all of your points - thank you

I was tending towards an environment that embraced - aquaponics-permaculture-organics

Was really thinking about long term crops as well

I have a special needs daughter who loves animals so before we know it we have rabbits and so on

Sounds idyllic

Just need to find a way of making a living as I don't have the finacial resources to retire and call it a hobby

Thanks again

Cheers

MaxZero

[GaryD]

Hi MaxZero,


Just need to find a way of making a living as I don't have the finacial resources to retire and call it a hobby
The most immediate way to obtain a financial benefit is to grow your own food. Not only do you get clean fresh produce for your kitchen but growing your own allows you to keep the money that you would otherwise have had to spend.......and it won't affect any benefits to which you might be entitled.

You can also produce a surplus for sale to friends, family and neighbours......or for barter to other urban farmers who may be able to supply food.....or other goods and services.....that you don't have.

Have a think about LETS......a community-based trade exchange.....which will allow you to turn your surplus produce into other goods and services that you might need.

Once you get to the point where your friends and family hide (rather than buy any more of your stuff) you might consider taking a stall at any one of the dozens of weekend markets that are around the place.

The greater the diversity of your backyard food production system, the more varied your diet will be.....and the more you'll be able to sell to any single customer. You'll also be able to cut your production costs because you'll be able to make more effective use of all your system's outputs.

As you work your way through this regime, you'll be getting a sense of what your market wants and whether you like doing what it takes to supply it.

Hope this helps.

Gary