leo living legend
11th March 2008, 10:25 PM
Hi,
A friend and I have been lurking around aquaponic posts for the last couple of years intending to start an aquaponic system. Now reams of paper later, we can throw everything out and actually start with the real thing.
There was a bit of friction over the location because the best north sun was out the front and we had just finished doing "things" that look native out there. Anyway by the end of January this year we both had arm problems so threw all the heavy glass away and ordered a poly greenhouse, chopped back a side of a backyard shade tree and excavated into a bank.
We have inserted a large fibreglass ex-fishtank which is to be reborn as a dam linered fishtank. Most of this is under the floor of the greenhouse with a hatch to the outside world for fish retrieval. The greenhouse itself has concrete pavers on the floor to try to act as a bit of a heat bank. There is no history of frost in the last 13 years and the shade tree will also still supply some shade in summer.
The rectangular growbeds are to built out of timber framing and lined with dam liner. They will have a slight angle towards the front and an end and the water will be directed back to the fish.
A fresh water tank up the hill will replenish water levels in the fish tank.
We have trouble getting a water tank up the very steep site and around the side of the house so we are looking at getting a second hand swimming pool, unfortunately ours went out in hard rubbish a few years ago in the short lived celebration of kids leaving home. If nothing turns up this week we may build a concrete and timber affair with dam liner which is to live just up the hill a bit further (it has to be low enough to receive roof flow, in the hills you really need to make agreements with neighbours about water, it would be easier to share).
Our plan is to stock rainbow trout, and to tell them to grow quickly. We have a panel which we still need to reglaze which will aid water warmth over winter.
Next weekend the greenhouse will be erected. We are planning on placing some reinforcing mesh along the south wall and up following the hoop shape. This is for tying back to and drooping cucumbers, etc.
Whilst I love diversity I know how little we actually consume and how much a garden can produce so we will be putting in sweet potato, carrots, parsnips in coconut peat
Bok choy, Wom bok, Spinach, Garlic, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Pumpkin, Broccoli, Tomatoes, Chillies, Basil in Clay balls (at this time of year)
We planning on adding a duckweed tank and then a yabbie frame tank once things are settled. I will dry the duckweed for future use since keeping things frozen requires high energy usage.
It looks as though we will have to start breeding maggots or Black soldier flies for fish and future bird food.
When we have enough fish and vegie refuse we will purchase a breeding pair of khaki campbells who will live in our existing vegie garden (too much shade) and recycle the house recycled water that goes up there.
Since we are about to take down a long chicken wire fence to reuse we may also house a breeding pair of eating bunnies once food production can be predicted.
So much for the dreams - we still have to purchase - water aeration, submersible pump, piping, clay balls, trout, Starter food.
Well this could all happen just like magic. We are hoping to only be two weeks away from "almost ready".
Anyway, we hope not to fail, as this is a major project.
We will be back here asking for a little share of everyones knowledge as we get into the nitty gritty of actually "growing"
A friend and I have been lurking around aquaponic posts for the last couple of years intending to start an aquaponic system. Now reams of paper later, we can throw everything out and actually start with the real thing.
There was a bit of friction over the location because the best north sun was out the front and we had just finished doing "things" that look native out there. Anyway by the end of January this year we both had arm problems so threw all the heavy glass away and ordered a poly greenhouse, chopped back a side of a backyard shade tree and excavated into a bank.
We have inserted a large fibreglass ex-fishtank which is to be reborn as a dam linered fishtank. Most of this is under the floor of the greenhouse with a hatch to the outside world for fish retrieval. The greenhouse itself has concrete pavers on the floor to try to act as a bit of a heat bank. There is no history of frost in the last 13 years and the shade tree will also still supply some shade in summer.
The rectangular growbeds are to built out of timber framing and lined with dam liner. They will have a slight angle towards the front and an end and the water will be directed back to the fish.
A fresh water tank up the hill will replenish water levels in the fish tank.
We have trouble getting a water tank up the very steep site and around the side of the house so we are looking at getting a second hand swimming pool, unfortunately ours went out in hard rubbish a few years ago in the short lived celebration of kids leaving home. If nothing turns up this week we may build a concrete and timber affair with dam liner which is to live just up the hill a bit further (it has to be low enough to receive roof flow, in the hills you really need to make agreements with neighbours about water, it would be easier to share).
Our plan is to stock rainbow trout, and to tell them to grow quickly. We have a panel which we still need to reglaze which will aid water warmth over winter.
Next weekend the greenhouse will be erected. We are planning on placing some reinforcing mesh along the south wall and up following the hoop shape. This is for tying back to and drooping cucumbers, etc.
Whilst I love diversity I know how little we actually consume and how much a garden can produce so we will be putting in sweet potato, carrots, parsnips in coconut peat
Bok choy, Wom bok, Spinach, Garlic, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Pumpkin, Broccoli, Tomatoes, Chillies, Basil in Clay balls (at this time of year)
We planning on adding a duckweed tank and then a yabbie frame tank once things are settled. I will dry the duckweed for future use since keeping things frozen requires high energy usage.
It looks as though we will have to start breeding maggots or Black soldier flies for fish and future bird food.
When we have enough fish and vegie refuse we will purchase a breeding pair of khaki campbells who will live in our existing vegie garden (too much shade) and recycle the house recycled water that goes up there.
Since we are about to take down a long chicken wire fence to reuse we may also house a breeding pair of eating bunnies once food production can be predicted.
So much for the dreams - we still have to purchase - water aeration, submersible pump, piping, clay balls, trout, Starter food.
Well this could all happen just like magic. We are hoping to only be two weeks away from "almost ready".
Anyway, we hope not to fail, as this is a major project.
We will be back here asking for a little share of everyones knowledge as we get into the nitty gritty of actually "growing"