Sunshine Coast Aquaponics demo kit

[suncoastaqua]

Just thought that I'd show everyone the kit that we've put in. It's a Patio Duo Kit, with room to expand.

As I mentioned in my introduction, I'm distributing Murray's kits on the Sunshine Coast, and we'll be having open days if anyone wants to see a working kit.

I'm just starting to cycle the kit at the moment, and will probably have to continue over winter. Am trying to get a smaller system set up inside my garage to house some Jade Perch fingerlings during winter.

Phil

[GaryD]

Hi Phil,

Nice looking set up.

Have you contemplated moving the two growbeds back off of the sump tank......with the besser blocks outside of the tank? It would give you a water garden without compromising your existing set up.

You could place pots filled with expanded clay into the water garden and grow water plants like water chestnuts or kankong. To ensure that the pots are at the right height, you could use fired clay pavers.

Either way, it's looking good and you're on your way. Good luck!

Gary

[suncoastaqua]

Hi Gary,

I thought that I'd just stick with the "stock standard" set-up, as this is our first demo kit. But that's a good idea about moving the sump. I might do that next time around, as well as spinning the tanks 90 degrees to give me a bit more room.

I will be adding some dwarf fruit trees to the equation shotly, in pots filled with coco coir, etc - not recirculating.

Phil

[wild]

Hi Phil,

Once my setup is going I too will be planting dwarf fruit trees. I will be putting them in Autopots. Where will you source your fruit trees from? I was told by my neighbour today that Flemming's Nurseries is quite good and they ship to QLD.

Why did you choose coco coir as the media? I haven't decided on what media to use yet and would be interested to hear why you chose that.

Gary - excellent suggestion on the sump. I will shortly be getting a Quad system so will have two. Thanks to your comment, I am now thinking of using one of the sump tanks for duckweed - do you think there would be too much water movement in the sump tank to grow duckweed in it?

Andrew.

[Murray]

This nursery is good value and great to deal with. They have fruit trees that can be identified to do well in your area.
Growing apples, peaches and the like around Brisbane has limited success, it is just not cold enough in winter.
There are varieties that people claim are ok for growing in warmer climates, but they are poor performers when compared to how they grow in their right climate.

Anyway, take a look through this site Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery

[GaryD]

Hi Wild,

Gary - excellent suggestion on the sump. I will shortly be getting a Quad system so will have two. Thanks to your comment, I am now thinking of using one of the sump tanks for duckweed - do you think there would be too much water movement in the sump tank to grow duckweed in it?

As the system is currently configured, the sump is a grow bed......so you might as well use it as such. It will provide you with an additional 30% of available growing space without you having to spend anything other than the cost of a metre or two of PVC pipe.

If you ensure that the outlets from your grow beds discharge under water, water movement shouldn't be too much of an issue for duckweed. If it proves to be a bit turbulent, you could place a plastic planting pot (with the square holes around the base) in the tank......weight it down with a stone.....and have your growbed discharge into the pot. The water will exit through the drain holes in the bottom of the pot.....and its velocity will be reduced in the process.

Gary

[Murray]

Hi Phil,
You have done the right thing assembling the kit in the manner it was designed to work. Having a ground level exposed sump is an immediate child safety issue.
We provide very substantial but attractive sump covers with child safety in mind.
If it is a desire to grow duckweed, please do it in a raised grow bed of some sort with appropriate measures for child safety.

[GaryD]

Hi,

You have done the right thing assembling the kit in the manner it was designed to work. Having a ground level exposed sump is an immediate child safety issue.
We provide very substantial but attractive sump covers with child safety in mind.
If it is a desire to grow duckweed, please do it in a raised grow bed of some sort with appropriate measures for child safety.

Since this forum is about ideas (as much as anything else), you might also like to consider that you can attach a weldmesh panel or cage which will allow you to achieve both things........greater productivity and child safety.

Gary

[Murray]

It is possibly a good idea but not one we recommend.

[Dufflight]

Daleys Fruit is a great site. I get most of my fruit trees there.