Aquaponics "Mythconceptions"

[GaryD]

Hi,

I've written a six-part series of blog posts that seek to debunk some of the fondly held notions about aquaponics. You can access the opening post....here.

Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

You can access my latest blog posting "Mythconception #1 - Stocking Densities"......here.

GaryD

[GaryD]

Hi,

You can access my latest post....."Mythconception #2 - Component Ratio"......here.

Gary

[Dufflight]

I not sure about Mythconceptions. When I started out they were general guidlines for the beginner, so they don't go out and buy 100 fish when there system had not cycled and even if matured could only handle 20 fish. Since I started I've run a system with a 9 to 1 ratio of water to media and have had 400 ish small fish in 380ltrs of water for months without loss. But I would still think a general guide line for beginners is a good idea. Poking holes may only lead to confusing the beginner. We can always push the envelope once we have the basics down.

[GaryD]

Hi Dufflight,

I not sure about Mythconceptions. When I started out they were general guidlines for the beginner, so they don't go out and buy 100 fish when there system had not cycled and even if matured could only handle 20 fish.

I guess that's my point. People are being told things like to buy 1 fish for each 10 litres of water capacity in their fish tank.....without regard for experience, species, or bio-filtration capacity. It's worth noting that one person who provides this advice has never succcessfully raised fish from fingerlings to dinner plate under this regime.

You and I can do it because we have sufficient experience to understand what's happening and we know what to do if our water quality monitoring starts to suggest a problem.

Since I started I've run a system with a 9 to 1 ratio of water to media and have had 400 ish small fish in 380ltrs of water for months without loss. But I would still think a general guide line for beginners is a good idea.

Interestingly, your system is seriously at odds with the general component ratio guideline of 1:2 (or 1:1) of fish tank to grow bed volume but it works because you know what you're doing.

In my view, we should be attempting to educate beginners properly rather than relying on such simple prescriptions.

We can always push the envelope once we have the basics down.

I totally agree. You and I both know more people who have killed fish than we do those who have successfully raised them to eating size and my contention is that they weren't properly educated in the first place.

Discussions like this one will help to address that problem. Thanks for your input.

Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

It's my birthday so I saved my favourite bit of aquaponic nonsense for today. You can access "Mythconception #3 - Grow Bed Depth".....here.

Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

And then there's the most ill-conceived and tragic of all of the mythconceptions "Mythconception #4 - Removal of Solid Wastes".......see here.

Gary

[nwestwood]

As usual, now your making me think again... It hurts my head. Well, now I'm learning about mechanical filtration AND figuring out how to plumb it into the system.

[GaryD]

Hi,

Using just 10% of the water of conventional gardening and turning fish wastes into plant food, you'd swear that aquaponics was like mother's milk - beyond reproach......but it ain't necessarily so. You can access "Mythconception #5 - Sustainability"........here.

Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

Last (in this six part series) but not least.....Mythconception #6 - Aquaponics is Easy!.......here.

Gary