Barramundi Blue

[headinthecloud]

Hi all,

Was looking around the wed last night and came across a place called Barramundi Blue up near Townsville. It sounds like they're using aquaponics on a commercial scale very successfully.

There wasn't much info on their setup but it sounded like they were growing their plants in horizontal tubes filled with gravel and no other filters? Does anyone know anymore about the set-up and what other equipment they're using?

I've seen a lot about not being able to use this simple set-up on a large scale, maybe they've hit on the right balance or something?

I'd love to be able to have a look at other people's set-ups but unfortunately live a bit too far away in Newcastle. I've been out to see Tailor Made Fish Farm and was impressed by the size of it all. Anyone know of any other farms close by?

Curious...

G.

[GaryD]

Hi,

While I'm not familiar with the Barramundi Blue operation, I do know that some of the larger commercial aquaponic operations do not recirculate their fish tank water.

They pump from the fish tanks to the plants (usually lettuce or herbs) and then the water is run to waste.

In that situation, you would not need much in the way of bio-filtration.

Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

After my recent post, I thought I'd conduct a bit more research on commercial aquaponics systems.

I found the following information Barramundi Blue on the Aquaculture Association of Queensland web site.....http://www.aaq.com.au/geoff_orpin.htm

.....a daily water exchange rate of less than 1% (grading, drain-off and harvesting usage).....

....and then I found this ABC report at http://www.abc.net.au/rural/reporter...s/s1340364.htm

Barramundi Blue is also different in that it relies on a reticulated watering system, where the water is re-used on site over and over again. In fact, very little goes to waste at Barramundi Blue, with the water being cleaned and filtered through a hydroponic vegetable operation out the back before being re-used in the fish tanks!

Barramundi Blue is, by comparison with most other Aquaponics systems, a very large operation......producing 600kg of fish per week.

By contrast, Tailormade Fish Farms (also a substantial commercial Barramundi aquaponics facility) does not recirculate the water from its NFT hydroponic growing systems.....

As reported on http://www.hydroponics.com.au/back_issues/issue43.html

Although plants take up the organic nutrients and act as a natural filter to the waste water, it is not returned to the aquaculture facility. At a commercial level, this is not an option, especially if pesticides are used to control insects.

So, here we have two commercial aquaponics operations growing the same fish.....but with a significant operational difference.

I'd still like to know more about the Barramundi Blue bio-filtration system.

Gary