Not having green fingers I hope this is easier...

[SRoger]

Hello,

I have come across aquaponics recently and am really interested in learning more. I have been trying to grow things in pots but I haven't had much success yet - too much love or not enough I think. I'm trying to become more consistent.
Since having started a worm farm I have been better. I find that the fact that I have this nutrition rich solution which I don't want to go to waste, means that I do manage to water my plants the proper amount and at regular intervals.

Anyway, I am keen to try a simple system. I used to keep fish (so that bit I am comfortable with). I have been reading the forum and the newsletter. Any ideas, links, tips for a 'fools guide to Aquaponics - starting small' would be appreciated.

I have seen a few cool one but I don't always undertand how the flow of water is controlled. i.e. are simple systems on pumps and timers?

Also is there information on how to plant things (distances between plants).

Thanks

Sybille

[Hamish]

Hi Sybille and welcome to APHQ.

I would highly recommend you ge a copy of Garys book 'The Urban Aquaponics Manual Second Edition'

It can be found here:

http://www.aquaponics.net.au/product/category3_1.htm

It may seem like a lot of money to invest - however it will save you a huge amount of time and energy - not to mention allow you to source the right equipment and minimise the cance of wasting money on things you dont need.

Regards,
Hamish

[SRoger]

Hamish,
Thanks for that link. I saw the book and do intend to get it in a few weeks. For the moment I am reading the newsletter, which I downloaded a few days back, and the forum.
On that note I saw that there was a course
http://www.urbanaquaponics.net.au/seminar
It looks really interesting but I don't think I can make it and it is pricy for me at the moment since I am only considering doing my first test-run small system.
I don't know what your thoughts are with regards to the seminar. I also saw that TAFE did some courses (this was in the newsletter) and I want to investigate that obtion for the new year.
Has any one done some basic courses that they could recommend? Or is everyone kind of sell taught mostly?
Sybille

[Hamish]

I think you will find that mostly everyone here is self taught through experimentation and learnng off others. One of the hard things wen starting out is not so much access to information - but access to too much information. It is hard to know what to learn first. The good thing about a book is that it will give you all the basics so that you have a good foundation to add to with all your other research and reading.

[GaryD]

Hi Sybille,

I have come across aquaponics recently and am really interested in learning more. I have been trying to grow things in pots but I haven't had much success yet - too much love or not enough I think. I'm trying to become more consistent.

While I enjoyed success with growing in pots (in potting mix), I like aquaponics better.

Since having started a worm farm I have been better. I find that the fact that I have this nutrition rich solution which I don't want to go to waste, means that I do manage to water my plants the proper amount and at regular intervals.

I regard worms as an essential element of integrated backyard food production. They are particularly useful for mineralising fish solids so that they can be re-introduced back into an aquaponics system.

Anyway, I am keen to try a simple system. I used to keep fish (so that bit I am comfortable with). I have been reading the forum and the newsletter. Any ideas, links, tips for a 'fools guide to Aquaponics - starting small' would be appreciated. I have seen a few cool one but I don't always undertand how the flow of water is controlled. i.e. are simple systems on pumps and timers?

Aquaponics systems can be as simple or sophisticated as you like. I cover a variety of such systems in my book.

Also is there information on how to plant things (distances between plants).

Plant spacings are less of a consideration in aquaponics than in soil-based gardening because of the constant abundance of water, nutrients and oxygen around the root zone of the plants.

Gary