Journeyman's Journey into Microponics

[Journeyman]

I came across Aquaponics a couple of months back and have been planning a system since. With a bit of leeway in resources I decided to get a greenhouse and set up inside it to better control the environment.

I've just received a 4.3m x 2.5m polycarbonate GH and I have several IBC's including one already set up for a FT. I have several GB's I'll be using as well as pipes and pumps etc to get it all working as an AP system.

I'm planning on using a couple of solar panels and deep cycle batteries to power the pumps and maybe heater or lights etc.

Being new to all this I hadn't actually thought much further than the lovely idea of using fish poo to grow healthy fresh plants and clean the water to help grow healthy fresh fish.

I've got a few ideas to trial that I think should help a bit on variation but I must admit I wasn't looking forward to a constant diet of fish and greens even though I do like my fish. I was thinking variety might come from barter with local butchers or even pubs etc.

Among other things I was thinking of using large buckets to grow fruit trees/plants and trimming them for height to keep them GH-sized as a way for increased variety, but I'm not sure yet whether chooks and other livestock would be permitted - unfortunately I'm living in a rental.

I figure to get my AP system working and add in other steps one at a time so as to not fail the system and cause spikes etc. With multiple GB's I was thinking the organics that accumulate in the bottom can be cleaned regularly and used as fertiliser in more prosaic garden systems. The excess herbiage from crops can add to a composting system...

So extending the system to add in more critters is something I approach cautiously but the more I can learn about how a lot of systems inter-relate the more likely it is I can create a much more stable system that might offer an income beyond replacing a good part of the household plate.

[GaryD]

Hi Journeyman,

I came across Aquaponics a couple of months back and have been planning a system since. With a bit of leeway in resources I decided to get a greenhouse and set up inside it to better control the environment.

I've just received a 4.3m x 2.5m polycarbonate GH and I have several IBC's including one already set up for a FT. I have several GB's I'll be using as well as pipes and pumps etc to get it all working as an AP system.

You're off to a good start. A greenhouse will be useful in a place like Bendigo at this time of year.

Give some thought to incorporating some mechanical filtration into your system design. It will serve you well down the track, trust me.

I'm planning on using a couple of solar panels and deep cycle batteries to power the pumps and maybe heater or lights etc.

I assume you're talking about using solar hot water system for heating......rather than batteries?

Being new to all this I hadn't actually thought much further than the lovely idea of using fish poo to grow healthy fresh plants and clean the water to help grow healthy fresh fish.

The fish poop isn't so lovely.....but the nutrients in it are good stuff. What remains (sludge) is good for the worm farm or compost heap.

I've got a few ideas to trial that I think should help a bit on variation but I must admit I wasn't looking forward to a constant diet of fish and greens even though I do like my fish. I was thinking variety might come from barter with local butchers or even pubs etc.

You might find that it gets complicated once you start bartering fish in places like butcher shops and pubs. Unless you're disposing of them as live fish, the Safe Food regulatory authorities regard barter as being no different to selling them.....and that's going to complicate your life no end.

You'd probably be better off swapping them with other food producers who grow things that you don't.

Among other things I was thinking of using large buckets to grow fruit trees/plants and trimming them for height to keep them GH-sized as a way for increased variety, but I'm not sure yet whether chooks and other livestock would be permitted - unfortunately I'm living in a rental.

There are plants that are much better suited to greenhouse culture than fruit trees.....many of which need a cold season anyway.

I figure to get my AP system working and add in other steps one at a time so as to not fail the system and cause spikes etc. With multiple GB's I was thinking the organics that accumulate in the bottom can be cleaned regularly and used as fertiliser in more prosaic garden systems. The excess herbiage from crops can add to a composting system...

....or become the feedstock for black soldier flies.....or chook food.

So extending the system to add in more critters is something I approach cautiously but the more I can learn about how a lot of systems inter-relate the more likely it is I can create a much more stable system that might offer an income beyond replacing a good part of the household plate.

You might be interested in the thread titled....."A Microponics Micro-business."

Gary

[Journeyman]

Hey Gary, thanks for the comments - that thread was what kicked off this one. I've completed the basic food handling course so I've got an idea of what I would need to comply with to sell food into commercial areas; my interest in barra is part of that process. I asked around a couple of local pubs re how they would view being able to provide hours-old barra on their menus.

The solar hot water is something I was thinking of for later - as far as I know, SHW uses solar heat to heat the water, whereas solar cells use light. This means I can get power in times when there isn't enough heat to make a tepid bath from a water system.

Does anyone know of the barter systems that tried to get going a decade or so back? I haven't heard much since those days but at one stage there was actually a barter card system proposed. Could be something AP'ers and MP'ers could use when they have production up?

[Samatuer]

I'm new to this too, so I can't offer you much in the way of advice but if you need some local trade type assistance I can help.

[Journeyman]

Hey, way cool... what kind of trades? Happy to pay as well, or even provide beer and BBQ. :lol: I'm also happy to trade labour, so to speak - been a computer guru since 1987 so it doesn't even need to be shovels. *grins* Where are you at with AP? I know a good source for IBC's from Shepparton - pretty much brand new, no noxious chemicals and $50 each.

[GaryD]

Hi Journeyman,

Does anyone know of the barter systems that tried to get going a decade or so back? I haven't heard much since those days but at one stage there was actually a barter card system proposed. Could be something AP'ers and MP'ers could use when they have production up?

BarterCard is alive and kicking....and there are other similar trade exchanges around, too.

Having been a member of a trade exchange, my personal recommendation would be to leave them alone. They levy substantial fees on every barter.....and they can be very difficult to get rid of.

Arguably, the biggest issue with them is that, by their very nature, they are more focussed on services rather than goods.....so, if you have fresh produce to offer and you hope to use your trade dollars to purchase other goods, you'll find that you are very limited.

As a formal alternative, I'd suggest that you research LETS (Local Economic Trading System). A well-managed LETS scheme is much easier on the pocket and is probably better suited to local barter around things like food.

We'll eventually get around to barter and selling system as part of the Microponics Micro-business/farm thread, too.

Gary