75 replies to this topic

[mattt]

Been tinkering with some aquaponics, still need to cut some fencing stuff and fill a couple more grow beds.

[Cawdor]

That's a good idea with the IBCs... nice conversion.

[MrOrange]

Looks good

Did you end up getting trout?

[mattt]

theres 50 - 60 trout (from troutman, top bloke!) in the blue intex pool off to the side. water flows to the growbeds from the pool, auto siphons into the IBC's below and then overflows back into the pool. any ideas what i should put in the IBC's below? fish or plants. doesnt have to be edible!

Edited by mattt, 06 June 2011 - 07:38 PM.

[MrOrange]

ah good stuff, was going to offer you some trout if you missed out.

Interesting design, the trout should grow quick in that big pool. Not sure what you could put in the IBC's - maybe yabbies but probably more hassle than its worth.

[Neddy]

I got some yabbies if your interested...maybe swappsies?

[werdna]

Very nice. Up for another race? I need to come back from losing the last one!
I start building my AP setup on Friday. Wait for the system thread

And it looks like you have space for another IBC, thats convenient, I happen to have a spare one!

[mattt]

ah good stuff, was going to offer you some trout if you missed out.

Interesting design, the trout should grow quick in that big pool. Not sure what you could put in the IBC's - maybe yabbies but probably more hassle than its worth.

yeah the cool thing i like about aquaponics... no two people have the same design!

I got some yabbies if your interested...maybe swappsies?

yeah maybe, i prefer marron and both are not that worth it in such a small place, they eat eachother before i get any!

Very nice. Up for another race? I need to come back from losing the last one!
I start building my AP setup on Friday. Wait for the system thread

And it looks like you have space for another IBC, thats convenient, I happen to have a spare one!

haha i have 3 more IBC here already...

as for race i took the day off tomorrow...since the auction runs so damn lateeeeeee, should be finished tomorra!.

MrOrange, when / how much seasol should i add to the system, also what about chelated iron? or do people just add that when leaves show sign they need it

[werdna]

Not a race to finish, You have a running system, I have a concrete slab at the moment.
I meant race to grow something!

[mattt]

haha, well i planted seeds in seed trays a few weeks ago, so they are close to transplanting across. i bought marigolds.... i was told they give off a scent that keep bugs away. and while i got those i grabbed a few seedlings and put them in, lettuce, basil, tomato.

Also if you want Hydroton (the expanded clay media) Bunnings sell it for $56/50L. I had them price match backyard aquaponics (they sell it for $40) and with -10% they drop down to 36$/50L. seems pretty decent, more uniform in shape than some others i have seen.

My beds are not 100% expanded clay, more like 65-70% Pea gravel / 30% expanded clay. Really easy on the hands for planting, easier to move too. And the gravel will give a more solid base for plants that need decent roots. I'd imagine corn would just blow over with 100% expanded clay (my opinion)

[highlucks]

Just throw your seeds straight into the grow bed. I have been running my AP without fish since xmas and growing straight from seed. Beans, parsley, peas, capsicum and chilli.

I price matched at bunnings too but got the price down to $32 something

Edited by highlucks, 07 June 2011 - 05:04 PM.

[Ivan Sng]

Great to see more and more people going in AP.

Mattt, I think you need more growbeds...

Mattt and Werdna, in order to win the race, you need to know what plants to put in the growbeds... Basil and tomato aren't going anywhere unless you have a greenhouse... Same for beans, capsicum and chilli...

If you like Silverbeet (Swiss chard), put some seeds... There might still be enough warm to let them establish...

But the plants to grow now are:
Broadbeans, cabbage, garlic, lettuce, onions, peas, radish, snow peas, spring onions...

Brocolli, and caulliflower should still be fine to put in...

Oh yes, Highlucks, AP without fish is not AP...

Edited by Ivan Sng, 07 June 2011 - 05:38 PM.

[mattt]

Broadbeans, cabbage, garlic, lettuce, onions, peas, radish, snow peas, spring onions...

Brocolli, and caulliflower should still be fine to put in...

Thanks for the headsup

i have lettuce and snow peas in already. i'll try what you mentioned above tomorrow. will just throw the seeds into the growbed and see what happens

Edited by mattt, 07 June 2011 - 05:48 PM.

[Ivan Sng]

Best to selective sow rather than broad cast...

Say you want broadbeans, I would find a good suitable location on the growbed, and put two seeds in the same hole... for those will smaller seeds (less than a pea seed), put three seeds per hole...

Remember to check their growing habits... some require trellis (like snowpeas, peas), so would be best that it is up at the back of the growbed or against a fence where you could secure a trellis... don't want a trellis of snowpeas to be in the way of harvesting a cabbage...

[werdna]

OK Matt, best plant growth in 3 months time.
Up for it? I still cat believe I lost the BN challenge!

[highlucks]

Great to see more and more people going in AP.

Mattt, I think you need more growbeds...

Mattt and Werdna, in order to win the race, you need to know what plants to put in the growbeds... Basil and tomato aren't going anywhere unless you have a greenhouse... Same for beans, capsicum and chilli...

If you like Silverbeet (Swiss chard), put some seeds... There might still be enough warm to let them establish...

But the plants to grow now are:
Broadbeans, cabbage, garlic, lettuce, onions, peas, radish, snow peas, spring onions...

Brocolli, and caulliflower should still be fine to put in...

Oh yes, Highlucks, AP without fish is not AP...

Thanks Ivan, there were fish in there before xmas though my last couple of trout did not like the heat. As for the plants I listed they were just examples of plants that I have grown from seed.

[werdna]

http://www.gardenate.com/

Enter Temperate Zone for Perth and all the hard work is done for you

[Ivan Sng]

Highlucks, oh okay, so care to show more about your AP system? Is it still running now??

[MrOrange]

Mattt I dont really use seasol - I only start looking at additives if and when the plants show a deficiency. I suppose you could add a capful every week without any worry.

I personally find using a good quality pellet seems to provide all the nutrients required.

Where are you getting your food from?

[Ivan Sng]

http://www.gardenate.com/

Enter Temperate Zone for Perth and all the hard work is done for you

And for those that like to "plan" on the move... they have also an app for the smartphones that includes a "My Garden" section where you can enter what you planted, and the app estimates when you could harvest...

Edited by Ivan Sng, 07 June 2011 - 06:28 PM.