Towards the end of 2007, we used Joel Malcom and Faye Arcaro from Backyard Aquaponics to install a large aquaponics system adjacent to our house in Piesse Brook.
The system consists of six large grow beds, a small sump tank and a large 3000 litre fish tank. It took us a while to get the system set up right. For example, initially we stocked the tank with just 25 Silver Perch. We found that this stocking level didn't produce enough effluent from the fish to supply the grow beds with enough fertiliser for the plants to grow effectively.
Since adding an additional 125 Silver Perch, we haven't looked back. The vegetables have been growing like crazy and we've now successfully harvested lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, beetroot, spring onions, celery, artichokes and capsicums in the grow beds.
The fish are also now plate size and ready for harvesting.
The system is large enough to provide a large proportion of our fish and vegetable needs.
One of the great things of this approach, is that it uses just 10% of the water of traditional vegetable growing methods. So in an increasingly dry climate, this is a great way to go. The only downside is that the pumps do require electricity to run, however we have 2kW of solar PV panels being installed tomorrow, so this will help us run those pumps free of emissions.
The six grow beds. Celery and spring onion in the foreground.
Broccoli and young artichokes doing well.
Succulent cos lettuce and spinach.
The 3,000 litre fish tank, covered to keep children and predators out.
A plate-sized silver perch straight from the system.