The good old days of having a veggie patch is coming back into our lives so why not make it better and make it look amazing too!! Aquaponics is the method of combining both Aquaculture and Hydroponics in a symbiotic ecosystem. In aquaponics you grow both fish and plants in the one system. Put simply, you feed the fish, the fish provide the nutrients (yes fish poo!!) for the plants and the plants c
lean the water for the fish. This creates a sustainable ecosystem where both plants and fish can thrive. The plants grow in a media, generally expanded clay balls or stones like scoria, in which large bacteria colonies live and break down the ammonia to nitrites and then nitrates this is known as the nitrogen cycle. The plants feed on the nitrates and in effect clean the water. To assist with the break down of solid waste worms are added to the growbeds and seem to thrive in the oxygen rich water.
--History--
A few years ago I was looking at ideas to keep fish and yabbies without having to clean filters on a regular basis. Aquaponics seemed to be the answer and enabled me to grow fish as food in my own backyard. As an avid fisherman there is no better way to eat fresh fish and still practice sustainable fishing with the added benefit of great quality fresh fruit and vegetables. I started with a small basic system, then designed a larger one for my parents, upgraded mine to a similar large system, then designed and assisted my dad in constructing another system but just a different way to do it. Coming from a family of farmers it was inevitable that I convert my backyard to a very productive area. We have had goldfish, yabbies, rainbow trout, silver perch and the wonderful tandanus catfish in our systems and they have all done well. We have even had our trout feature on the menu at the Eynesbury Golf Course and were met with positive reviews. We started the business after our page received requests for assistance, quotes, builds and we had developed a Backup Aeration Kit to keep our fish alive in the event of a power failure. Current Focus: Sustainable Vertical Food Systems
Save the world, grow your own reality
