Aquaponics / Hydroponics advice would be greatly appreciated

[RedThorn]

Just got word. He was pulling a tax dodge. The figures means a land rezone which means no ...
It's a no

[veggiechicken]

Sorry Sir Nut but its good that you know now before you got too keen. You'll just have to look for summat else that's exciting to do with your free time

[Newton]

Or start from scratch......

[bigchopsbilly]

That is a great shame RedThorn I was looking forward to this for you! The idea sounds like it has raised a new direction for you to grab. and now you will have time to learn and play with the systems that are around.

Thanks Woody21 for the welcome at the mo I have 15 heirloom toms 8 chilli/sweet peppers and 3 cucs in my little greenhouse and they are all growing great , Next year some of these will be swapped with cauli,sweetcorn and maybe melon and then I can compare the taste etc with my lottie veg.

I know once you mention the word 'hydroponics' it does put people off thinking you use a lot of man made chemicals and police helicopters flying over at night with heat guns but once I got around the thinking of how plants use/take up the nutrients and how the nutrients act with each other I am a lot happier in my learning of growing veg and its helping me down the lottie.

[Newton]

Just bumping this......

Been watching videos of smaller scale aquaponics......has anyone any experiences in the uk? On a commercial or personal basis........

Really wondering if you could make a living doing this?

[Warren Peace]

Aquaponics is sustainable. Flushing toxic salts into the drain system isnt. Its like the difference inbetween keeping a field on organic basics or feeding it with pallets of NPK. Thats the big difference between hydroponics and aquaponics. I keep 70 to a hundred trout and grow mostly tomatoes but I'm experimenting with leek, potatoes, oak saplings, lettuce, brassicas etc. I'm using growbeds with gravel as it offers a filtering facility throughout the winter months when the plants are taking up very little. The beds are also full of brindling worms which seem to help remineralise the fish solids. Having fish means that you cant use any chemical pest control on the plants so it forces you to look for organic solutions to any problems.

How realistic a commercial operation in the uk is I have no idea. I'd be interested in hearing more about the operation before the unfortunate turn of events.