Utilizing nature to create a zero impact, zero waste, carbon positive, completely self sustainable eco system,
... producing fresh organic fruits , vegetables, fish, crayfish & energy - In our backyard.

Welcome to our adventure ...

Aquaponics is a natural eco-system, which organically produces vegetables, fish & crayfish. It is the integration of fish cultivation, aquaculture, with hydroponic plant production.

Fish wastes are 'filtered' by natural bacteria producing a rich nutrient source for the plants. The plants utilize these nutrients for growth, thus purifying the water to then be returned to the fish. This continuous cycle is what happens in a nature.

Aquaponics has many advantages including, requiring much less space than traditional farming methods, highly efficient food productive method - potentially higher than hydoponics, with zero environmental impact.

- No chemical fertiliser's, pesticides, insecticides or soil conditioners are used.

- Zero water waste. All water is constantly purified by the plants and recirculated back to the fish.

- 100% of all nutrients are used, creating two crops from one nutrient source - the fish food.

- 100% of wastes generated are utilized on site through filters that feed the plants. Worm composts & Black Soldier Fly's are utilized for all vegetable off cuts and house hold waste's, creating natural healthy fish food source's. Worm & BSF castings being used for enhancing soil condition.

- As a source of protein, fish are the most efficient convertors out of all our farmed animals, achieving feed to flesh conversion efficiency close to 100%.

Aquaponics is a 100% natural eco-system.

PVA has also incorporated a totally off grid solar power installation, supplying power for the system, work shed and computers.

1st Livestock Harvest

Today I tackled the biggest of my foreseen problems with my system layout, harvesting the livestock.

My grow out tanks are long & narrow (5mtrs x 1mtr x 1mtr) with 4mtr grow beds setting on top. This meant that access was limited to a 70cm gap at one end with a 30cm gap at the other end for feeding.

The idea was to fill an empty IBC to hold the fish for purging. So I pumped water from the grow out tank into it and a spare kiddies swimming pool as not to waste water. When the water was down to 30cm deep it was time to jump in, crawl around and hand select the largest silver perch for our upcoming Aquaponics Seafood Feast to be cooked on the Rocket BBQ.





A total of approx 20-25 fish averaging 450 grams (the largest being 650g) were selected and placed into the IBC for purging & easy 'final harvest' over the festive season. Estimated total harvest is 12-15kgs.

A couple weeks ago the decision was made to harvest all of they Red Claw Crayfish that were in the 2nd grow out tank. Growth was slow & unimpressive in my mind. From a starting qty of 1 mature pair & 200 juvinille crays, a total of 80 crayfish were harvested with a total weight of just under 7kgs.




300 asst fingerlings of Silver, Gold  & Jade Perch along with 50 Murray Cod are on order to fill the created void.

Delivery is expected mid January.