If you’re considering getting into home aquaponics you might be wondering whether the benefit of small aquaponics systems outweigh the effort. You might be asking, can backyard aquaponics really help with the cost of living? Can a small aquaponics system help to feed a small family? Let’s look at some of the insights into why it’s worth considering a system that requires an investment of time and money and when or whether it will pay off.
The short answer to whether you can feed a family with an aquaponics system is “yes”. But there are a number of things that need to be taken in to consideration. Here are some questions you may want to know the answer to.
How much space is needed for an aquaponics setup to feed a family of four?
If you get the right setup and work with the right planting schedule, you can keep your footprint to a minimum and still manage to feed your family for the year.
Setups such as this one from Murray Hallam’s Practical Aquaponics boasts the ability to feed a family of four year round with a footprint as small as 13.6m x 4.7m.
How much does an aquaponics system cost?
This all depends on how DIY you want to get and how big you want the system to be. A compact system can be made entirely on your own with plans that can be purchased online. Or you can buy flat pack systems that can set you back around 10k. The added cost of appropriately prepping the area for the setup needs to be taken into consideration.
Is a home aquaponics system economical?
The average Australian household spends $10,000 on groceries each year, of course this includes household products that cannot be produced domestically, laundry detergent, paper towel, shelf stable products. Given that cost of a home setup and the fact that it can produce for you year round, we could assume that a home aquaponics system could pay for itself within a few years.
What does a home aquaponics system look like?
There are many variations on a home aquaponics system but the basic concepts are the same. Below is a diagram illustrating the principals behind an aquaponics setup.
