KING VALLEY AQUAPONICS

Our aquaponics systems

Built, changed and learnt from over years of growing in North East Victoria.

King Valley Aquaponics has been working with aquaponics systems since at least 2016. Over that time we have built and operated grow beds, raft systems, fish tanks, pumps, plumbing and filtration — and learnt what happens when all of those parts have to work together through real seasons and real growing.

This page is our system story: where the ideas came from, what we built, how we used it and what we learnt along the way.

SEE OUR SYSTEM JOURNEY ↓ HOW AQUAPONICS WORKS

Basil and leafy greens growing in an aquaponics raft system

OUR SYSTEM JOURNEY

From learning the system to operating our own.

Our experience developed through training, building, growing, observing and changing things when they could work better.

THE FOUNDATION

The Indy-23 influence

Our aquaponics journey included training with Murray Hallam and Practical Aquaponics. The Indy-23 approach was an important influence because it brought fish production, filtration and different growing-bed methods together in one working system.

For us, the value was not simply following a plan. It was being able to operate different bed types side by side and see where each method suited the crops we wanted to grow.

See how our three growing-bed methods worked →

King Valley Aquaponics raft beds in operation

BUILDING THE SYSTEM

Grow beds, liners, plumbing and plenty of learning.

By 2018 our aquaponics system was really starting to take shape. The new grow beds were installed, liners fitted and the plumbing and water systems brought together.

Like most things we have built over the years, there was plenty of experimenting and adjusting along the way. Each change taught us more about how the different parts of the system worked together — and what we would do differently next time.

See the original January 2018 story →

King Valley Aquaponics grow beds with liners installed

SYSTEMS WE WORKED WITH

Different growing methods. Different strengths.

Media-filled aquaponics grow bed at King Valley Aquaponics

Media-filled grow beds

Solid media supported the plants while also providing a large surface area for beneficial bacteria. Flood-and-drain operation proved especially useful for propagation and herbs.

Propagation
Herbs
Root support
Biological filtration

Basil and lettuce growing in a raft-style aquaponics bed

Floating raft / DWC

Floating foam rafts allowed plant roots to hang directly into aerated nutrient-rich water. This approach suited leafy crops and gave us another way to compare plant performance.

Lettuce
Leafy greens
Constant root-zone water
Aeration

Historical King Valley Aquaponics raft growing beds

Raft growing in operation

We used the raft beds at different stages of production, from young plants through to more established leafy crops. Watching the roots and plants develop made it easy to see how the system responded.

Crop trials
Young plants
Raft spacing
System observation

Fish, water & filtration

The plant beds were only half the system. Fish health, oxygen, pumps, water quality and biological filtration all had to remain in balance for the growing side to perform.

See the complete aquaponics cycle →

FROM SYSTEM TO PRODUCTION

It was about growing plants, not just building equipment.

For us, the system was always about growing. Over the years we used it for seedlings, leafy crops and plants destined for direct sale and local markets.

Dense trays of seedlings grown by King Valley Aquaponics — Seedling production

Lettuce growing in a King Valley Aquaponics raft bed — Leafy crops in raft beds

King Valley Aquaponics seedlings and plants prepared for market — Plants grown for customers and markets

WHAT OPERATING SYSTEMS TAUGHT US

Aquaponics works as a whole system.

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Water

Water quality connects everything. pH, temperature, nutrient availability and system stability all matter.

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Fish

Healthy fish, feeding, oxygen and stocking decisions directly affect the rest of the system.

🌿

Plants

Different crops suit different beds, seasons and root environments. Crop choice matters.

⚙️

Equipment

Pumps, aeration, plumbing and filtration need to be reliable and accessible for maintenance.

☀️

Climate

North East Victorian summers and winters change both plant growth and water conditions.

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Observation

The system tells you what needs changing. Operating it over time is where much of the learning happens.

THE NEXT STAGE

Building on what we already know.

The next stage for King Valley Aquaponics is about applying that accumulated experience to a more protected and useful growing environment.

Protected growingA more controlled growing space that can extend production and protect crops.

Winter heatingExploring hydronic wood heating as part of improving cold-season growing conditions.

Learning spaceA place where systems can be demonstrated and future workshops or learning activities can be developed.

These are proposed future stages and would be developed as resources, approvals and funding allow.

OUR HISTORY & FUTURE →

Concept for protected aquaponics growing