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Does anyone know of a source that associates growing space and vegetable production rates (looking for the same for tilapia)?  Trying to answer my own questions around market analysis...how much do I expect to produce given certain growing space (and water volume) assumptions for commercial enterprise.

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Your climate... and/or climate controls.... and daylight exposure.... are going to ultimately determine your potential production...

 

Along with previous growing experience...

Thanks for your comment!  You're absolutely correct!  Other "depends" responses are what vegetables will be grown, magnitude of fish, volume of water, etc.  But one has to start somewhere!  But does anyone know of a source?  I'm hoping to find a table (or better yet a spreadsheet) that accounts for these variables and provides production rate info (assuming certain parameters).

OK, I'll try this again with more specificity:

Does anyone know of sources on the web or otherwise that help size up production rates of leafy vegetables grown using a raft system and well stocked tilapia.  By leafy vegetables, I'm thinking chard, bibb lettuce, basil, etc.  I'd like to figure out how large of a system I'd need to build to be profitable.  I understand that there are numerous variables that depend on the answer to my question, but I'm looking for a starting place!  Maybe there are examples of systems out there given certain parameters (?).  Any advice or guidence is appreciated.

You might start with a Cost Benefit Analysis of Aquaponic Systems

A Google search might provide other interesting results to work from.  To do any cost/benefit analysis, they must have some estimate of production rates and costs.  This might help you size your system.

Steve Stallard said:

OK, I'll try this again with more specificity:

Does anyone know of sources on the web or otherwise that help size up production rates of leafy vegetables grown using a raft system and well stocked tilapia.  By leafy vegetables, I'm thinking chard, bibb lettuce, basil, etc.  I'd like to figure out how large of a system I'd need to build to be profitable.  I understand that there are numerous variables that depend on the answer to my question, but I'm looking for a starting place!  Maybe there are examples of systems out there given certain parameters (?).  Any advice or guidence is appreciated.

Thanks David.  I've actually seen that link before (I think I"m wearing out Google with all the searches I've been doing!), but I'll look this over anew.  Maybe there's something there to help.  You really know you're journeying uncharted territory when you can't find something so easy to envision (but a lot harder to create).  Thanks again!
 
David Palmer said:

You might start with a Cost Benefit Analysis of Aquaponic Systems

A Google search might provide other interesting results to work from.  To do any cost/benefit analysis, they must have some estimate of production rates and costs.  This might help you size your system.

Steve Stallard said:

OK, I'll try this again with more specificity:

Does anyone know of sources on the web or otherwise that help size up production rates of leafy vegetables grown using a raft system and well stocked tilapia.  By leafy vegetables, I'm thinking chard, bibb lettuce, basil, etc.  I'd like to figure out how large of a system I'd need to build to be profitable.  I understand that there are numerous variables that depend on the answer to my question, but I'm looking for a starting place!  Maybe there are examples of systems out there given certain parameters (?).  Any advice or guidence is appreciated.

The trouble with the last one is that the data was provided by the vendor for their aquaponics setup.  They might have been a bit overly optimistic in order to get good results to market.  But maybe not.

Here's maybe a more relevant study:

Aquaponics: Community and Economic Development

This was conducted by MIT for a masters in city planning.

"This thesis provides a cash flow analysis of an aquaponics system growing tilapia, perch, and lettuce in a temperature climate utilizing data collected via a case study of an aquaponics operation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin."

It's only 100 pages.

Dave


Steve Stallard said:

Thanks David.  I've actually seen that link before (I think I"m wearing out Google with all the searches I've been doing!), but I'll look this over anew.  Maybe there's something there to help.  You really know you're journeying uncharted territory when you can't find something so easy to envision (but a lot harder to create).  Thanks again!

WOW!  Hey, this actually looks like time-worthy reading!  I really-really appreciate it David!  Many thanks!
 
David Palmer said:

The trouble with the last one is that the data was provided by the vendor for their aquaponics setup.  They might have been a bit overly optimistic in order to get good results to market.  But maybe not.

Here's maybe a more relevant study:

Aquaponics: Community and Economic Development

This was conducted by MIT for a masters in city planning.

"This thesis provides a cash flow analysis of an aquaponics system growing tilapia, perch, and lettuce in a temperature climate utilizing data collected via a case study of an aquaponics operation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin."

It's only 100 pages.

Dave


Steve Stallard said:

Thanks David.  I've actually seen that link before (I think I"m wearing out Google with all the searches I've been doing!), but I'll look this over anew.  Maybe there's something there to help.  You really know you're journeying uncharted territory when you can't find something so easy to envision (but a lot harder to create).  Thanks again!

I've been enjoying the read myself.  It has a lot of great references to research on aquaponics.  But it also has a great case study.  I can't believe they spend so much on heating water - I hope the solar water heater works out.  This shouldn't be too hard to build considering what they've already done.

Be sure to share what you find!

Dave

Steve Stallard said:

WOW!  Hey, this actually looks like time-worthy reading!  I really-really appreciate it David!  Many thanks!

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