The Queenslander Unveiled

[Castaway]

Hope Gary doesnt mind hotlinking to a photo of his new range of Aquaponics kit systems he has unveiled called The Queenslander.

I will now talk about the elephant in the room.

I know this is part of a more comprehensive kit system and some features are not shown in this photo:

What puzzles me is that Gary consistently criticized manufacturers of 300mm grow beds as selling a myth. Here is a quote from his website:

A commonly uttered nonsense has it that media-based grow beds must be at least 300mm (12 inches) deep and, I have to say, that this is one of my favourite aquaponics myths.

So I have to scratch my head and wonder why his new fibre glass grow bed that he rants against are now unveiled as a new design feature and sport 300mm grow bed depth?
Am I thick?
I can't understand the reasoning behind it.
Have the roles actually reversed? Has the apprentice in fact learnt something from the master?
I am wondering if the missing particulate filter that will soon be unveiled will in fact resemble a Murray Hallam designed filter that is currently in operation or is this all just a myth-understanding and a myth-coincidence?

Please inform me as I am a slow learner and am waiting to be corrected...

[RupertofOZ]

Thanks for posting the photo Castaway...

As I'm not a member of "the most open public aquaponics forum"... I have been unable to view any photos of the products development...

A pity, given the much trumpted hype as to the suggested benefits of the "proposed" new system... I would have thought they would be proudly and loudly displayed...

As other threads and posts by other members often (or at least used to) display photos... I had thought that it was merely a permissions problem that would be resolved by the admin... especially after/during the most recent upgrade...

Like you, I'm somewhat confused as to the growbed depth, given the clamour of recent objections....

And even more confused by the suggestion that the author had designed the system and commissioned the moulds himself....

The design for my next aquaponics system "The Queenslander" is well advanced.

As the name suggests, "The Queenslander" is designed with local warm water species in mind.

Almost from the outset, I've had a checklist of criteria that I use when planning any aquaponics system.

I've been waiting for several weeks for some new fibreglass grow beds and sump tanks to be made......

It in fact appears the system is based upon designs and product from another

These items were designed, about two and a half years ago, by my colleague Martin O'Dee.

Similarly, I was under a myth-impression that the author would be offering the systems for sale....

It appears in fact that he is actually only acting as a marketing agent for another person.... and perhaps just obtaining free product for evaluation purposes...

We're also investigating the availability of other quality fibreglass components and, while I don't plan to sell them, I will obtain prices and contact details for you.

I had heard a rumour that Mr O'Dee had folded his aquaponics business...

[dufflight]

At least we know why they chose the color. It is a dead ringer for other FG kits on the market.

[RupertofOZ]

It's pretty common business practice for a new player to imitate an existing product Duff.... even down to the look and feel....

Although I guess it could be argued that there's only so many ways that you can modify an existing proven design.... without being truely original and inventive...

But that takes much reasoned analysis, prototyping and testing... and time...

[bushboy]

calling it a queenslander is a bit of a stretch imo

up to Murray now to come up with a catchy marketing name -

practical aquaponics is ok but we need a more aggressive
one - what about "The Australian aquaponics system"

that will be hard to top!!

[Murray]

My access to

"the most open public aquaponics forum".in the world

is also restricted, so don't get the idea that you are special Rup....

It is true Martin O'Dee did get that product made a couple of years ago and as anyone can easily see it is a "knock off" of my stuff. He also lacked any original ideas. He started off as a client of mine, purchasing a complete Homestead kit which is still operational at what he calls "Rush Creek" Once he figured he had worked it all out he went off to start up his own "Aquaponics-Shop" As far as I know he sold a total 4 kits. Three of them were my manufacture.

It is a free country, so good luck to them.

Rather complementary, to have someone following you around copying everything you do.
It really doesn't matter.

If the person/s would put his energy into promoting Aquaponics, instead having an ongoing rant, then more people would get to hear about, and get involved in Aquaponics....in all it's forms.

Wouldn't that be great ???? The number of people involved in Aquaponics would expand.....more people improving their health and wellbeing, and having a load of good clean fun !!!!

It is actually rather strange business behaviour coming from a person who claims to be a small business coach, run a business with over 400 apprentices, managed a sewerage treatment plant, wrote for numerous farm magazines, and kept chooks and quails for 30 years while running a restaurant.

Don't be surprised if we see in the next lot of photos the circular saw being taken to those dreadful 300mm deep grow beds....the bottom half as the new wonder 150mm deep grow bed and the bottomless top half becoming a surround for a no-dig garden.

[Castaway]

Don't be surprised if we see in the next lot of photos the circular saw being taken to those dreadful 300mm deep grow beds....the bottom half as the new wonder 150mm deep grow bed and the bottomless top half becoming a surround for a no-dig garden.

Get some chicken netting and you could use the off cuts as structural supports for a quail farm.

Its all beginning to make sense to me...

[bigdaddy]

Hi folks
Running a restaurant and doing all of those other things as well? Now thats something else!
To be fair,he has been quite helpful to me recently.I think he likes 300mm growbeds himself.He told me he had 9.Ithink his point was that he didn't think 300mm beds were mandotary.
I was thinking about his coments this morning about the subject and have asked him to clear up a couple of points for me.
I would like to ask you guys a couple of questions,If I could?as well
Now, I do understand that making a 300mm standard depth grow bed is good production practice in manufacturing,but for the run of the person who just wants to grow thier own produce,using aquaponics,is 300mm the ideal depth for your media based grow beds and if so simply put why?
Sorry to be so pointed but I just want to know for future expansion of my system. Cheers

[chainsaw]

If you guys just stuck to promoting AP instead of mud slinging then this would be a much better forum. One can read between the lines and see there has been a falling out along the way, but it just p*sses me off that a few of you want to keep it going.
When I read posts like above its like TV I just turn it off. IanK made a good reply one day so why not adhere to it.

C'on guys enough is enough.

[Castaway]

You make a very good point Chainsaw. But hubris needs to be dealt with.