That was a really pleasant video in that uniquely friendly, humble and informative Aussie style. Defnitely worth a view. My favorite parts are the way he talks about growing and harvesting the fish "crop" just like the vegetables. Thanks.

scubastan, I'm not good at describing the s/h method, and I was going to provide a link, but unfortunately it was blocked because it said I was promoting the site. The only thing I'm providing is info, but now I am forced to explain semi-hydro. And since I'm not an expert and find it difficult to explain, I'm almost inevitably going to do a realy lousy job at it. From what I understand, s/h to me is just like those self-watering pots you see all over. You know, the ones where you put the potting soil in a compartment over a reservoir of water and the soil wicks up the water. Well, semi-hydro is almost exactly the same, only you use hydroponic media like hydroton/LECA. You can make the pots yourself at home by putting a few holes an inch or so above the bottom of any plastic container of the appropriate size for your plant. This provides the reservoir. Then you fill the container with LECA media and when you water thoroughly, any excess will exit the holes while the water in the reservoir wicks up through the media. The only thing you have to do is top off the water when needed so it is filled up to the holes. From what I understand (with orchids, anyway), you only weakly fertilize with this method. I'm doing something similar with my miltoniopsis. I have it in a net pot filled with hydroton and it is submerged about 1/2 inch to an inch below the surface of my tank. The clay on top shines slightly so I know the water has wicked up into the clay media. I just checked the roots today and noticed a new growth on one of the roots. Thankfully, it's working for me. I've never tried it before.

@ PupillaCharites & happy_fl_gardener - fascinating thread, thanks! I was taken by surprise at a Spring Garden show where TG had a booth - I fell for it! But I'm not disappointed as I'm having fun with it. I come to realize that I really have a keen interest in growing plants, ones I can eat especially, and now have a complete fascination with hydroponics as a growing system, so I came here to learn. Its time I start thinking about buying more Tonic and like others, I'm looking for an alternative b/c Yes, the TG tonic seems expensive and I get the feeling I can find an alternative. My goal is to build some of my own designed hydroponic units just for fun. But the immediate goal is to find a alternative feed before I head out of town for a few weeks and have to leave my husband with the TG which is currently loaded with veggies. There's a LOT to look up here - many recommendations so I'm going to check them out today and determine whether or not I have time to get my hands on these and do what I need to over the next few days. If I don't, I'll have to resort to going back to TG for the tonic but I'm pretty sure it will be the last time. NOT at all slamming the system or the company - it was expensive but I am having fun with it. I bought it for fun and not as a way to make money. I'm a boring banker and certainly don't need to get involved in MLM. Tx again everyone. I'm going to enter my link here. I am NOT actively selling the TG and I can't say I disagree with what some of @ PupillaCharites describes as their marketing program. I agree with you and so what I did was start a blog to track my experience with the TG as well as other crazy challenges I'm having living on a lot full of clay. As an FYI - I am almost out of the complete hydroponic beginner category at the moment. But what a blast I'm having with all the ideas I'm getting from all the hydroponic literature I've been reading. If I had a HUGE aquarium I could use fish poop as a fertilizer like they do at Epcot! Tx again all for the great conversations and debate. Here is a link that might be useful: The Wonky Gardener

Looks like a very efficient system, and I have a question but will hold off in case you would start a thread and put it there, it would be great to so a few people can see what you're up to, and we don't have to bury it down here in a different topic. As for the (blackstrap) molasses, looks like Oz follows the UK on that one and call it black treacle for the same stuff, and I agree completely it isn't something I would add but it does have most of the plant nutrients left over from the cane refining process (which is why refined white sugar has a reputation of being a non-nutritious food, since it all gets left in this black gunk in the bottom of the kettle). There is some somewhat dubious science that supports certain "rare & special" sugars that make up this kind of gooey liquid give some plant species a boost and they uptake them and use them, but I'm not convinced the widely promoted studies are gold standard in a scientific sense or just some snake oil salesman's gimmick. It seems to serve as a decent ingredient in lawns too but that might be for its ability to immobilize some tiny critter pests something like mineral and neem oil also can do. Speaking of molasses, it's hard enough to find so I'll follow your lead and keep the sweet molasses for my french toast (a.k.a., eggy bread) and my salty nutes for my plants. I do like vegemite, and apologize for the idea all Americans are horrified by it, which is so UNTRUE.