Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks for all your input, people.I'm spending as much time as I can reading through all the topics, and there is a lot of reading there. Could be a while before I get back. I'm the transport elf in a pork-growing operation out here, and the key to growth seems to be a combination of healthy stock, clean conditions, correct temperature, lack of stress and proper nutrition. Having re-read that, I realize that those factors apply to every living thing, so I probably don't have to say it at all.

AA, you must havemissed my comment re the international water expert who recently visited Adelaide and said we would be better off drinking recycled sewerage than the awful, polluted river murray water that we currently drink. I recon in our area, if you can't drink the water happily, I woul dn't expect my fish to have to swim in it!!

I thought it was "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day drinking beer in a boat"

I did miss that Monya. Good call too. What a shame about that beautiful river. We have major rivers being ruined too.

As a budgie breeder I know that birds reared inside have difficulty converting vitamin D to Vitamin E, and suffer bone density problems - does the same apply to fish reared in shaded areas ? I'm at the stage of working out where I will build my setup, in the shadehouse or further out where the weather is more extreme. I suspect the answer is 'No', or there would be nothing living in the Murray at a depth of more than about 300 mm. Big Mick

I think you're right on that point Mick. Fish live in the dark a lot, some prefer only the dark. They have xanthins canthaxanthin etc like animals and plants do which are known to assist not only colouring, but act as antioxidants and provide UV protection.

I've never seen deficiencies in fish I've raised in less than perfect light with aquaponics. Quite the opposite! Natural environment for most fresh water species is streams and rivers etc with riparian cover - bush.

quite friendly :lol:. Hmm. I think you may like the alluring lines of Channel Catfish. Channel Cats like swimming, eating poo, and long swims on the beach. Both sexes will nurse their young making the channel cat a perfect companion for those wishing to go out clubbing of a night.

In comparison with the parameters I'm looking at to spawn Banded Kokopu (or they die eggbound aged 2!...) channel cats look sweet.