Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi there
I am going to be setting up a system in Goolwa SA, I would like some advice on how best to setup my tanks.

I want to be able to have at least 6 growbeds and I would like to be able to have fish all year round,

would I be better off having 2 x 3000Lt tanks and have one with larger fish and then the other tank with small fingerlings, so that I can have fish growing to plate size at all times?

any advice appreciated

cheers Jan

damn, i got excited, i thought missy higgins had joined.

Hi and welcome Jan... Thought should weigh in as no responses as yet... other than Yavimaya's excitement.

Answer to your question probably depends on what sort of fish you want to stock. For example, silver perch don't eat each other so it's OK to keep mixed sizes together. I read, and have subsequently found, that some of them outstrip the rest in size after a few months. It works quite well because, as the bigger ones are eaten, others take over as the fast growers. So one large tank would be OK.

But two tanks gives a bit more flexibility. Would allow you to keep a mixture of fish or others that do eat their smaller mates... And you might also end up keeping fish with different temperature needs... for example silver perch in one tank/system and trout in winter or barramundi in summer in the other. I'm thinking trout more likely... my father lived on Hindmarsh Island for a couple of years and I remember a cold wind blowing during most of my visits.

Plus one.to all.comments.. one thing for SURE, you will want to expand and diversify...

As.for hot and cold.. i can't see.that as practical .. as one assumes that there is a common filtration system that will fight the temperature plans.. BUT.. YOU COULD HAVE ... a RAS and separate the cold system and remove solids to the AP system..

I am planning a cold RAS loop for trout, next winter..
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Deleted double post - system error
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I have two separate systems to allow me to heat a small well insulated jade perch system through winter while my silver perch deal with whatever the season throws at them. So I didn't make the assumption that there would be a common filtration system... but I can see that it makes things more complex.