Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all, I am new here and trying to absorb as much information has my small mind will allow

I am wondering about fish choice with relation to good plant growth. Trout require water cooler than what I would think would be good for plant growth, am I wrong? Does it not matter as long as the air around the plants is warm enough?

So does fish choice make a difference in vegetable production?

tia

Cold water temprature fish means cold weather crops will do best. Warm air around the plants wont help as the water will be warmed by it too.

To answer this, take a look at Gordon's (Gunagulla's) aquaponics success with trout in these threads or his website:

Gunagulla Organic Garden
Gordon's Crater
Gordon's 2nd, larger, AP system

If you're in a cooler climate, trout are a pretty popular aquaponics engine. The type of fish decision often comes down to how easy a species is to care for, the sturdiness and strength of the species, and their enthusiasm for eating and producing waste. Of course there are lots of other reasons for choosing one type over another. Some plan to eat the fish and others don't. Some folks like trout because they are interesting. Some folks like crawfish because they are weird (okay, maybe because they like to eat them?)

There are several others on this forum from Michigan and surrounding states. Checking with your neighbors who share your climate, regulations, and options, to see what works for them is a good thing.

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Sam

Similar to conventional gardening just plant to season, the type of fish driving it makes no difference.

I would like to raise fish I can eat and/or sell preferably. I'm kinda a crazy guy and would consider warming the water after it leaves the FT and before it enters the plant beds and then cool it back down before returning it to the fish tank. I know that might sound crazy but I will already have cooling and heating exchangers built into my system for cold winters and hot summers. I love Arduino's and can control everything with one, they are so easy to program and they cost less than $15. I have some springs in my pond and the water near them is very cold all summer and I plan to heat with my wood burner in winter time.

Sound too crazy or no?

Any one ever try Crappy? Jumbo Perch? Blue Gills? These are my three favorite fish to eat. Once I have my feet wet I will try these no matter what any one else says

Here's a nice thread about CrappIE in aquaponics. (If you search for CrappY you'll find yourself mesmerized by reading about Andrea's adventures in Thailand.) One of the problems folks have is training them to eat commercial food pellets. Forum member bcotton has some success with that documented here:

Crappie in Aquaponics (feed training experiment)

The SRAC (Southern Regional Aquaculture Center in the US) has a nice Species Profile on Crappie that describes one method to train them to take pellets. Probably worth a read if you're going that route:

SRAC 7212: Species Profile: Hybrid Crappie

There are many threads about folks using different species of Perch and Blue Gills.

Good luck!

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Sam

20c is a good temp for both, purely answering the title question.

Sweet, thank you everyone. I have some reading to do!