Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I got last years intake to within a few weeks of the end of summer. Air or lack of it was the issue as I had no external air source. This year I have run external air all year and will see how we go.

I just made the offer public in case anyone was interested.

Did you get to eat any of your last batch, Johny5, or did you lose all 100 of them at the end of summer?

I had 200 hundred and yes they have been eaten. They where small so it took two or three to make a meal for one. I have also just harvested 15 from the batch of 100 I put in early March. These where 260 - 320g but they are at least plate size.

Hi all, long time reader and first time poster. I've spent hours reading this forum and learnt many skills that have helped me get ideas and plan projects.

I've tried searching all through this forum (and the net) for the best place to buy fingerlings either here in SA or interstate. I know of Tooperang, 1aquaponics and Soladome (where I buy most of my food).

I've developed an interest in Brook trout, does anyone know how I could obtain some? Happy to buy a reasonable amount if needed, just struggling to find suppliers myself. Also does anyone have any idea where I could buy either Brown Trout or Australian Bass? Are these a possibility for us in SA?.

Thanks

Hi Karlos.

Welcome to the forum.

We're getting a bit past trout season now, keeping the water cool enough for them would be difficult, but I believe most trout around here come from tooperang, and they have quite good prices. Give them a ring when it cools down.

With the bass, I head they are quite tricky in tanks, they are slow growing, and don't take to the feed easily. They'll also eat each other. I don't believe there is anybody in SA selling Bass, but there are a few mail order places:
http://www.aquablueseafoods.com.au/bass.shtml
I thought Ausyfish did them, but I don't think they do anymore.

Thanks for the reply CBB, I have been to Tooperang before and have been very impressed with their stock and prices, but unfortunately they only do rainbows. After doing a bit of research, I'd really like to give Browns or Brooks a crack, just I'm struggling to find a supplier . I'm lucky enough to have a chiller and therefore able to keep trout cool enough all year.


Thanks for the Aust Bass link, creates further options for me!

Cheers

Hi karlos88

The SA FlyFishers Assoc Inc had browns for sale a few weeks ago. They generally only release them for sale once per year. You could try then I will PM you the deails.

Thanks Johny5, I've now replied.

Loving the help from this wonderful forum.

Cheers

I've only just joined the forum. I've been looking at the questions and answers by different people specially relating to fish foods. I used to have aquariums about thirty years ago. I used to buy beef hearts for carnivorous fish, mince them and then freeze in small containers. When feeding the fish I, used a sharp knife and cut small slivers. Having all ready been minced the fish had no trouble eating it. For fish like gold fish believe it or not dry cat food has all the ingredients necessary. Just crush it and feed sparingly. Never feed fish more then they'll eat in a short space of time, more fish are killed by overfeeding then anything else. I can't imagine that fish kept in an aquaponics system would be any different. Now for another food item most people would have in their fridge, frozen peas suitable for gold fish or other omnivorous fish. Just crush pea to remove skin and squash into a paste then feed to the fish. I had a big Aquarium with fish regarded as carnivorous, yet after a while a number of them would join in feeding on the peas, these included Angel fish and Discuss. Blow flies killed with a fly swatter are much appreciated, often casing a feeding frenzy whenever the small maggots were released.

I'm still struggling to find Browns, anyone able to point me in any direction of where to look?

Cheers .

So no luck with the fly fishing association then?

Hi Johny5, again cheers for info, but unfortunately I never received a reply.

Cheers .

Hello To all the Adelaide folks.

I must have missed this little group , glad I found some more like minded South Aussie's
I started my Aquaponics system about 4 years ago,
I have 4 grow beds 2 with scoria media, 1 a mix of scoria and 20mm blue gravel, last one is 20 mm blue gravel.
On the fish side of things.
first 2 years i had trout growing
I will say that trout have been the an amazing success until we get out December heat ( have grown 2 seasons both seasons have lasted to mid december. brought them from Tooperang. and will get again next march/april
I purchased 100 mussels for the sumps, in the 2nd year, still have about 50, lost a few because of my yabbies but they are a integrating creature to watch. I have since moved them into the main fish tank due to the yabbies. and hopefully will start to breed with the fish in the tank fingers crossed.
I brought 25 barra's from WBA Hatcheries in december 2011 to see how they would do in our SA summer, I will be honest this was one of our coldest summers, although they survived till I culled them in late march the growth rate was a little disappointing. I wouldnt recommend these unless you where to heat the tank.
I got some 10 yabbies in december 2012, these where placed into the tank after my very successful 49 trout that i removed in december of that year. they thrived in the main tank, so much so that i fond little yabbies through the whole system (grow beds included) by the following year, these are now only in the sumps fingers crossed they stay put have about 10 massive ones and about 30 medium ones and 30 small ones, these are amazing to watch at night, should have eaten some but I will this summer cull some of the bigger ones for a awesome meal.
I have just purchased 25 Silver perch from Live fish, will be honest they where on the small side as a few where lost in the system to the grow beds, I will be looking to get some more SP in the not to distant future will probably be looking for 25 as I have only got 8 left (I had only ever lost 4 fish before these so it was a little disappointing) but they arrived when I was at work on a 12 hour shift and the although the better half said they look to small I went nah they will be fine. Woopsy should have listened the the better half. I will say they are not as spectacular as trout at feeding time.

produce from the grow beds
what works
tomatoes work excellently
bok choy
waterchest nuts (first season but look good so far)
watercress (can take over but it is so tasty on sandwiches and salads)
coriander
basil
chilli's
blackberries
avocado (no fruit yet 2 years old) started from seed
Peppermint
Lemon Thyme
lemon savory
sugar plant(candy)
strawberries

things not so well
cabbages,broccoli, cauliflower. all grow aok but cabbage moth issues.
capsicum do better in the soil as do chilli's.
sweet potato are amazing for leaf growth but not for tubers. they are better in soil

overall I am happy with how the system works.
in the future I will be adapting a bed to be just be for fruiting varieties, will introduce a mixture of berries, a passion fruit, Southern paw paw. and other water .

I will be looking to buy some Silver perch in the coming months so if you are also looking for some lets put our numbers together to get a good deal

Happy growing to you all

Hello To all the Adelaide folks.

I must have missed this little group , glad I found some more like minded South Aussie's
I started my Aquaponics system about 4 years ago,
I have 4 grow beds 2 with scoria media, 1 a mix of scoria and 20mm blue gravel, last one is 20 mm blue gravel.
On the fish side of things.
first 2 years i had trout growing
I will say that trout have been the an amazing success until we get out December heat ( have grown 2 seasons both seasons have lasted to mid december. brought them from Tooperang. and will get again next march/april
I purchased 100 mussels for the sumps, in the 2nd year, still have about 50, lost a few because of my yabbies but they are a integrating creature to watch. I have since moved them into the main fish tank due to the yabbies. and hopefully will start to breed with the fish in the tank fingers crossed.
I brought 25 barra's from WBA Hatcheries in december 2011 to see how they would do in our SA summer, I will be honest this was one of our coldest summers, although they survived till I culled them in late march the growth rate was a little disappointing. I wouldnt recommend these unless you where to heat the tank.
I got some 10 yabbies in december 2012, these where placed into the tank after my very successful 49 trout that i removed in december of that year. they thrived in the main tank, so much so that i fond little yabbies through the whole system (grow beds included) by the following year, these are now only in the sumps fingers crossed they stay put have about 10 massive ones and about 30 medium ones and 30 small ones, these are amazing to watch at night, should have eaten some but I will this summer cull some of the bigger ones for a awesome meal.
I have just purchased 25 Silver perch from Live fish, will be honest they where on the small side as a few where lost in the system to the grow beds, I will be looking to get some more SP in the not to distant future will probably be looking for 25 as I have only got 8 left (I had only ever lost 4 fish before these so it was a little disappointing) but they arrived when I was at work on a 12 hour shift and the although the better half said they look to small I went nah they will be fine. Woopsy should have listened the the better half. I will say they are not as spectacular as trout at feeding time.

produce from the grow beds
what works
tomatoes work excellently
bok choy
waterchest nuts (first season but look good so far)
watercress (can take over but it is so tasty on sandwiches and salads)
coriander
basil
chilli's
blackberries
avocado (no fruit yet 2 years old) started from seed
Peppermint
Lemon Thyme
lemon savory
sugar plant(candy)
strawberries

things not so well
cabbages,broccoli, cauliflower. all grow aok but cabbage moth issues.
capsicum do better in the soil as do chilli's.
sweet potato are amazing for leaf growth but not for tubers. they are better in soil

overall I am happy with how the system works.
in the future I will be adapting a bed to be just be for fruiting varieties, will introduce a mixture of berries, a passion fruit, Southern paw paw. and other water .

I will be looking to buy some Silver perch in the coming months so if you are also looking for some lets put our numbers together to get a good deal

Happy growing to you all

Hi krissy, welcome to the forum!

Count me in for some perch, I could go 25 of them well.

Start up a members thread I'd love to see some pictures of your system.