G'day & IBC plus NFT system

TCLynx

Happyfarmernt wrote:

In the last week I have added another 500L grow bed but the use of cheap expanded clay was not a good choice as it floats and leads to the gravel bed shifting significantly - to the point that it buries transplanted seedlings.

The new GB is attached directly to a new second 25mm SLO.
This has allowed me to take the restrictions off the main pump from the sump to the fish tank.
The greater flow has lead to the fish tank water clarity improving significantly.

The strawberries are producing a heap of flowers but there seems to be a lack of pollinators and am still waiting for my first strawberry. Veggie growth had accelerated over the past few weeks with warmer weather. Celery, rainbow chard, parsley, coriander.
The local possum is also coming around for snacks on the increased greenery on the uncovered NFT systems.

Trout system had a pump failure because I was messing around with the bell siphon which lead to the GB overflowing and a loss of water. Thankfully the pump
Trout are growing really quickly and it seems like they are noticeably bigger every day.

Jade Perch are feeding @ 80g/day - I've noticed a big size difference now that the water has cleared and I can see them as they come up to feed.

Feeding rate has been 2-3 times per day lately.

Does the cheap clay still float if you make the stand pipe extra short and do only a shallow flood and drain in that bed? Most of the extra porous very light media tends to wick a lot of moisture up so the flood height in such a bed might be appropriate to have it be several inches below the surface of the media.

RupertofOZ

Happyfarmernt wrote:

Jade Perch are feeding @ 80g/day.

Just shows what an incredibly warm winter we've had in NSW this year...

I've been feeding my Silver Perch twice a day.... the late arvo feed is almost like the trout...

Happyfarmernt

TCLynx - good to hear/ read that the lighter stuff may wick better as I have lowered the standpipe with the aim to stop the shift in the media. I was thinking that at least I could plant deeper

Rupert - I'm very fortunate for the warm winter for the Jades, my water temps are sitting around 19-20C now and they are hitting the food hard.
I'm still wishing I could have stocked the main system with trout tho - they seem to have at least twice the growth rate.

Happyfarmernt

Strawberries are starting to take form - I had better do something to keep the possum away!

Planted out (Sept 1):
In trays - pak Choy, parsley, basil, lettuce, Chinese cabbage.
Direct - sweet corn, butternut pumpkin, capsicums, garlic chives

Happyfarmernt

Life got busy and the system had to take care of itself for a bit (beyond harvesting veges, feeding fish and occasional top up of water).
Packing up the system in the next couple of weeks. Half will go with me Alice Springs & the other half to a mate.
Jade Perch are around 20cm.
The trout died one very hot day when I had let the water get a bit low.
NFT kept cranking out the greens - enough for us and the local possum.
Collected a bunch of seed for the next system.

skeggley

Bump.

Backyard Aquaponics A place to discuss aquaponics

G'day & IBC plus NFT system

Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics