Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Definitely be careful with those 55 gallon drums. Did I tell you that one of mine is leaking? Pretty bad, too. Someone else posted about it on this forum, but I thought it was an isolated thing. Oh well. I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with mine. I could put all the fish in a 55 gallon tank inside over the winter, but then I need to figure the water changes, etc.

you did mention that one of the barrels was cracking near the end, is that where it's leaking? i ended up leaving the "lip" on my barrels, so the frame that it sits on is actually a little longer.. i'll definitely be inspecting the barrels (one pair anyways) when i bring them in to filter the water for the fish..

I didn't level my base as well as I probably should have. I think this might have contributed to the barrels shifting. It is leaking at that junction.

I'm thinking to change the flow so that that side is "off" over the winter. Then just let it run! I think with the water moving around, it shouldn't freeze solid. Dunno!

Keith,

Are you back to the planning stage? I'm not really sure what to do with my fish outside. They don't want to eat at all now that the temps are in the 30-40 F (0-5C). Is that typical, do you know?

I wouldn't be feeding any once the water temp is down below 50 F, Just gotta hope they have enough reserve to make it through winter. Just keep a hole melted through the surface of the ice if the bubbler doesn't keep it ice free.

hey kris, long time no hear.. hope things are going well for you and the family..
yeah, they'll be slowing down a lot as it gets colder, i think i'd add a little food every couple days if they were still outside
i moved one pair of growbeds into my basement, and have 3 55gal glass tanks on the floor.. just added some "rosy red" minnows, and picked up some insulation - the water was at 68 with no heat added, so i got a couple heaters and got it to 70 pretty easily.. adding insulation under and around the tanks should let me get the water up a couple more degrees.. it looks like i'm down to 8 yp in one tank, but i can actually tell they are getting bigger,, i think 10 or 12 bg in their tank, one definitely carrying eggs, and 2 that are over 8".. i'm kind of half looking for more fish, but want to get the insulation and piping done.. after that i might add tilapia, or a few more yp if i can find some close by
3 crayfish left, and i think 2 will be putting out some eggs soon
i brought my 110 gallon stock tank in and filled it half way with water yesterday, some place to put the fish while i insulate... wednesday i'm hoping to get pvc to re-plumb my pump
debating bringing in the other pair of gb's, but would need at least one more flourescent light...plants in the basement are doing great except the pineapple, one of our cats decided he liked it and chewed all the ends off the leaves before i put it up on a small table1

http://www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm

keith, i know you were interested in the blocks...but whilst searching I found this...i may help

thanks gnash, i have a swirl filter in a 5 gallon bucket in my system now.. i found some "cut to size" all natural air filters to make the first one, the filter material was under 4 bucks, enough to fill one bucket..
i gotta do some painting this weekend, but have the stuff to make another bucket type swirl filter with 3m "scrubbies", so probably over the next week or so i'll start that..
i'm getting some scuds next week, and may get some daphnia this weekend

What is your plan with the scuds and daphnia? Are you growing some fish from frys?

one of my 55 gallon tanks is my minnow tank, scuds will go in there, if any make it to the other tanks, they'll be food for the yp or bg
the daphnia are going in the minnow tank too, but i'm sure they'll be in the whole system before long,, i suspect that a good size colony will help keep my filters a little cleaner, and of course they'll be food for the minnows.. did you know that yp have gill rakes and can filter food as well? i learn somethin new all the time

been thinking about getting a few apple snails too..

I've now read all posts in this thread. Exciting stuff! I am about a month from completing my home build. Project #1 for April will be my AP system. It's good to know you've had success north of me. I thought I would give this a try for YP (http://coolwaterfarms.com/Live_Fish.html) and this for crawfish(http://www.crayfishman.com/bait.html)
I will be placing the excess into ponds. I can't wait to get up and going! Thanks for the inspiration.

I wonder if they can ship out to Oregon. That's about 8.3 cents per inch not including shipping which would be really expensive. The only place out here listed as selling them, no longer has them posted on their site. When they did it was at 75 cents per inch.

@Scotty - It was the skeins of fertalized YP eggs that got my interest. Even if it 20% hatch success, that's still 1000 fry.

that does look interesting.. i have a new 120gal tank that i have to pick up.. i was hoping to get my perch to lay some of their own eggs...
the crayfish place you noted is sold out till spring.. i got yp from a guy in ohio - Sugar Creek fishery, he has crays as well, and does ship.. there are several nice fisheries in ohio, might make a good day trip - i picked up my first batch of yp outside toledo..
the only way to get my system through these winters was by bringing it inside.. things are going really well in my basement

I like the idea but I hear feeding is not that simple with the small ones. Have you thought about how you'll be doing this? Predation can be up to 50% so you'll probably want to grade along as they grow (or maybe let it happen is better), still that's a lot of fish .