Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

ha ha no problem at all. I love the attention

harvested over 8 lbs of Toms Sunday. Going to make a salsa with homegrown Cilantro, and onions.

Had a leak in my netting IBC, It was right at the uniseal on the bottom. Bad spot. The bioslime has slowed it down, and I have ordered some epoxy to see if that will help. Fish are all doing well. Trying to get a liner for my breeding pond, but either it's too $ or it costs too much to ship a less expensive one. Was thinking of bentonite. Has anyone used it? Nitrites seem to be doing pretty good. I'm still checking several times a week, and occasionally need to skip a feeding.

Epoxy didn't work. Bioslime does, but each time I clean the filter, it starts leaking again. Going to try and secure a nice cone bottom and make the upwell filter that Ryan taught us in his class. No more cleaning netting.yeah. Fish are doing well, nitrites are good for about 7 days, then drift up. That tell me there is too much fish crap in netting filter. Once cleaned, it quickly drops back down again.

Plants are all doing well, need to add some more seeds for basil soon. Super busy with work, rabbits, pigs, and chickens. Need an away weekend soon.

Interesting diagnosis on the net filter, I imagine you'll be happier without cleaning that thing once a week. Good luck with upwell filter. Can't wait to see construction details on this.

It was something I learned at Ryan's (Chatterson's) workshop. Out of respect for him and his ability to feed his family, I won't share all the details, but will post a few pics. Too damn busy right now. Need to harvest more fish, but haven't had time.

Got cha. No problem

It's been a while. Some updates. Berkshire piggies are here. 12 born early this month. 1 still born, 2 squashed by the boar. Boar was moved to solitary, and the remaining 9 are doing great.

We finished the 30K gallon breeding pond a week ago and stocked with 14 tilapia. Was shocked to see a small school of babies swimming yesterday!

AP system is good, albeit a bit neglected. Lots of cherry toms and some new basil planted recently. I have a new hot sauce brand. It's made with Carolina Reapers, the world's hottest pepper. Also started raising bees. I have 2 top bar hives and 2 Lang hives. Looking into making a third hot sauce with our fresh honey. Looking for names. A few suggestions so far:
1. Hive Five
2. Sweet Heat
3. Nuclear Nectar
4. Hotcha Momma
Looking for any new ones??

Damn landscapers, showing off!

It's a beaut, Chris!

It sure helps to have some heavy equipment sometimes. Wouldn't have wanted to dig that hole by hand! It's about 33 x 20 and roughly 6.6' deep. I saw some more fry swimming by the shore today. I'm ordering a longer/wider net to catch them with. I tried futility this am to capture some with my little aquarium fry net. It's not happening.lol

How's your system doing Boss? More importantly, how are YOU doing? Good I hope.

Wow, it seems like the Talipia like their new digs. Plus it looks quite pleasing. Are you going to do aquatic plants to help with filtration?
My health: Edison was once quoted after being asked how his light bulb was coming along, to which he said, "I now know a 100 things that do not work." Pretty much the same with my feet. Next stop rheumatology. I buy that I've got gout which is arthritis, the second podiatrist said I have arthritis in my ankles too, sooo... this is progress.
Thank you for asking.
Brian

Opium? I don't know it would cure the problem, but you wouldn't care anymore. It worked well for the native Americans.lol

I've got pain killers, honestly they don't do a damn thing to heal anything or help my mild OCD (or as I called it this weekend OCB -(Obsessive Compulsive Brian!) Anyway I have way too many plans to let me sit around high.Which sounds fun in theory. Now the prednisone really works. My doctor approved my plan to only take them when I get a flare up in my feet like I did at our camp out. One minute I'll get up from sitting and not be able to put any weight on my feet, an hour later I'm fine. Go figure. Something to be said for instant relief.

Hive Five gets my vote, Iam thinking of doing a hot sauce here,I don't think the super hot would sell,so medium hot is where iam going to peg it,it's a way I think I can increase the money for what we are growing,instead of selling as is,prepare into something else and charge accordingly.......
Anyway iam looking for tips as you have been successful at this....
Love the breeding pond by the way,if you don't already know,Google EM and its role in natural pond upkeep,might be of interest.

Must be nice to cheat with the heavy equipment. I might have to try that in a month or so.

DB- I use EM now. I bought mother culture, and have been duplicating for a while now. I'm up to about 3 gallons now, which should be more then enough.
The tilapia are already breeding. I've got 50-60 babies into the RAS. Fast little boogers.lol

Had a total fish kill in the AP. The power on the GFI tripped and both pumps went out? Not quite sure how, as they are on separate breakers. Fed at PM, got up in AM, no water, no air. All fish dead/dying over next few hours. I cleaned about 30 lbs of tilapia. I'll transfer some smaller ones into the AP so my nutrient levels stay up. Always something. My back up genny is up and running, but it doesn't work when GFI's trip.