Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thought you might enjoy this photo

Dave,
For the black corrugated pipe that is in your plant containers, what size slits or holes do you have cut in them?

Hi Trox:
I'm not sure, the new holes that were drilled were maybe somewhere between 1/8" and 1/4"? They just have to be small enough that the gravel doesn't fall through.

Dave, How are your fish doing, deaths stopped? Where did your get your Chelated Iron, any specific brand?

Almost stopped. Wife informed me this morning that one is floating at the top almost vertical and opening and closing his mouth. I almost pulled him yesterday but left him. Other than that one they haven't been dying much the last few days. I had thought they had perked up when the cold spell was over (I put a dinky 50W heater in there to help a tiny bit), but I noticed yesterday that the food is sitting on the bottom uneaten. Still don't have a pH test, but I'm going to the bank near the pet store tonight so maybe that will say something.
Almost all the basil was pulled as we weren't using it and it looked all wrinkly anyway. I am waiting on the cherry tomatoes - there are several on the plants. There are also some blossoms on the pepper, and the marigold has one floer on it! The peas I planted are gradually growing up too. Things have slowed down a lot with the colder weather, and the sick fish haven't helped anything.
I am now wondering if I should just start clean with tilapia in this tub in the basement, and put the surviving gold fish in the 30 gallon tank I will be stealing from Mom and Dad next time I go to Ohio.
I don't remember the brand, it is in a foliar spray bottle; I just asked the nursery clerk for chelated iron and made sure it only had iron in it. I haven't used it yet. The previous multi-mineral stuff was from AgWay.

Must of done something right to get toms fruiting, maybe a good idea on the tank it's not going to get any warmer for any extended period I'd guess. Hopefully you'll be able to get all your plant to continue inside. Thanks for the info.

Dave - your system got out of whack somehow, or the goldfish became diseased or something. When you set up for Tilapia, make sure you can maintain the system at 80 degrees, otherwise they don't eat, slow growth (low fertilizer output), etc., etc., lots of tube heaters. I get those big 400watt heaters for the extended cloud cover and cold days we get here in the valley, lasts about three - four weeks. 400w is good for 100-150 gallons. I have six of them, and tanks heavily insulated w/ bubble wrap.

Ugh.
80 degrees will probably put a hurt on our electric bill, although it may not be that bad in the basement. There is not a lot of space down there, though. I am hesitant about what we call in the business "feature creep", i.e. adding complexity with heaters, solar heaters, multiple pumps and more tanks, etc. Goes against the ideal of sustainability.
I was reading about yellow perch at the Ohio State aquaculture site today.
http://southcenters.osu.edu/aqua/index.htm
I know of a couple places can get blue gill or yellow perch from.

http://southcenters.osu.edu/oaa/ncrac/wallat/sld001.htm

Ohio Aquaculture Association has done alot of Perch research.

http://southcenters.osu.edu/oaa/slideshows.htm

Actually Dave, try Hocking College

http://www.hocking.edu/academics/school ... /index.htm

You might be able to get some info from them regarding perch.

My niece works there! Maybe she can hook me up with some fish through her connections at the day care center.

http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/programs/fi ... le2005.pdf

you've probably seen this. But it might be good to go see a farm and get some free info....

and of course here

http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/programs/aquaculture.html

I'm sure you've been to these sites. UC Davis is the local focal point for aquaculture in California although Tilapia is not a featured stock.

What about Crappie? They get bigger than perch....I think they are more disease resistant and tolerant of temps/DO

Know how you feel Dave.

Wife's Rules for Shopping:
Never go shopping when you're hungry.
Think carefully about the coming week's menu.
Make a list of the things you know you need.
Take only enough cash for what is on your list.
Ensure Husband follows same rules for his shopping.
LOL - How many times have I forgotten alll that when I'm in the toy shop...er, hardware store?

Shin