Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well yeah growth rates wise compared to trout and barra, they probably don't compare but hearing from some, they are good eating... sure it takes maybe two years or more (hopefully they live for a few years), but at least during summer you don't need to stress about finding a fish to power your AP system... and possibly by two summers you get a plate size silver...

I wouldnt be surprised if some of Chilli's Silvers are ready to eat by the end of next summer. If you are after a quick turnover you buy fish that are a bit older as Chilli has done. You have to remember Nocky that the trout you purchased were already 1 year old where as the Silvers Rick got that were about the size of your thumb nail were only a few weeks old.

Thanks Gav - yep, that's my plan. At an average cost of around $1.65 a fish, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a jump start seeing you had the different sizes available. Now I can stock SPs year round and still probably get a harvest every 6-8 months as I'll continue to buy fingerlings from here on in and therefore always have a range of sizes ! That's one thing you can't really do with trout or barra.

Every single one is alive and well and they've pretty much been eating since day one. They still panic a bit everytime someone walks past but they get back to normal mode as soon as the person has stopped or gone so I figure they'll get used to it pretty soon.

Yeah, got Jaymie to get rid of the Up & Coming for me - the extra 2.5kL comes from the sumps that I hadn't thought of when I first started the thread.

Gav I am almost converted, will see how CD's go, it is a personal thing and no way am I discouraging people from having them, if I go silvers I will have to eat a lot of humble pie, especially where monya is concerned

Bloody oath I will bite, no fun if you don't, and I was extremely disappointed that you didn't bite when I was fishing.

Yea, just as Gavin says (thanks Gav) the trout you bought were already a year old, and my poor little silvers were still missing Mummy. Knowing what I know now, I should have been feeding my silvers a higher protien diet when I got them. This would have held them back but they are growing well now. I doubt if as quick as trout, but then I have another 3 months to go for a fair comparison. Also last year if I was not away for a couple of months, I may? have kept the doors on the hot house closed more and kept the water warmer??

Keeping SP all year round so you could eat them all year round would be a bonus. And another bonus is that SP are more tasty!!

+1 Rick. And with the sizes being staggered, there's no need for spending a day or two cleaning and freezing a massive harvest - you can have them fresh

Today's readings;

Amm: 0 - 0.25
NO2: 1.0
NO3: 5-10
pH: 7.6

Fish fed very well last night but were not hungy again this morning. Readings are a little more static than I imagined they'd be, given that the system is on constant flow since I turned it on on Sunday.

Water was salted to 1ppt on Sunday to minimise effects of nitrite.

Last night was spent busily planting out seedlings till about 9:30pm - more to go but have to wait until the 3rd GB comes online - hopefully late this arvo.

- 2 types of strawberries
- 3 types of lettuce
- broad beans
- broccolini
- watercress
- mixture of beetroots
- rainbow chard

Looking good CD, wow they grew quick

Yeah - that lunar planting really works

Should be soon !

Was reading about that, and went out and planted a bunch in the dirt garden during the full moon. More peas, beats, lettuce and radish. All had sprouted in two days and peas are going hog wild - at lease 4 times the growth of the others, but I bet it will get to warm for them by the time they flower. Perhaps a shade cloth over them will help some. Peas planted in Sept are now fruiting. Should get a good serving by Sunday - but they usually never even make it back to the kitchen, just eat them in the garden. Next year will go a little earlier with them.

Looking good something has me wondering whats with the 2 gas hot water services on the shed are you heating your Fish water !

DejaVooDoo - my reply was tongue-in-cheek as Nocky well knew - they were seedlings that I planted. Wanted the jump start, plus I have seeds for most of the same plants and this way I can get a staggered harvest of these plants. So, I haven't quite tested the lunar planting theory yet - but will !

F&F - one is a gas heater (for kitchen and our en-suite) and the other is an electric temperature-maintainer-thingy that drastically reduces the waiting time for hot water, thereby using less water for about the power of a 60W light bulb.

pretty little groups there CD... bugger that insects love to see a whole bunch of the same species together like that,
the easiest way to end up with an infestation of aphids is to group things all nice and neat.
Take the piss all you like, I have nothing to gain by sharing my experience others, than offer
to people who have no idea of the benefits.