Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

G'Day Matt,

That's right, we used 12mm marine ply, and left it as we bought it, no paints or varnishes.
We then pre-drilled and screwed down the 12mm dowel to the tops to assist in stopping them from bowing under the weight and it is working pretty well. Even with the full weight of those celery they are holding up pretty well. They serve very well as handles for moving them around too. We spaced them far enough apart that none of our kids can press on edge and they wont flip up, but the beds themselves are to high to actually breach.

I wanted to build a DW system that didn't use the floating foam, there was something inherently discouraging to see food growing in something that was black and green from slime and algae. We invested a lot of time in trying to find an alternative.

We get quite a few interested people who want to see 'aquaponics', which is fine, and the biggest thing they expect is plants growing in fish poo. We built the two systems with the idea in mind that you had to be happy to eat the food that they were producing, and that is one of the comments we regularly get. And part of the reason we have worked extremely hard to have such crystal clear water in the little system. The DW system has a lot of work to do in that regard yet, its still pretty murky, but it'll get there.

Marine ply was really the only alternative that we could see that suited our purpose,

It has also had the added benefit of acting as a brilliant insulation. We had a row of stinking hot days where the little system's water temps rose from 14DegC to 18-20DegC whilst this system didn't rise above the 14DegC at all.

Regards

Just caught up with your thread been out of action for a while [bottle exploded and yep in eye ]
Looks tgreat when I can drive in three months will come and have a stickey

Bloody Hell Mate, Thats no good!
Was it that home brew you're famous for?
The doors always open here for you my friend,
I look forward to seeing you
Regards

and the beauty of it is that it is easily replaced or changed in the sense that you can just drill smaller/larger holes and dispose of the old piece..

If ever I go DWC, it will be your way.. No floating things that want to move and distort and sink

Indeed a practical solution, and probably cheaper than fancy floating material..

Has my slack BIL (Gordan) been around to get more pointers on his Hydroponics Setup.. and
I am surprised that his green thumb daughter has not jumped in head first.. AP = Right up their alley..
..
.

http://macedon-ranges-aquaponics.tumblr.com/post/151220972890

Hey, while i think of it, we are trying something a little bit different for us this season.

Instead of keeping Brown or Rainbow Trout, we have Golden and Brook Trout.

These are the Golden's feeding.

We got them in April and they are now around 25-30cm in length and are just as easy to keep as the others were.

So far we have had no deaths (bar a jumper or two and one stuck in a filter in the first week) there have been no changes in husbandry compared to the rainbows or browns, no water quality changes, growth seems to be a little slower though, I had initially thought they were faster growing, but last years records show to the contrary.

I can't get the Brook's on camera effectively, they are simply not photogenic, stunning markings and colouring, but unphotogenic.

Anyone else had a go at these yet? Can anyone comment on taste etc? their own experiences?

(This is the only one clear photo I have of them, its dated 11/06/16)

Hi Porter,
what size were the trout when you got them in April? Are they growing at the same rate? And do they feed at different times or foods as the Goldens?
Thanks, Pete.

..
I want to try BROOK trout.. I must ring and see if they are available..

Having great success with the biocenosis or whatever you wish to call it.. ( ZeoLite Bags )
Got over 100 mostly fully grown fish in 2000L of water and next to no "Ponics"
It's been a year now and the long predicted CRASH still has not come..

must be some red faces out there..

Hope to get back to say hello soon.. :-)
..
.

..
PS - the people supplying BROOKies , said they were the better eating and the most temperature tolerant..
\,,

Hi Pete, nice to meet you.

http://macedon-ranges-aquaponics.tumblr ... 2998298796

sorry i keep posting links, but these are the golden and brooks in april, they were probably 5-6cm? ish?

I had initially thought that they were growing faster than the Rainbows and browns, but last years records show that they are a little slower, on average, nothing to cause me to go regret my decision, we still begin harvesting in 4 weeks or so.

I kept the same feeding times out of habit, so morning and night, they feed on the same pellets from Ballarat Trout Farm and have no specific requirments that the browns and rainbows don't have.

As they were initially in the same tank, I noticed no feeding competition between species, no dominating etc, they are equally competitive.



Hi mate, hows things, i am looking forward to finding out! The water temps here have been between 5-8DegC all winter, and they have showed no ill effects,

Regards

Thanks Porter,
I am planning on getting 2.5 cm brown and rainbow trout from Buxton Trout Farm in early November.
I've been reading a lot about fish & feed lately and how to keep trout over the hotter months of the year. I did consider Silvers for the first batch then read there is a big difference carrying smaller trout over summer than full sized. So I'm back to thinking I'll be able to manage 30 fingerlings through summer.

I fired up my aquaponics system yesterday which is now cycling fishless 1/2 hr on 1 hr off during the day and 2 hrs of at night. I've transferred about 20 seedlings and all seem to be coping well even though we had a heat wave yesterday.
I'd appreciate any advice forwarded about these endeavors.

Regards, Pete.

Hi Pete,

Firstly, what a beaut little system, really neat and tidy, great placement against the wall for retaining heat in winter sun.

Just a couple of things, if thats ok.

Most importantly, can i ask, is that stainless steel for the beds? and is that the fish tank under them?
The biggest concern i would have is how much that will heat up in summer, and raise your water temps unneccessarily, great in winter for heat sink but a nightmare in summer. If you are finding this as you go, then shading or covering the stainless steel panels will help, anything to keep the direct sun of them....especially if your going to try to over summer trout. We have kept 500g trout at 27DegC water temps, so you can do it, but its bloody stressful.

May i recommend grabbing an IBC for your fish tank, and using the current fishtank as a sump this will open up your system to far better management. Dont worry about filters, (althought i am huge fan of them) you have enough growing space at the moment, to deal with waste and it will help cycle and bed in your growbeds. Maybe run an SLO from the fish tanks to the growbeds, I dont use them, but there are plenty here who do and they work well.

May i also recommend converting your system to a constant flood set up, its perfect for it. My good friend Milne suggested that i swap my flood and drain/siphon system to constant flood and i never looked back, it was the best advice i recieved and it was the smartest thing i ever did.

This will speed up your cycling, stabilise your system, improve your water quality, increase aeration and your fish will absolutely thank you for it.

Pete, great system, good on you.
I am in Gisborne, and if your ever over this way, drop me a line here and have a coffee, poke around the systems and have a chat by all means. (the only caviet i have on that is please dont make it this month!) school holidays, over christmas, anytime in November is all good, October is just a nightmare!)

30 little trout will make for slow cycling period, so don't forget to supplement your plants with seasol of equivilent, it wont hurt your plants, or your fish. Maybe some disposable goldfish to help boost your numbers?

Hope i've been a little helpful,
Regards
Jeff

Hi Jeff,

yes that is stainless steel and I plan on covering the outer surfaces with 25 mm polystyrene and white Colourbond sheet to reduce the heat.
I am getting 2 - 1000 lt IBC's and placing them around the left side of the shed where they'd receive minimal light and receive cool air coming down the bush land hill behind. I have some other white colourbond panels I will insulate with polyurethane and styrene that will enclose the 2 IBC's . I have thought about building a water chiller and dumping bags of ice as recommended by Gunna.
The two tanks beneath the middle grow bed are in this case sump tanks of 303 Lt each and will also be covered. Untill I get the IBC's I'll cycle fishless from these. (For specs please see my post "Pete's first system").

I plan on cycling until I get the fish but I need to find out how much and what Seasol product to put into this system in the mean time, is there a ratio what do you think?

My proto-type design is a combination of easily attainable material sizes, ease of construction & installation, longevity, modular and in proportion to the ratio of FT to grow bed volume.

I wanted to develop a patio version but it's right there, the middle bed with two fish tanks beneath and optionally one extra GB. There is not enough water to support 3 beds without adding another fish tank, which by the way are on rollers so they can roll out 1/3 of their length to see and access all corners of the tank.
I'd like to visit one day.


Thanks, Pete.

Hey Guys,

2016 was a fun year for trout, our Golden and Brook Trout made it to harvesting,

We lost only two to heat this year so far with water temps bouncing off the 26-27DegC mark.

We begin culling this week and can't wait to give these a go in the frying pan.

Truely, for the want of four fish tanks sometimes! because, i would have these again, they have have been fun and a draw card for visitors looking to see the systems here.

We have found them to far better tolerant of the heat then the rainbows and browns, where the R & Bwn's and lethargic and show signs of stress, the G & Brk's absolutely do not...even after i forgot to cover them at all on a 35 Deg Day! (the two I lost, just to clarify, were a mix of heat and other issues I have had recently).

If you haven't tried them, if definitely recommend them! If you have, let me know how you went?

Cheers

I love the Golden trout too and wanted some when we bought our Brookies. Apparently they are related. I believe the biologists at the hatchery said they were using Golden to breed Brook Trout? I'm happy to hear that they are more tolerant to temperature swings because everything I've read suggests otherwise. The truth we learn from experience and ours made it through a very hot Summer with water temperatures of 68°F (20°C) so I think your info is good.

Happy new year Porter. All the best for 2017 mate