Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi David

Did some approx. figures for your systems.

System 1
1 bathtub (140 Litres) and 11 foam boxes (total of 0.3m3) on shed wall, running on its own supply pump with gravity return to bathtub.

You just need to finish off fitting your autosiphons for the foam boxes and test how much water your grow boxes need to fill. I suspect it will take the full 140 litres of water to fill them. If so, you either have to remove some boxes or add more water. After you solve the water require you could then:

Add some silver perch or goldfish approx. 4-5 small ones and get it to cycle..You will also need to stop adding seasol and get yourself a master test kit (mention previous in other members posts). Feed nothing during the first few days after adding fish and then feed just a little each day..Depending on the water temperature you might need to add a electric aquarium heater to maintain the temperature at 20 -22 deg C to help speed the bacteria growth along..(this should take about 4 weeks to cycle).


System 2
1 bathtub (140 Litres) and 21 foam boxes (total of 0.6m3) running on its own supply pump with gravity return to bathtub.

- pretty much same as above

System 3
Spa bath and lots of foam boxes.

- Depending on the capacity of the spa, you could use it only as your fish tank and hook all the other growbeds to this, and having a sump.

hopes this makes sense.

LB

Hi David, bit confused by your last email....

You seem to be looking to buy 150 Silver Perch.....correct?

How big is your spa bath.... ultimately the capacity of the spa bath will determine the stocking density you should aim for....

IMHO.... I'd save the bathtubs for sump return tanks.... think they're just to small and shallow for any real numbers of SP... maybe OK for some goldies....

Where did you arrive at the figure of 150 Silver Perch??

wow!

alright, way back in picture 10, what are going to do with the IBC?

Well spotted Jaymie..... 1000ltr sump tank perhaps....

2 x bathtubs as deep growbeds for tomatoes etc???

Good spot Jaymie
David is currently using the 2 IBC's to transport water to his property..Their dams are empty and they are force to import water..
Hope David will come on later or tomorrow to clarify the pics and system description I posted
LB

Good stuff DBD!

Good stuff John, errr i mean LB, for uploading his photos

bath tubs 250 lt each spar holds 1200 lt. fish in baths died plants in bath boxes died. have not put fish in spar yet. looking for silvers i thaught 100 for spar 50 for baths only ueing seasol to get things working advise please. will be in royal melbourne hospital thursday friday sat am for stint.back working on sunday i hope.

David I really think 100 fish in a 1200ltr spar tank is just way over the top even for experienced AP'ers with lots of growbed capacity.

I'd suggest something in the order of 30-40 fish (50 maximum) until the system is established and your experience has grown with it.

If you're putting fish in straight away, then you don't need to add seasol at all.....

Make sure you have a test kit..... and spare water on hand for a water change if needed....

50 Silvers for a bathtub.... that's 1 fish (potentially grown to at least 500gm - eating size) per 5 ltrs of water..... think even sardines get a better deal in a can David

Another point is that I think that perhaps a bathtub is probably just too shallow for a fish tank..... and would be hugely prone to temperature extremes....

I'd save the tubs for growbeds... or maybe sumps.... possibly yabbies if you covered them.... and shaded them....

yep, i agree with rupe, 30 - 40 SP per spa, use the bath tubs as grow beds..........

Kangaroo grounds is selling off his LAST EVER Silver perch approx 6 inch for $2 each.

9712 0500
36 Henley Rd Kangaroo Ground

Do NOT feed them for at least the first day and then only very sparingly until your system has cycled its bacteria (lots of info on this in the useful info section)

A test kit is HIGHLY reccomended so you can measure ammonia and nitrite and tell when you have cycled.

Hope all is well

Steve

thanks for advice i forgot to thank the postman for his help in posting pics.i do wonder why you see lots of fish in some peoples tanks. spar holdes 1200 lt grobeds 21 in x 10 inx 8 in deep filled with scoria coco peat perlite x 50 styrene boxes sump pump & spar pump on timer. just phoned k ground for fish will ring back. thanks again for help. regards David.

Rupert did you see all pics the baths are in hot house baths insulated. spar insulated outside in full son. would this be ok

David, the insulation will be perfect for maintaining tank temperature during winter...

My concern is more during summer..... the bath tubs are shallow and summer temperate would heat the water in them very easily....

Also the whole system attracts ambient heat from growbeds etc into the water as it flows around the system.... it effectively becomes quite warm.... combined with direct thermal absorption in a shallow bath tub, which itself is insulated, would I think leave any fish in the tub very warm indeed...

You'd also be exposed to evaporative loss of water, and with any variation in water level in the tubs during a pumping cycle, I think you would place a lot of stress on any fish in a bath tub, particularly when the get to edible size....

Additonally I think the tubs could potentially also draw down the overall DO content for similar reasons....

Just my thoughts.....

Outside in full sun during summer shouldn't be a problem, unless your trying to stock trout .... you can always cover or shade the tank(s)

Outside in winter.... well the insulation will obviously be a plus.... again a cover will also help especially at night.

all comments noted intend to get thermoneter for each system shade cloth and construct shade over spar. fish may have to come later. just been toled no driving for 2 weeks after op on monday.dam dam dam.