Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I may do, Ron, or I may try to grow a similar number to a larger average size. I was disappointed with last season's average which was less than 340g. I don't mind a 300-350g fish on my plate but last year too many trout were less than 300g at harvest: not only do they not present as well as the larger ones but the cost per kg of fish produced is higher.

I have had my new batch of Rainbow Trout fingerlings for two weeks now, and they are going well. I couldn't catch all of the Silver Perch and Goldfish that were in the tank over summer so, instead of draining the tank to remove them as a sensible fish keeper would have done, I decided to leave them there and introduce the trout to the tank anyway.

I actually thought that I would be able to continue to fish for the SPs and Goldies using 11mm pellets on a small hook, as I had been before the trout arrived. Well, that idea was shot to pieces at feeding time the morning after getting the trout. After feeding the trout a full ration of 3mm, 5mm and 7mm pellets, I threw in some 11mm pellets for the SPs and the largest of the Goldfish. The pellets were immediately scoffed by the much smaller trout and I doubt if a single pellet found its way to either of the other species.

So much for that plan.

On a more positive note, my two new GBs are up and running and looking good.

I do want some trout now, they sound like fun!

We're going to want some pictures of the new GB's up and running

Nice going on the trout PJ. Would love some pics to see the additions - grow beds and fish. Although in your tank I reckon you would need a Nat Geo underwater camera man to get shots of your fish.

My water is tainted brown from tannins, MartinC, so the Nat Geo underwater camera man would want to get right up close and personal with the fish if he wanted to get a decent shot. My tank looks like a large, black hole from above.



Edit: pics coming - when I get organised!

how many trout did you get PLJ?

I love the scale of this system. Using IBC's as supplementary filtering! Awesome.

I decided to get 300 trout, Slowboat, which is the same number as last year. I reckon it makes more sense to use my extra filtration to try to grow out this year's batch to a better average size than last year, rather than to arbitrarily increase the number of fish and end up being disappointed with their average weight at harvest. Besides, I already have the additional filtration impost of the Silvers and the Goldies that I failed to remove from the system.

I'm contemplating the addition of another IBC GB, or two, Tallman. I scored a couple of IBCs yesterday but have to handle them carefully due to their contents. It may be a while before they are ready for use, if at all, judging by the 'Poison' warnings plastered all over them, not to mention the stickers portraying stylised dead fish and crustaceans. I might start a separate thread on this topic.

Your risk tolerance is far greater than mine when it comes to IBCs. Aquaticide, lovingly made by the friendly Monsanto.

I suppose they can't get much clearer with their warning than pictures of dead fish. I'd sure take the hint. But I have no chem knowledge to guide me in what poisons can be cleaned or neutralised.

Here are some examples of the warnings on the IBC frame and bladder I will wash them out a few times, leave them to settle for a while and then try some fish in them.

In the instructions for use of Metham it says "Interacts with alcohol,avoid alcohol on days of use". Well, need I say more ?

Id say that fish died because it fell out of that tree.

:laughing:


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Is that a tree? I thought it was a munted yabby standing up on its tail!