Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks PJ. I always try and make a contribution.

What triggered my weather induced UFD hypothosis was an article, I think it was on Pauls' Erahten(sp) Group site, it contained a paragraph or two about barometric pressure and weather related fish stress. If your interested

There is no doubt fish go off their food with a falling barometer, and feed well after a cold front has passed and the pressure is rising- just like when you go fishing in a river- much better chance of hooking one when the pressure is rising. I don't think it is related to DO though- as there is generally no shortage of O2 in the rivers where you find rainbow trout.

Yep, noticed this a lot myself as well.. Fish are off their feed when a cold front is moving in, but this still doesn't help with the few deaths..

Im not convinced about the falling barometer affecting fish feeding, in the wild perhaps but not in a farmed situation. Maybe it has something to do with the higher stocking densities but my fish feed just as well no matter what the barometer is doing.

Getting a fish few deaths after heavy rain events does seem to be a fairly common problem though in aquaponics systems. I have had many customers report such occurrences but have not witnessed it in my own system. Interestingly though I have noticed the fish in the aquaponics system cease feeding for a few days after heavy rainfall where as the ones in the flow thru and re-circ systems carry on as per usual. As my aquaponics tank is under cover I can only put it down to the rain disturbing the solids in the growbeds and maybe affecting the water quality somehow.

I knew that I would eventually regret leaving other species of fish in with my Rainbow Trout.

This Goldfish is 16cm long in the body, so was no midget.

He looks rather startled.

Looks like chasing tail injuries, I guess a goldfish can't out run a trout

He did well to last though.

On trout and weather; Friday in Sydney was really warm for this time of year before a cold front arrived sometime Friday night. Got home from work Friday arvo, tossed in the pellets and they went beserk, it was a real feeding frenzy the like of which I haven't seen before. They usually put on a good show but this was something special. My wife said they were the same when she fed them in the morning and at midday.
Then Sat an Sun they were fairly disinterested, so I think they were "stocking up" on Friday before the storm, just like we do before a cyclone. I love trout.

It's dead, Marto. Startled is not an adjective that is used to describe deceased entities.

Generally people or animals can die with an expression of shock or horror on their faces. I thought he looked pretty surprised, he was swimming along quit happily as goldfish do and suddenly his tank buddies turned on him and decided he was lunch. I think he was more than surprised, but actually startled! I am sticking with my original statement PJ.

It's my turn to look rather startled - a springbok that can mount a logical argument!

You guys must have different fishing conditions Down Under. Here in the states, fishing most definitely is better on a falling barometer, before a front, and is much tougher after a cold front with a rising or steady reading. In my FT, they always eat like crazy before the front, and then slow down a bit the next day. I've always reasoned that they know conditions are going to get tough and they need to eat while they can. Some of the best days I've had on the water and hunting as well, are rainy days at the beginning of a major front. The following day, bright blue skies, can't get a fish in the boat. Same with turkey, deer, and hogs.

Depends what side of the hemisphere your on

Oooooooooooh, PJ, that is fighting talk.
I am about to move to New Zealand, do I qualify for better expectations at that point?