Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

an idea for something light weight, reflective, and cheap. Go to the camping section of whatever kind of department store that would have those cheap reflective mylar emergency blankets. Far cheaper than getting the mylar from the hydroponic shop. The stuff is pretty much weightless and very shiny, far better than foil or even just a bright white board. Figuring out how to secure it is the biggest challenge you will have with it.

Good luck with the water quality and new fish.

wow, that is a good suggestion... best thought i had atm was canvasses as I can get them for free but that is much better thanks alot

bummer about the trout. I would hold off on feed and let them settle in. they can go a few weeks without eating....reflecto back yard! wowsers! good idea though...I've got a shady spot....

yeah i totally bought a emergency blanket from kathmandu for $9 bucks probably a rip off but impatient..just gotta figure out how to put it up..ill keep you guys posted

Frame of PVC pipe,wood, aliminum piping, an old tent frame perhaps...
Chicken wire or fence wire to keep the reflecto blanket from falling out...
Some type of post or stand to attach it to...
Do you get any breeze or wind back of the house?

the site is totally protected from southerly winds which is the prevailing winds here and partially protected from northerlies which pick up during summer..

my girlfriend suggested stiching it onto like a sheet to make a flag

..

in other news another trout died this morning and i have stopped all feeding and switched the system onto 24/7 pumping

Sad news about the trout. Any evidence of the redfin picking on them?

hes in the sump with a big goldfish, he does chase the goldfish around constantly..but I figure 1 redfin is easier to run away from than 12..now 9 trout

all trout that have died have looked okay I havent done any autopsies...

only thoughts are if they stop dieing feeding was/is the problem

if they keep dieing it may be the gal tank that I painted, however I did have gold fish in it for a good 2 months or more with no deaths

How big are your trout?

Mine are about 300g and they get 5mm pellets.

If they're eating the size pellets that you give them then maybe it's not a problem, but I'm not sure, sorry!

Good idea about the Mylar "blankets", going to get some for greenhouse insulation.

http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Mylar-T ... ef=lh_ni_t

about 100g Keenas.. and yeah they seem to eat the pellets fine.. who knows

and Dave they are a great idea thanks again TC

system has been running CF for 4 days or something now with no food.. and no deaths

didnt realise it was okay to run beds CF all the time.. but I just finished reading BYAP trials thread so I will be doing that for a while at least.

gave the trout a few pellets for the first time this morning at i got a 0 Am and 0 Ni test

I also moved my air pump to the FT as previously it was running into the sump just because thats where the power point was, so well see how that goes.

Also starting to green up a little and have wrapped the sump up in some shade cloth.. see if I can find some more.

okay..

so did a full suite of tests today

Ph 7
Am 0
Ni 0
Na 5

then fed the trout about 10-15 g of food...came home to my first floater since running CF

Im thinking now it has to be the Gal tank...it cant possibly be the water quality unless one of the trout ate themselves to death

anyway I have 8 left now

just transferred 2 to the sump to chill with Lorenzo my big goldfish and Jack the redfin

no obvious markings on the dead-un possibly a little white on the nose?

Bugger. are you sure its not the food?

no, I am not... they only die after feeding but why would the food kill them?

ill just feed them worms for a while and see if i get any more deaths