Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Since I built my AP, it went through winter, spring and summer. While in Winter, the temps didn't go less than 8-9C. it is now reaching to 20C. The FT insulated and does not see sun much. I have a big air pump too. The only problem is in Spring-Summer I loose water to evaporation at the rate of 350-400L at 6 weeks.

The system is cycled and doing good right now. With 2 large carps, I have even grown some vegetable son top. The pH, Nitrite, Nitrate and Ammonia is looking normal.

I know we Canberrans usually go with trout but there is some silver and estuary perch available now. They are 4cm size and if I feed them well, they may survive the winter. I am in between now. Should I buy it or not?

Any body in Canberra keeping perch in their AP?

SP can handle very low temps, but you do need a bit of size on them first. At 4cm you might be struggling to get them to a reasonable size before winter hits.

Estuary perch would be better off in a dam, not really AP.

I was thinking of getting some SP but only after I expand the system, am hoping to have separate tanks for 2 species to see me through the various seasons. If it's already getting late to add them I may miss out this year

If the silvers only had a few months before winter and 4-8 degree water temps would they die or just slow down on the feed and not grow? Or in other words, is it bad for them?

I have decided to get only 35 Silver Perch and 2 Tandanus.

I also have 5 Velesunio ambiguous in there keeping the water clean.

I will toss the 2 carp to the little pool down the other end of the garden and deploy my SPs in the AP.

Good luck to me.

I wish that was all I lost to evaporation! I lose up to 100l per day to evaporation/transpiration from my small system in hot weather.

Gunagulla, nature takes her share, doesn't she.


Alright, I gave the order for 35 SP and 2 Tandanus cat fish. I installed the HAP80 air pump, topped up the water from rain water tank and tested the water on the weekend. pH 7.2 and Nitrite, Nitrate and Ammonia are all 0. I only have 2 carps in there to condition and cycle the system since I build the system in Feb. It has cycled well. I've even grown some silverbeat and rockets on it.

Let's see, what will be the fluctuations when there are 35 fingerlings in there.

I see you have an event on in Facebook land... We will endeavour to make it

You are welcome CS.

Decided not to come to the event > which was booked out anyway (great news BTW!).

FYI - I ended up with 50 Silver perch installed about a month ago. Feeding 3 times a day to try and get some weight on them before it turns cold. At which point I'll throw some trout in the other tank, looking forward to having a few different species going!

50!! you must have 4 grow beds or more. I am also wanting to grow my system with another fish tank and 2 or more grow beds for different fish.

No worries. Are you on the Aquaponics Canberra fb group? We may do a get together event soon at my or somebodies place.

50 perch didn't seem like much - but had to account for 50 trout at the same time so kept numbers of both low.

I'm not on FB but think my partner may be on that group. I met a few Canb AP'ers during last year's trout group buy, would be keen to see how everyone has been going with it.