Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yesterday I brought my first few barra, I only have a small aquarium inside ATM, but come Saturday I may pickup a 1000 or 800 litre tank with stand, as there far to big for the tank I have now, and its still to cold outside, stupid weather, I only got five this week and now I realize the tanks too small, and the fish are a lot bigger than just fingerlings? 10/15cm long? When I get the new tank I will get another five fish,

The shop had some full size almost barra! there bigger than the kids cat! a lot bigger than the one at BYAP, maybe I can hook up the new indoor tank with a indoor grow bed?

Any thoughts? Or suggestions,

Gday Blizzard
Congrats on your purchase, good size Barra. Just wondering where you got them from, the price & if they have many in stock ?
Can't help with the indoor GB. All my AP gear is banished to the back of the back yard.
Good luck with that !

unless the weather warms up suddenly it sounds like you need a heater Bliz, or maybe set up a system inside the house in a north facing room with GB in the window?

What have you got for filtration of the aquarium water? Ammonia is going to go berserk in there.

I got carried away with the size off the tanks, one too many zeros! I picked up a 200ltr tank and stand with pump and heater and LCD full length bar light? for $599.00 from city farmers today,

I felt a little ill this morning so I had the day off, you are right about the ammonia levels 8pp, I did a test while waiting for the new tank to get too 24c, there all swimming along happy at the moment, I used the ammonia in the small tank straight into the grow beds, waste not want not,

The best bit is I had 1300ltrs of quality aquaponics water just outside, so the fish went almost straight in the new tank,

We decided on $11 each, but now looking at them swimming along in the larger tank, I think I was robed! As three of them look like silver perch! 2 at approx 15-20 cm long and one at 10cm, but two are definitely Barra! About 15cm, I got them from the hydroponics shop on Warton rd in Gosnells, but there is a larger pond shop in Wangara that sell Barra, you being in Geraldton there should be a shop closer to you that sell them, they wont do the four hour road trip back to your place without a good air supply?

I hope you can find some close to you, your living in the best conditions for them almost,

Cheers

Is that Hydroponics Express or Greenfingers?

I have heard 'interesting' things about one of those outfits, but won't disclose which one.
I'm sure if you post some pics someone on here could confirm if they are indeed all Barra, or if there are some sneaky SP in there.

Hydroponics Express, don’t get me wrong the guy means the best! After all we spent twenty minutes together sexing yabbies as I wanted 3 female and 2 male at the time, and that was on a Sunday! But on Tuesday he just made a mistake, he was more concerned about me getting my fish home safely? But I only live down the road, now I have the 200ltr aquarium indoors I will pick up some more fish on Saturday, alls cool, I have had top service there every time, he did mention a staff member had just left that looked after the fish, and he is the manager,

I am not sure I will check it out soon but I think the silver perch can go outside now? Its only the barra that need the warmer weather?

I've had great service from them too, got a spare for my pump for nix and they made my little man's day with a free seed catalogue lol.
It was just that when you said Gosnells I was a bit confused as I thought they were in Canning Vale, and there is another place in Gosnells as well.

P.s. My one lonely silver perch is outside at the moment and as far as I know he's still alive :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the info Blizzard
Bummer about the SP/Bara mix up ?
Ill be doing a ring around the AP stores before making any purchases. The kids want to go to the Royal show this year so will be doing a big shop then { don't get to the big smoke very often }
I can only get SP locally so no matter where I get the Barra from they will have to do the road trip. I've got a 12v air pump that I can plug into the cigarette lighter in the car for the trip home.

Make sure you bring a large esky then, the Wangara place is Woodvale fish & lily farm, on Woodvale rd, they advertise on here, they are just off Wanneroo rd near ocean reef rd, that could be easier for you, but the guy on Warton rd is open on Sundays,

Cheers gtkmarine

It’s the Gosnells side of canning vale, the boundary is Nicolson rd, ATM. Depends on the state government, its like my place I am on the boarder of three estates, Southern River, Huntingdale or Gosnells? My house turns three on the 28th of this month, party time,

Here is a clip of the new tank,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jsoqw5fRXw

$11 for silver perch is a bit rich but they are a good size

Thanks Blizzard
Watch the video nice big tank. Are you thinking of using natural light or a grow light for the inside GB.
I've went to Woodvale fish farm a few years ago easy location to find, its a good start for my search. I was also going to look at Golden Ponds in Baldivis as I haven't been there before.
I also need about 20 bags of expanded clay for a new grow bed, i'll check gumtree & get quotes for the best price.

I was hoping the LCD light would be enough light? Full length off tank, I had another ammonia spike in the new tank today? I am over feeding them, I did a partial water change this afternoon, 20ltrs or so, I will do a larger water change in the morning, its my RDO, I have to pickup a bigger gravel filter first, my daughters one is to small and I cannot find my old one? Once again I had the perfect system water just outside, I will do a 50ltr change tomorrow, and stop feeding the fish so much, the fish look happy still, swimming around just fine, I may look at getting a seed tray for the inside tank tomorrow,

Just a new idea! I have after watching a few videos,

Why don't you make a biofilter, plenty on U-tube made from 20L barrel or tub with bird netting or gravel from your system.

It would be simple to do and will protect the barra from the Ammonia spikes.

Then when the water warms up outside and the barra go to the big tank.

It will give you the time to set the aquarium up with a proper system complete with heater etc.
maybe one of those little plastic GH to keep the plants and GB's warm during the winter months?