Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

OK, guys

My new tank is nearly cycled and nearly ready for fish. Trying to decide on what fish to get this time.

I would like to try Barra again over Summer (and I do have maybe 5 left from last Summer), but would also like to try Silvers or Jades as well. But still want to be able to do Trout again in Winter.

Which has now posed the question in our household of do we find another ibc and kick another system off???? But then I have to work out where to locate it....... since space is rather limited in our backyard which also has a trampoline, swingset, sandpit and all other childhood paraphanalia.

But back to my original question, please give me your opinion on what fish???

Thanks in advance

New season Silver Perch, and Jade Perch fingerlings wont be available until early December...

And if you intend running trout... then yes, you'll need another second system...

Hey Rupe

Can you put Silvers and Barra together???

And how long till Silvers get to plate size?

Are you best to work at say trout in March/April and then whatever the next fish is in December say???

We are going to try silvers for our first attempt

It would depend on relative sizes... big Barra would eat little Perch, or any small fish...

Silvers on the other hand.. have small mouths, even when quite big...


Depends a little on temperature... and whether or not you heat.... but 15-18 months...

Two summers, with an intervening winter...


Yep.. but hence the need for two systems.... as you'll need to carry the summer species over the winter...

Unless you can get Barra early at least 100mm ... and keep temps above 20-22 minimum.... spring, autum, and/or winter...

As you've just done...

But having done so... and harvested... you now back with the delemna... build a second system, so you can run two seasonal species.... or restock with Barra... heat.. and forget Trout...

If you're prepared to heat... then Jade Perch would probably be a better option... a bit more temp tolerant than the Barra.. and while not as fast growing as Barra... faster than other species...

But still not fast enough to grow out... before winter... allowing trout....

IMO... build another system... and keep your options open....

And have twice as many veges... to boot...

But

I have 2 systems, 1 is an ibc with about 4-5 barra left it in it; the other is currently cycling...

But can't figure out what fish to get for it and then get trout in winter???

Can you even get silvers now???

Rupe - I think you've confused me more

I can... 80-100mm+ ... delivered several hundred to the Central Coast only the other weekend...

New season stock of most fish wont be available until early December... usually 20-25mmm

ok, thinking out loud now - so don't jump on me!!!!

ok, could we hypothetically speaking cull the barra which would leave both tanks with no fish

and then get say 20 barra and 20 silvers - put them in separate tanks and then when trout season comes around put the barra and perch in together - heat water and also harvest some of the bigger ones at this stage and then put trout in the unheated tank?????

Any ideas???

If you've gone to all the trouble to get the Barra through winter... then why not just put them in one tank... and use the summer to grow them out... and eat them....

Then replace that tank with Trout for winter...


I'm not sure what your pre-occupation with Barra is about???...

But lets assume that you want to go with them... and are prepared to heat...

You didn't get your last Barra through to plate size before winter just gone... so, unless you can get them now.. and around 100-150mm.... then you'll be just as unlikely to be eating any before next winter...

So, assuming you're going to heat through winter... (trout can go in the other tank - see above)....

Then the question is... will the Silver Perch be big enough that the even bigger, and growing Barra... wont see them as fish feed...

Well if you get advanced 100mm Silvers... then they might, might be big enough to coexist with the Barra... but they wont grow as fast... and ultimately relative size might determine their fate...

Either way... even heating through winter... the Silvers wont be plate size until after next summer...

And you'll have two fish species... at different growth rates... optimally requiring different pellt sizes...

And the possibility of the Silvers being beaten to any feed by the bigger Barra... at a time when their feed response is lower.... but still require some nutrition...

If you're going to heat... why not avoid the possible problem of predation.... and stock Silvers & Jades...

The Jades will grow faster than the Silvers.... not as fast as Barra... but probably fast enough to get to plate size next Xmas...

And you wont have the problem of predation...

You obviously have a liking for Barra... and dont mind the expense of heating....

But IMO... you're just making hard work for yourself... and it's costing you...

And you run the risk of losing your fish... and disease issues...

Thanks Rupe for your help.

I like Barra they taste nice!!! That's my preoccupation with them LOL.......

I want to try a new fish species but still want to be able to get trout next year. I only have 4 or 5 barra left from last season which are about 350 grams atm.

Maybe I'm best to grow the barra out till the end of this summer, and get silvers or jades now for the other tank and then put the trout in the barra tank when they are harvested....

But will 4 or 5 barra be enough for optimal growth rates???

And should I get a mixture of silvers and jades???

Decisions, decisions, decisions argh!!!!!!!

Or maybe I should build a third system, mmmmm obsessed much I think?? HAHA

4 or 5 largish Barra... will be just fine for a small system Rosey...

ok then, decision made

Silvers and Jades it is for the other tank - where can I get them from around the Newcastle area?????

Jades will have to come out of Qld.... and there aren't any available at the moment....

New season Jades expected... weather cooperating.... around end of Novemeber... probably 20-25mm...

Likewise, new season Silvers wont be available until more likely mid December... and proabably around 20-25mm...

So if you want Silvers... they'd have to be stock that's been over-wintered....

So Silvers it is then. LOL

Where am I likely to find some???