Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi guys, I am new to the forum and just starting up (this easter weekend), I am into Marron at the moment, but the sky's the limit once you get hooked, I have done heaps of homework on the subject and was surprised on how many secret backyard setups I have just here in Narrogin, please share your Marron growing experiences, and I will be glad to pass on what I have learnt so far, as already posted in another section of this forum, I have a small tank and am putting in a raised mesh floor to allow juvinlies to fall away from adults, the plan has grown and I have decided to put terracotta tiles on top of mesh and build hides on tiles, have a 1000lt per hour fountain pump, so far project has cost $95-00 for pump, plus a Carton of TED's for the Tank so will keep you's posted,
pics are up so Click Here to see them but read on to see how things are supposed to work the full story and grand plan is towards the bottom of this page

Nocky I'm sure everyone would welcome any information that you might be able to share on the subject.

Well have first Pic up as just got started Click Here to see Pics, will use my own site to load up pics, as I feel they will be a few, man this is addictive

Sure is Nocky!!!

hey, where do you get your marron from, i have been waiting for nearly 2 months for some to arrive, and im getting very impatient.

..and welcome to the forum

Thanks JJ, will PM you about supplies, never can br to careful you know

Hey Nocky, long time no chat COZZ

THE TANK IS UP & RUNNING
More Pics up, Click Here to view, page maybe a tad slow loading, most pics are self explanatory I suppose except THIS ONE taken from open end of tank, in here I will block off the gaps between bricks and transfer the males into here after mating, because males being males, all they want to do is mate so males have to be separated until babies hatch, after the females drop, I will put males back up top and open up gaps, place a floating hide in the ex male pit, plus all the other hides under the mesh should work well, what do yous all think so far????
Bio Filter today and add water, my plan is to get marron established before tackling the veggie growing,
The Finishing Touches
Finally put my filter together and filled tank, switched on and IT WORKED, the filter had me a bit worried, but i think it will work out now.
And isn't the fountain Cute? But will give good aeration, all ready for the Marron next weekend, what do you think?
My Biggest fear was the filter idea, but after 3 hours pond is heaps clearer, so must be doing the job
Well few more small jobs, then BEER O'CLOCK
Click Here To View All Of The Pictures
Total Cost was less than $200
The Grand Plan
The Idea is designed to make 2 tanks out of 1, as this is my first attempt I am going to establish the Marron before I go full veggie growing. I have enough room up top for 9 females and 3 males, after mating the males will be separated (as per above), as there is a good market down here I intend to sell off the bulk of the juveniles and grow left overs down the bottom section, will rotate top Marron to the boiling pot and transfer stock from bottom to the top, and boil what ever is left down the bottom, it is just keeping them happy enough to keep them growing, if they get the sads, they won't breed or grow, hopefully by Xmas I should have the veggies ready to go, and should soon have a second tank (another carton of TED's) this may be fish only as better for the veggies but will still have both tanks connected some how.
If this plan fails, well will have to be Plan "B", have NFI what plan "B" is yet, so hope I don't have to use it

will the babies fall through the mesh?

well we cant see why not, but these things have to be tried

Hey Cozz hows things, I have read a few of your Posts, so to answer some of your queries, Marron aren't aggressive like Koonacs & Yabbies, they are territorial and will try and move out if not happy and over crowded, their are many ways to make them stay in tank, if you have a below ground tank put concrete slabs the whole way around the edge of tank, over hang pond about a foot, slabs can be purchased generally from local councils for 50c - $1 ea, and dont fill pond to the top, leave down 6 - 8 inches, with a below ground system you may need to siphon out now and then

I have read a lot in the forum about Marron Vs Yabbies and Koonacs, yabbies and koonacs are aggressive and will kill and eat each other, Marron aren't aggressive but will eat there young, marron are territorial and will try to move on in a overcrowded situation, but if living in a over crowded pond they won't breed or grow, and won't eat so will die eventually, we call Koonacs Dam Maggots they are extremely easy to grow and are the smaller of the 3.
Yabbies are equally easy to grow but are larger than Koonacs, but smaller than Marron, Yabbies will kill each other if not happy and over crowded, Marron grow to the biggest of the 3, and are much better tasting, the are big sooks and want everything to be perfect, they will try their hardest to escape so have nothing around that they can climb to freedom, keep you water a few inches below full and have no plants that go over the edge.
Have seen posts about blue marron and only being able to buy males at a high price, It doesn't matter what color the female is, if you have a blue male you will get all blue babies,
Hope this helps

Nocky I think you had better work out what plan B is.
I was just looking at the conditions for obtaining the Marron Aquaculture licence which allows you to sell juveniles and one of the criteria is that you have:
Greater than 2500m2 of impounded water!!!
Might be just a tad short there mate even with both of your tanks operating.

That is Plan C troutman, but at the end of the day I want to get this working so I can get more into the Veggie part as well, but I also am going to a much bigger tank when (and if) the mesh idea works, the bigger tank will run fish and marron, with the marron living on bottom level, but this will be 12 months away I feel, as the bigger tank (4500lt) will be poly and will cost around 30 cartons of TEDS in real money though

Don't much about Marron. Around here if holding crustaceans you must high calcium carbonate hardness levels for sufficient exoskeleton development.

System looks great.

Babies are going in today, system has been going for a week and water is clear as clear, so filter seems to be working fine, as this is addictive stuff, expansion is planned already, a 4500lt poly tank, the plan with this is to grow Golden Perch (redfin) as a mate from NSW tells me these are the tastiest, plan is to go full on aguaponics with this tank, but will have to read up heaps more yet, so many different systems that all seem to work. Work on the new Beer Shed with Poker table and bar is the next project though, maybe can post progress pics of this project first