Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,
I have finally got some fish for my system, barra, about 70mm 2 weeks ago. As expected there are size differences. Notice some fish are put in their place, but nothing violent as there seems to be enough room at the moment. So the issue is how to grade the fish when it becomes necessary?
Some ideas have been:-
1) grill to pass the smaller fish
2) confine the fish with moving barriers and then net them out - like elk method
3) place a net with semi-sunmerged ring and place feed inside to trap them and then grade
4) forget about it and hope they make it to 100mm asap
I would like to keep the fish stress to a minimum, but don't see how that can be done.
F

For backyard growers like us, I'm not sure how practical it is to grade. Unless you have several tanks and are happy to run each of these, then I think we just need to accept the downside that goes with not grading.

Hey Funku... where did you get the Barra from??

Don't Barra self grade.

Thanks for the encouraging responses.
I tend to leave things alone until I must do something.
Seems I might need some thought to 'gates of Ell' and partition the tank. I had plans for the other tank to stagger fish species and harvest rates, but will have to see.

Rup, barra from www.tailormadefishfarms.com.au at Bobs farm near Port Stephens. Good & helpful. Been growing out for 10 years.
They source fingerlings from W.B.A hatcheries Phone: (08) 8235 0489 Fax: (08) 8355 0492 in SA. Air Express $$'s was the killer.
F