Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just collected our first fish 25 5 -6" Rainbow trout 11am today. Have introduced them to the fish tank, how much feed should they be having. I have the pellets that came with the AP Balcony kit (in a plain sealed bag without directions re feeding) but am unsure how many pellets and how often. When should feeding begin, should they be left for a day or can we start feeding today? Would appreciate any words of advice.

I tested the water in the bag that the fish were in and it was PH 6 ?

Is your system new or a mature system?

If its new feed them little by little to avoid a ammonia spike.

If its mature do the same but you should be feeding them as much as they would eat once they have time to get used to their new surroundings.

Hi, congrats on the trout. Check your FT PH and if there is any discrepancies you will have to introduce them slowly. In regards to feed, just sprinkle feed in and watch them eat, they will stop coming to the surface when they are done. Im assuming your system is already cycled and mature to some degree but feed lightly till your system adjusts to the influx of ammonia. Keep an eye on your levels daily

AP Balcony Kit? What is the size of the growbed in litres? I know your question is in regards to how much you need to feed.

For trout and if your system is over a year old, as much as they feel like eating two times a day. It is important to them a handful at a time and then reduce to a pinch if they slow down. Uneaten food should be removed. But take caution if you are using sinking pellets as you cannot see uneaten food easily after they sink. If you are using sinking pellets, I would suggest you stick to 1-2% of their body weight a day.

But I would seriously check your growbed capacity. Each 500L growbed can allow a stocking capacity of 20-25 fishes up. About half that amount if it is a brand new system.

Here is a link to the explanation of Telmors' system
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=9637&p=275281&hilit=telmor#p275281
With 1000 litres of growbed we would probably susggest no more than 2 Tbsp per day for the first month. Try to avoid giving the fish as much as they would like at this stage, I know it is hard, they will tell you they are starving, don't believe them. Fish can live weeks without being fed.
Make sure there is no uneaten food left in the system either floating or sinking to the bottom. This should allow a safe introduction to the beginning of your newish system. Just watch the fish behaviour, if they are acting differently, sluggish or flashing then it is time to test. "The best protection you can give your fish is your shadow" Feel free to ask if you have ny more questions. Ooh! you are going to have some fun now with the new babies Telmor.
Ivan beat me to it. As usual he is spot on!