Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi there!

Been lurking here for awhile now...and I think I'm finally ready to build a system

Wish me luck!

Good luck!!!!

Good luck and welcome captplanet.

The power is yours!!!

Hi there captplanet. You know you can't leave us in suspense like that. What ya gonna build??

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Size wise, I'm looking at a 5000L system but I don't intend on having it densely stocked. There's just a few things I need to work out before I order the parts that's not quite in any book...lol

for e.g. how much of a frog magnet will it be? My wife's support rests entirely on this issue!

I'm guessing if I have the fish tank above ground, it'll reduce or even eliminate the frog issue, but I was hoping to have it ground level for greater temp. stability.

I had my mind set on tilapia...until I realised they're now noxious...!!! I seriously doubt anyone who's gonna raise it for eating is gonna release it....

So I guess it's silver perch for me. I don't like the idea of having to restock it though. I'd rather have a fish that can breed in captivity (that doesn't look gross...)

Welcome captplanet. Whether your fish tank is below ground or above ground, be in no doubt that it will be a frog magnet. Of course, if there are zero frogs in your area then they can hardly appear spontaneously, but they will come.
I have frogs in my big concrete tank and its walls are 2m tall sheer concrete.
By the way, your comment re your wife's conditional support is quite enigmatic. I originally read it that she doesn't want frogs - perhaps due to their croaking and the prospect of sleepless nights - but on rereading your post I'm not so sure. Maybe she loves frogs!

welcome Captplanet. I've only had one frog arrive in my GB, though both FTs are fully covered with shadecloth so they cannot get in the water anyhow.

We have frogs next door so that may be a way to stop them if no frogs are allowed.

Don't think you'll find a WA friendly species that will breed (other than frogs!!!!). I reckon SP are a good thing to start with and you can keep them for years if you don't want to restock

PLJ - your original reading of it was correct! She absolutely hates frogs

mattyoga - heh...I was hoping to eat them along the way...would be nice if they offered their children as sacrifice

I wonder if there's any breeding program that's looking at raising domesticated SP that aren't so shy?

Seeing as how SPs are omnivores....would they feast on the tadpoles?

get a pet python
frog problem solved

Everytime I read your user name I get that silly captain planet cartoon song roaming around my head


Captain Planet!
He's our hero!
Going to take pollution down to zero!


lol

was thinking along the same lines myself to solve my rat problem, though would not work well in the winter!

hahaha...i hated that cartoon as a kid...but you gotta admit...that damn tune is rather catchy!

After seeing and hearing all about the process of breeding silver perch, you don't want to know... It's not something that you can even think about doing at home without spending many thousands of dollars setting up, and many, many hundreds of hours doing it.

So sad ain't it. It's probably not feasible for backyarders since the broodstock would be too small, but those who have a decent sized dam might be able to do it? According to the NSW gov website, SPs only need the rainy season (or rising waters) to trigger their mating instincts.

Although....this conflicts with Stuart J Rowland's report which indicates that hormonal injections are required....

Having said that, there is anecdotal evidence of SPs spawning naturally in captivity...apparently, there's this guy in Margaret river who has SPs multiplying like roaches in his dam!

I don't know much Joel, but I do remain hopeful! SPs are yummy!!

I have a mate with large Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) who has witnessed them breeding, typically after pumping a lot of water into his dam, thus creating rising water levels as you say, captplanet. Their seasonal breeding amounts to nothing, however, I think because many eggs are lost to marron and other scroungers, and any fry that might result do not have the necessary volume of zytoplankton and flora required to get them started. This means you are likely to have much more success breeding them under controlled conditions at the moment when you are right to go with the necessary abundant tucker, and well oxygenated nursery tank/pond/dam for the fry. The injection of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) will quickly induce egglaying and thus maximise your chances of producing a decent batch of fry at a time when you are ready to care for them.
I am yet to give it a go so am not speaking from experience, but that is my understanding of the basic theory.