Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello,

I am so new at aquaponics that I have just recently heard of it in the last couple of weeks or so.

I was looking for a method to grow my own vegetables more efficiently in a small area. At first, I was considerating a hydroponic system but after watching a few youtube videos about aquaponics I'm hooked and can't wait to setup my own system. It seems like a good fit for me.

I've done some research on the different zones of the system but have yet to find any useful information on how the make sure the fish survive in the tank through the winter. I'm aware that different species of fish have different temperature requirements. The live in SE Georgia (Jenkins County) and we can have very mild winters but sometimes the winters can have temperatures that would make my worry about the fish making it until spring.

What precautions should I take for this? SE Georgia is home and I plan to raise catfish and/or tilapia. Maybe something ornamental but most of the fish that I raise in the system will be eaten.

Welcome to the forum.

You probably won't need to do much to over winter in your area but it depends on what kind of fish you want to grow. At a minimum you'll need to make certain the water doesn't freeze.

I'm in Atlanta, and I worry more about my fish in the summer than the winter. As long as you have your water moving fast enough to prevent a freeze (you probably do since we don't get too terribly cold in Georgia), the fish should be fine. I keep my system in my non-climate controlled garage and have had no problems through the winter. You may find this link helpful:

https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmed ... s-503.html


The temperature ranges listed are the optimal range for growth meaning the fish will not grow as fast, not that they will not grow at all. Fish generally spend colder months in a state of torpor (reduced activity, but not full hibernation), so they will not grow as quickly.