Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All
I stumbled across aquponics a few months ago and as a keen fisherman, gardener and aquarium keeper it is just the perfect combination all in one system. I want to set up as quicky as possible, how long will i need to cycle the system so I can add some Trout in time to harvest before summer.
Cheers
Darrell

Just tried to call you Darrell... I'll try again shortly... but will reply here also...

You can "fishless" cycle by various means... substituting "other" ammonia sources such as Urea, Humonia etc...

But given that the cycling period is directly related to temperature... and trout are ready for supply... you might be better off cycling with fish from scratch...

There are caveats in doing so though....

(1) Stock your tank according to the recommended 3kg/100L.... in your case (1000L tank, 1000L growbed capacity) I wouldn't recommend stocking more than 50 trout...

(2) Feed sparingly... and test often initially....

(3) Salt the tank to 1ppt... to mitigate the nitrite spike

(4) Be prepared to do water changes... for when you fib to us ... and over feed your fish...

Given that it may be a fortnight before the trout are delivered (:roll:).... I suggest getting your system together, growbeds plumbed and up and running, and perhaps kick starting the cycling with some "gunk" from your aquarium filters.... and/or some judiscious use of Urea...

Until the trout are available.... if you can't get the system together within that time frame... then kick start with the filter gunk, stock some fingerlings... and feed accordingly...

Thanks for the info on the phone John. As indicated I have found some beds I can get early next week so will run with them. So this week end will be busy preparing for the beds. Let me know wen the Trout are ready look forward to it.
Regards