Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All,

Well thought I'd contribute to the New Member Intros.

I became interested in AP through my mother who gave me a AP mag, the more I read the more it made sense - less water, better produce (hopefully) and edible fish. Plus the educational side for my boys. I have a number of teachers at school where I work interested too - Biology, Chemistry, Food Technology and Society & Environment.

I live in Hawthorndene, SA. I'm an IT Manager, partner is a Primary teacher, 2 boys aged 2 1/2 and 9, one dog (mini schnauzer) and 5 chickens.

I compost as much as I can through the chickens and a compost heap. Starting to acquire the bits and pieces necessary for my 1st AP system, which hopefully be up and running before Christmas.

So far I've found the AP community very accommodating to n00bs, so thank you to you all for the helpful advice!

Cheers,

Dustin

welcome to the addiction

Welcome

Hello there

If your ever up near Mt Compass, you can come and have a look at my setup

Hey Erich,

I'd love to! Also might drop in to the Trout farm nearby (I assume it's still there and sell fingerlings).

How do your trout go in summer?

Hello

yup - Trout Farm down the road (and a Marron farm to). March is the best time for them

My trout are "doing ok", Water temp is 17.5 now and the next 2 days will try them. Ive done a few thinks to keep it cooler however, we have been lucky its been a milder than usual lead up to summer here. I hope to have them till mid next month - if possible

I am picking up 30 Barra Friday - the fish of choice in Adelaide for summer

So Trout wouldn't be viable all year round, too hot in summer I guess.

I'd like to have my system up and running by early December, is that enough time to get Barra and get them to plate size by autumn?

Where do you get the Barra from (and how much)?

Do you put the Barra in with the Trout during change over, or would they become Trout food and it is all out/in?

Do you have a rearing tank to get the Barra to a decent size before you introduce them?

Sorry for the Q's!

Hi Freoboy and DuiNui,

Thanks for the welcome! And yes, it has become an addiction, much to my other half's chagrin

You can get Barra all the time however you will need >6 months which means you will need to heat the water in the colder days

Barra from West Beach - im getting 30 Friday at $1:50 each - approx 100 mm

Im not mixing, I have (am today) building a smaller system from 1 x IBC, 650 litre tank and 300 litre growbed (cut, GB on top) so I can rear the Barra for about 4 - 6 weeks before I cull the trout and move the Barra over. You dont want to leave the system empty so some sort of "fingerling" tank is good. Prob we have is they need top be separate cos of the water differences. Trouts are 3 degrees and unhappy at about 24 (if you have good air going in) and Barra unhappy at approx 22, like it hight 20's (as a guide)

Hi dustintheshelves

silver perch are an option as well.

I get mine from stu http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/mem ... ofile&u=77

Let me know if I can ever be any help, I visit your area every week or so.

I'm also about to buy some more silver perch.

Hi BullwinkleII,

The link not worky (www.thefishfarm.com.au). Are silver perch a good eating fish? Will they survive all year round?

Thanks!

Bullwinkle

whats the temp and grow out time of them?

good to eat (i have heard on eof the best), survive all year round, though tend to shut down in winter and not eat so no rates for plants. temp is about 10 - high twenties. grow time 12 - 18 months climate water temp depending

ty - possibly worth looking at then

Plus they grow at greatly different rates so harvesting will be gradual not one big cull. Mine that I have had in the aquariums over winter vary so much already its amazing. My little jades that I have only had 3 weeks are doing the same