Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

You're not meant to say that Nic! There goes all the mystery and imminent envy!

You're not meant to say that Nic! There goes all the mystery and imminent envy!

Hey Nic, no shrimp, we decided the perch aint big enough yet, so just some special Nic blend flake is what im calling it, well special if it gets them fat and big fast lol

..do want them to stop hiding and come out a bit though..

Hi all, here is the week 4 picture. Its pretty much the same as last time, still no leeks or carrots.. ..the leeks get 10mm high and die, not sure why, and the carrots fail to germinate. I haven't tried them on paper yet, but will do soon. Everything else going strong, even the second round of capsicums are up.

Also, the fish are doing ok, i think, dont know enough about them to know otherwise.. ..well there still alive, and in 6 days time get the company of 10 marron YIPEE!!!

Does anyone know a way to get them to surface to eat, they just hide in the pipe and under the pump, i sit there for ages and nothing. Go inside, come out an hour later, and all the food is gone! little buggers dont like to show themselves.

any tips or feel free to comment.

Watch out for the marron JJ, they are amazing escape artists, and your sure to find them wandering around your yard at some stage.

You can't get the fish to stay out and about for you, it can be done over time as you observe them (with out any quick moves and loud noises) when they are feeding. They will also venture boldly out once bigger and they develop the "feeder & fish" relationship (My electric yellows and mainganos nibble my fingers as i feed them )

Another way is to remove their structures which they hide under... which is very wrong in deed! This will cause a magnitude of stress related problems, just to name a few:

*Ich (whitespot)
*Parasites
*Ammonia Burns (gill burns)
*Stress related agression (fin nipping)

When a fish is very small they are quite darty (in movement) and due to this nature they feel at rest when hiding. If they have nowere to hide there stress levels will go through the roof and what little ammonia you have can affect them due to there acceptability to disease and lack of ammune system.

You may not see them much but when you do enjoy it Btw Jades have been known at larger sizes to follow the feeders who have the food and be very owner responsive.

Btw let me know when you want more flake i can get it in the Kgs

Thanks

Nic

Thanks Nic, i think its time to put you on speed dial

..how much flake should i be feeding them anyhow??? at the moment im feeding about the same amount a 50cent piece takes up morning and night. Should i be feeding more??

And i have heard about the marron's prowess at getting loose and shall be most mindful earthbound.

If it is possible to watch them feed, feed them until they stop basically (in some cases slow down). Keep an eye on how much you end up feeding them and then proceed to feed them that much.

At their size though 50c piece size is perfect. Around 2-3 times a day.

Nic

yeah its twice a day at the moment - i have to teach classes

Awww... I think you might have time at lunch to pop out and feed the fish JJ... Hehehe!

maybe, especially if the boss dont see me

I reckon if you give him a feed of Fish, veges and Marron every now and again he won't mind... Hehe...

Or offer to help him set one up at the new place...

Well for the latest update, i thought i would do something different..

..the picture is not of the grow bed, but of 7 new additions thanks to Tim C and Nic C. They are a couple of tandanas, tillapia and 3 bristle nose cat fish (sorry if i got the names wrong or mis spelt or whatever fellas)

Also for fun, i took the photo on the pink form you need to give to fisheries to trans locate live non-endemic fish. Its the the part that says you get fined $10k for not having the permit Anyway, the fish where already in WA, so i wonder if i still need to submit the form???

The system is still going well, everything growing at least. Only drama i have is getting the marron. I keep being told one day, then get a phone call to say "urr not today, next week"

Who are you getting the marron from JJ ?

A rural agriculture/aquaculture shop about a 20min drive from my place. Apparently the problem is transporting them from Collie to the shop in Mundijong. Last week it was the pond never drained in time.

It is just irritating is all. Probably because i get all excited, then let down. When they come in i'll be sure to put heaps of photos of them