Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Would it be dumb to put rubber bands on their claws like they do in the lobster tanks at the grocery store? What about snipping off their bottom claws so they can't pinch?

I think using indicators like what you're seeing as a stocking density guide. Provide heaps of shelter (rock crevices or pvc cut-offs) if it still happens then you have reached your stocking density IMHO.

I tried crayfish when I first got into AP and the local supplier said the stocking density has to be very high to suppress their territorial behavior, so high that it was dificult to maintain good water quality (which is why I abandoned the effort). When they molt, they are crazy vulnerable and get taken rapidly. But they sure like to eat dead fish!

That is intesting Mike, when I saw the amount of them in the purging tanks at the farm I got mine from, with virtually no hiding spots, I thought I would have no problems at all. Mine are stocked at a rate of around 3 per sq metre, but the farm was holding them at at least double that amount.

It's probably not a dumb idea but I wouldn't like the job of trying to do it... I reckon it would be a but cruel too, I wouldn't like it done to me if I was a marron, would be pretty frustrating. The rubber bands would weather quickly I'd think anyways. The problem with snipping off the claws is that they are a delicacy, and unlike yabbies the Marron claws are actually worth getting into to get at the tasty claw meat... yummmy.

Just took some measurements and I have some questions...

ph 7.2
Ammonia almost 0.5ppm
Nitrites almost .25ppm
Nitrates almost 5.0ppm

I reckon my ammonia levels are too high, reading Steves ammonia - silent killer post?

I will cut back on the feed, but I want to know if I need to start doing some small regular water changes to get the ammonia down a bit?

Problem there is I don't have any rainwater left, how much chlorinated water can I "safely" add each day to a 800L system? I could stand it in a wheelbarrow to age, what is the minimum time I can leave this for?

Lot of Q's there. sorry...

I think if you change half the water, you halve the ammonia levels. You could leave the water in the barrow for 24 hours to be safe.

technically it depends if your town supply is clorinated with chlorine or chloramine. with chlorine you can somply put an air stone in it over night and you should have done the job. Chloramine is a diferent story. DO a seach for chloramine in the forum, much has been discussed already

I'll hceck the chart again, but 0.5ppm ammo at ph 7.2 is not cause for alarm. cut back on the feed and check it again tomorrow

Tx fellas... I don't think it is very highly chlorinated here in Perth, as EB has mentioned. I will search though.

most water boards list the chlorination method on thier website, as pepople with aquariums like to know, becasue the dosage of de-chlorinator for chloramine is usually double. If you cant find it on theri website just ring them and ask

Just Googled and found this, looks like they do use Chloramine here in W.A., check out page 12 of this doc.

http://www.watercorporation.com.au/_fil ... %20W.A.%22

Actually, that might just affect the goldfields... reading more thoroughly it looks like my water is predominantly groundwater (being right near the Jandakot water mound) so it is most likely just chlorinated, flouridated and also goes through the groundwater treatment regime.

So 24 hours in the wheelbarrow with an airstone will be heaps?

bad luck Simmo

just to recap on previous discussions..................at .5ppm ammo, you may be better off not doing a water change, as when you de-chlorinate your water yuo will be left with ammonia in the water i think it is dosed with chloramine between 1 and 2 ppm, so this is the ammonia content of the water you will be putting in Damned chloramine, the bane of every fish keeper)

Steve

Sorry took me a minute to write that up cause the phone rang, I edited my post above.

cool. give it a go. But start saving water next winter