Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I will have a small system and don't plan on eating any of the fish (next system perhaps). I just need a plant nutrient source. I have read goldfish are tough and resistant to temp changes. Is that the fish best suited for South Florida? What about crayfish, are they tough? I only plan on using 55 gallon barrels for fish tanks.

Maybe blue gill?

Sounds like Goldies would be the go, Freshwater Crayfish (here anyway) don't poo enough, but are very tasty

Feeder goldfish, the $0.12 ones. Might want to treat them with salt before adding to system.

Bondi one-eyed mullet can survive near anything:)

Chappo your a *sigh*

"legend"'..... I always knew that:)

*sigh* doesn't uncensor to legend Chappo

God-like?

Definately goldfish EG They can go from 0 deg to 35 deg c

Goldfish are cheap, easy, and tough. Do keep in mind that if you get the cheapest feeder gold fish, some might not be great stock and some deaths should be expected but the ones that survive, will grow as much as the space and feed allow and can turn out to be pretty interesting. (I got goldfish for my mom's pond up in Michigan and there are still several of the originals from 6 or 7 years ago, they nibble at my legs whenever I get into the pond to do cleaning or work on the waterfall, it really tickles.)

Tilapia are also a pretty easy fast growing type of fish that is also good eating. Blue tilapia may be the only ones legal without a permit (at least in this part of Florida.) When I first got my Tilapia, I was amazed at how easy they were to handle compared to the catfish. When they were still in the quarantine tank, they would eat right out of my hand, in fact they would nibble and tug on my fingers. I was able to net and check the gender of some of them quite easily. Be ware, tilapia can breed uncontrollably in certain situation.

Catfish, blue gill, sun fish area also pretty easy though I'm sure not as easy as the above two listed species.

Miami-Aquaculture is just in Boynton on Federal. You can get red claw there and many other things. If you can't use the min. amount let me know and perhaps we can share.
I haven't found duckweed yet. Do you have any?

Linda

No duckweed here yet. I have been reading about it though. Let me know if you find any.

Water garden places/nurseries will sometimes have duckweed that they think of as weeds.

Duckweed should be easy to find in South Florida. I live in the Orlando area and it grows in lots of ponds and in the ditches along side the road. Especially you should be able to find it in the ditches. Whenever you see one that looks like it has a yucky green film on top, stop and check it out. You'll probably find that it's a beautiful crop of duckweed.

I have a ditch near my house that I stop at once a week or so. I fill a couple of quart drink cups and distribute it amoung my tanks. It's always gone in a few days. I wish I had a way to grow it but I don't have any tanks that don't have fish in them and the fish eat it faster than it can grow.....

I think bluegill are more hardy then goldfish. they can live in higher water temps.