Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

System starting to take shape nicely there Steve - fish won't take long to get back on the bite, just need a bit more heat in the water and they will be ravenous

Hi Steve.
My water temps got down to about 10C during July and August. Was only feeding couple times a week. Temps now up to 13C and they get a feed most afternoons.
Looks like you have been doing a fair bit of work, nice to hear from you.

Yes, did some work, repainted most of the house, some work on the front yard
and found time for the B/AP as well.

Also finished and tested the “Thermometer”

It’s at http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=149293#p149293

Had a crazy week but made time to watch the Gardening prog. on Ch.2,

Joe Havel from Perth area was interviewed on it and his AP sys. was mentioned.

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2369120.htm

Nearly a month ago have moved my SPs into the IBC, first about a dozen of them and as they were going great, four days later followed the rest.

Two rows 1/2 blue barrel GB are connected to the IBC FT, 9 GB all together, with a pump for each row.
Running only one row for now with not much growing yet.

The pump is running on timer for now.
Had a new controller nearly finished when came onto a better idea, but a more elaborate.
Have about finished on the program, first needed to know if it will work. Looks feasible.

Trying to hold back on food until the sys. stabilizes.
The last days, in the morning or late afternoon, when I approach, the SP are coming right to the surface to feed, not hiding at all.

A pic of the latest IBC test

Did some alteration to the old sys.

More volume and easier to manage.
Now I have to get some more SPs in it.

nice systems there steve exclent use of space i reccon

every time i see the name of your thread i think Stainless steel barrels .... man that would cost a mint



Cheers
pete

wish I could afford that, wouldn’t be using the barrels at all but one of the beaut sys. now awailible even in vic.

Did another test today and turned on the pump for the other row GB
and added some salt. I’m using mS scale meter but there’s a calculator to convert to PPM.
http://www.lenntech.com/unit-conversion-calculator/tds_engels.htm

Got some “greens” seeds coming up.

Amazing how a few day of warmer weather woke up the SPs.
They made the FT water boil at feeding time, even had a spurt of growth in the GBs but didn’t last long
and the SPs are back sulking at the bottom.
Even had to turn the heater on in the house.

Hope to get more SPs soon or when available.

Did remake my Back Up sys., instead of being part of the controller, it is now a standalone for both, the Tubs and the IBC.

Had a controller ready for the IBC before I moved the SPs in but had decided on a different, more use friendly approach,
so it’s still running on timers for now.

Worked out the program (for 28X1 Picaxe) and already started on the boards layout
but may take awhile before it gets finished and tested.

You like coriander a lot?

Summer is great for AP

Its great for chimichuri, although some recipes use parsley only instead ½ ½ with “cilantro"

SPs doing great, feeding like mad on warmer days.
Had to pull out lebanese watercress from the GB, was taking it over
in a frightening way.

Added a simple one barrel FT/GB unit to house the goldies while preparing
the tubs for new SPs.
Eventually will be used as fingerling or quarantine FT.
Planted it with watercress and Lemon Bacopa.

Happy New Year to You All

Very neet steve as always a place for everything and everything in its place[ ps will arange a visit soon i have a few things for you]

Last Sunday had a leisurely 80k drive to the Glenwaters Native Fish farm and came back with fifty cats,
100 SPs and and some 2 and 3mm food.
Left the SPs and cats floating in the tubs over lunch, covered, and then opened one bag at a time
and added my FT water slowly by cupfuls to gradually raise the PH from 6.6 closer to mine 7.4.

No food for two days and since then only a teaspoon morning and evening to each tub.
Water is a bit murky, cannot see them or how much are they eating.
So far none lost.

But over last six weeks have lost three SPs from the IBC, at about 2 week intervals one at a time, no apparent reason, mouth open each time.
Have pulled most greens out, don’t have much to show off.

pretty system....I admire your refrain from over feeding ...( A lesson I am learning the hard way )