Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Nope, definitely a Redfin..... these are grass carp ... http://www.uaex.edu/wneal/Pond_Manageme ... sscarp.jpg

Well Algae is starting so will need to put up more shade cloth, getting a jar of water from the bottom looks nice and clear though, but can't see the bottom, no smell in the water either so maybe over stressing, have ordered 25 freshwater mussels from Aguablue and hope to have them in tomorrow, and getting some small minnows from local creek, see if this clears things up, marron seem happy enough, how clear is the water meant to be? I know marron don't like it to clear

Well freshwater mussels from Aquablue have arrived, discussion on this subject can be Found Here, Pictures of the Mussels can be Found Here, picture page maybe a tad slow loading, but you can also view the rest of the project so far, the latest addition is a length of PVC pipe across my mesh boundary to stop the Marron climbing to the other side, this works well as they can only lean a little back before they topple over, but will let you all know how the mussel thing goes, I have 2 dozen in my tank, and 1 in the goldfish bowl, the bigger mussels in the pictures are 3 year old

After 2 days I can see a huge difference in my water, I can almost see the bottom of my tank again and PH which was up at 7.4 is now at 7.0, will next week post before and after pic's of water clarity, these Mussels are amazing, but my main problem now is I need to get some fish to assist with Mussel Breeding, you can Read Here to see why, the problem being I need fish that wont eat my Juvenile Marron, I was thinking of some minnows from the local creek, any other idea's? I suppose with the mesh thing the fish shouldn't be able to get at the baby Marron, but would prefer smaller fish anyhow, will leave the big fish for project No 2, after the beer shed is finished which is happening slowly,

May have found the soloution in Western Pygmy Perch (Edelia vittata) we have heaps in a river not far from me so am going to give them ago, collect next weekend.
Mussels are going great, doing a fantastic job. I will leave another week and post before and after pics, a few threads in forum about the mussels so a lot of interest, I have a couple of farmers chasing them now as well, one farmer who saw my tank before mussels, and now, has ordered 100 for his dam and a big marron farmer down this way is trying to get them as well, believe me they work, but supply seems it's going to be a problem.

Man where has the edit button gone??
Click Here to read about them

Marron Husbandry Parameters
Oxygen & temperature requirements
All animals need oxygen to live. Marron are no different. However, being aquatic, benthic animals, they get their oxygen from that dissolved in the water. The amount of oxygen that can dissolve in water decreases with increasing temperature and salinity. It also depends on the percentage of oxygen in the air with which the water is in equilibrium.

For optimum growth marron need DO (Dissolved Oxygen) in the water to be above 8 ppm at all times. Values below 6 ppm stress the animal.

The optimum temperature at which marron grow fastest is 24° C. Deaths start to occur above 26° C.

Very cool stuff... I wonder if we can source them in the states.

This forum can be very frustrating... all you guys down south have stuff that is so cool that we can't access.

Those few of us in the enormous state of WA do... the rest of Australia is as hamstrung as a lot of ppl in the US. We can't even get Tilapia. No cray fish other than the humble yabbie, of which you need 30 just for a meal for two they are so small.

plenty of crayfish in neerim if you feel like going for a drive lol

yes the DO is important C1 I have a big air double pump from BYAP, and Kuda do I hear a nice word from a Vic about WA

Well... I think it's a disgrace that your laws are so lax. It allows potentially noxious breeds to be introduced, and possibly released into the local ecosystems.
That said, I wish Victoria was so relaxed (for responsible ppl)

Also WA? nothing wrong with WA. Living expenses are a bit high in Perth but it's a lovely city... and so far away that there is no real competition or animosity. After all, it's not like you're SA or Adelaide!!!!

Careful Monya is a mod you mite get banned

What cos of some good old fashioned (and nature) SA bashing? Surely not

actually I don't think you will get a bite