Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

If your living in Tasmania and would like to possibly speak with others in your area, please reply to this post, and give people an idea of where you are (no exact details, town or postcode perhaps) and whether or not you have an aquaponic system.

I'm 60 kilometres south of Hobart in Australia's southernmost council (Huonvalley). We are setting up a Permaculture farm and aquaponics is in the planning stages. I'd love to hear from people in Tasmania or in other cold areas. My main concern are the winter temperatures. We hardly get frost or snow, but many days over long periods with minimum temps of 2-5 C and max of around 10 t

Sorry, pressed the wrong button... try again:

I'm 60 kilometres south of Hobart in Australia's southernmost council (Huonvalley). We are setting up a Permaculture farm and aquaponics is in the planning stages. I'd love to hear from people in Tasmania or in other cold areas. My main concern are the winter temperatures. We hardly get frost or snow, but many days over long periods with minimum temps of 2-5 C and max of around 10 t. Which fish will do well in such temps, and what can be grown in the beds? I might have to consider a solar greenhouse, passive heatstorage with concrete block backwall, etc.

welcome to the forum torsten, your input will be greatly appreciated on your setup (proposed and current).

Haven't had anyone other "taswegians" and I am a little closer to the equator to be of much help on those "freezing" temps, there are a few american friends about to go into "hibernation" and may be able to assist

Hope to hear from you frequently, oh - have fun reading the forum

Les

hah - the old "hit the wrong button" trick, others are gonna have to answer on fish species

Hi Torsten

As far as fish for you aquaponics system go I dont think you could go past Trout. They can survive in waters which freeze over so the temps that you experience sure wont bother them. Fish like Silver Perch will survive water temps down to around 2 degrees though they dont actually grow much until the water is over 12 degrees. I doubt that the Tasmanian Fisheries Dept even allow Silver Perch or other East Coast natives into your state anyway so you probably wont have much choice fish wise in what to put in your system.

Cant help you much on what cold weather plants to grow.

U serious?

Its not like they're going into a dam or anything.

I'd view them as more of a BIG aquarium...............Its not like silver perch are a declared species or any thing.

Sort of like not endemic species not being approved for stocking in dams...........

Still you're right about the trout being the logical choice for cold climates

Steve

According to what I know from Fisheries Dept in Tas there are no East Coast natives in Tasmania and the importation of such is prohibited. So I guess that limits the type of fish used in Aquaponics systems there to trout or perhaps there native blackfish. The fisheries dept there are real serious about keeping any other introduced fish out of there waterways. I know they spent millions of dollars over the past few years erradicating Carp from 2 lakes in the central highlands. As we all know if fish are permitted in somewhere for aquarium use they often eventually turn up in the natural waterways. I guess thats why you guys cant get Tilapia!

Troutman, i get what you're saying. Would be interesting to find out for sure from dept. of fisheries if you told them they were soley for aquarium.

My point is that tilapia are a declared noxious species in MOST states. If you can keep non native cold water aquarium fish from other countries then i don't see the difference with ones from the main land. I'm sure you have aquarium shops down there.

Anyway, post us here if you get a ruling from dept. fisheries.

Ironically enough tilapia might not be declared noxious there due to them not being able to survaive the local climate! LOL. But then again being the fish that they are, They might be!

Steve

Hello,
Troutman is correct.
To be more correct;
"Prohibited imports include all coldwater fish species and certain species of temperate water fish. Also prohibited are axolotls, turtles and freshwater crayfish. Fines of up to $10,000 can apply to illegal imports."

The DPI in Tas does not control this area, it is under the control of the "inland fisheries service" - IFS.

Here is a link to their
prohibited-activities page for your reference.

Also,
Silver perch is potentially one of the best warm water species for aquaculture in Australia, mainly because of its feeding habits. It eats both animal and plant material, feeding on shrimps, insects, zooplankton, algae and aquatic plants. Consequently more food is available to silver perch in a pond than to carnivorous species.

A number of hatcheries rear silver perch for sale. Without specialised hatcheries, farmers cannot produce fingerlings as silver perch will not spawn in farm dams. In contrast to trout, silver perch can be grown in ponds without a continuous throughput of water. Mechanical aeration, however, is needed in intensive ponds and flushing of ponds may be needed to reduce ammonia and algae levels. A reliable source of water is critical.

Optimum growth is achieved between 25-30° C. Predation by birds and sometimes rats can be a problem and many farmers cover ponds with bird nets to reduce stock losses.
Silver Perch reference.

My understanding of trout is that you need lots of fresh flowing water - divert a stream into a fish pond and out again. I don't know if the pump/s would be enough. If you decided to try trout, the brown trout has some legal issuses with keeping them in farm dams in Tasmania. i.e. you must allow public access to them! Yes, the IFS is strange. You are also not allowed to feed them - they must be stocked in a manner to be self sufficent. If you wish to feed them, you must be licenced as an inland fishery. They also have rules on aquaculture on your own land - check with them.

"Which type of fish - brown or rainbow trout?

The type of trout to stock in your dam depends upon whether it is to be a public or private water. If you agree to allow reasonable public access to your dam, then brown trout are an option. If you wish your dam to be for private fishing only, then you must stock rainbow trout. "
Quote Reference.


It might help a bit.
Cheers,
Darren
Gardners Bay, Tasmania. Where we DO get snow and frosts.
22kms from Huonville.
45mins from Hobart.

edit: removed "native"-regarding brown trout.

I'm down here in Tassie right now, recuperating from a shoulder operation. and I just picked up an inland fishing licence and all the reading matter that goes with it.

The pest fish they are mainly concerned about are European carp, Mainland Yabbies, Eastern gambusia, Goldfish, Redfin Perch and Tench, as well as an introduced algae, Didymo.

After floating a mudeye for around 30 secs in one of the local lakes I just caught a 350 mm Brown Trout for brekky, so I'm not about to argue with their precautions.

Any AP people in the Queenstown area who I can visit ??

I don't believe brown trout are any more native than rainbow trout - both are from europe I think? The native tassie species are mostly galaxias.

Brown Trout originate from Europe whilst the Rainbow is originally from Nth America.

Dozer, do you actually get snow in Gardners Bay?? I thought that was down by the coast.

Yes mate we do!

hmm, looks like snow to me Welcome Dozer

Wish we could have snow
Welcome dozer