Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Not really easy to breed these fish (with a large percentage of fry surviving) given predation and aggression. I understand one needs a large tank, careful conditioning of females, and some other efforts and even so females may get killed. I've been wondering if one couldn't capture full-mouth females from a large system and put them alone or with a couple other broody mothers in a nursery tank until babies hatch. Tank might be as small as ten gallon, far smaller than required for any attempt at breeding. Tried it today, but any fish removed from water spat out it's eggs (the eggs are now tumbling in a tea ball). Perhaps viewing fish under water, then capturing tight-lipped ones in a container and transferring without ever removing from water....

I like your idea of a safe sump/collecting area. The egg-crate grill is good, but how about creating a really attractive haven for fry in the main tank, a place where mothers would set their babies free for best chance at growing up? Within this haven one could conceal the sump siphon intake..... Return pump from sump could take water from surface through a very large fine screen (fine strainer?) and occasional bottom sucking (once every few months? When weather turns cool?) could take care of the small amt of solids the fry would produce. Simple, elegant, effective..... I bet one could get hundreds of fry per month from twenty or so fish at one kg each.

So, what would create an attractive area for fish to leave their fry? I know they like hyacinths. Thread algae might be nice. Perhaps some other submerged water plants, inside the adult-proof enclosure, of course. Or something like a breeding mop?

Well it has been some time. I'm still ap'ing. All fish are out of the house and either in the green house or the yard tank, Just growing mostly Tom's just yet, but a shit load of them. Lost two more perch so I'm down to 6, water got a bit to warm for them before I put up the shade cover on the green house.
I'll try and get some update pictures. the two perch I lost have been turned into an auto feeder. stinks like hell the first few days but the white wigglers should drop right into the tank, Yummm.
Two years and the perch still are not to real eating size. Now this is with a novices approach to fish raising. I may just forgo even thinking of raising the fish to eat and just focus on the veggies. Its more enjoyable just watching them swim about any way. I never did like cleaning fish!
Hope everyone is safe and well!

Hi John
I have been off the forum for a while too. I got 150 channel catfish, 150 hybrid blue gill and 50 yellow perch on May 10th. Most are dead now. I have about 50 cats left and they are dying a couple per day. Never found the problem. All water values are good. I have an oxygen meter, pH meter, and test kits. All values are good. So maybe a sickness. Another possibility is a residue from the urethane tank coating I applied this spring. I noticed an oily slick in the water when I filled the tank. I called the coating company and they said an oil does come off the coating but others are using the coating on fish tanks. I removed the water and scrubbed the tank down...rinsed...refilled and saw just a small slick. Then the fish arrived and they went in the tank...and started dying. I did two 75% water changes, but they still die. My conclusion is that catfish are much hardier than perch or gills and grow much faster. The catfish I harvested at 18 months were two pounds and filleted nicely. The blue gill were one pound or less and eating them pan fried is an adventure in bone removal. So next spring, after another tank cleaning, I will get just 150 catfish and grow them 18 months. I agree, the vegetables are the real return on the process. I will have to foliar feed to suppliment the small amount of fish in the system now. Worth it to have fresh veggies all winter. The AP system is not all roses! Wish you well with your system John.

Ouch Doug. Is that from just this last May? Will you have to remove the coating and recoat with something else or?
Some pics of Mine today. The tank outside has around 140 T's and about 12 Koi I think, growing toms and some Squash in that.
All the Toms in that were cloned from the green house starts.
Love the way they cast roots when in the Ap water for a few days. I have used that method and given a few good sized plants to some coworkers. Works great.
The majority of my Ap Toms this year are the lemon plum, not sure how they will go over but they are quite mild, a yellow tom.

Don't do this at home!

Nice Toms John.
Willow Ann Marie looks something like our Amber. Amber is a 40 pound, 3 yr old, mixed breed with some Rotweiler(sp?).
When and if the remaining catfish die, I will scrub down the tanks again. The coating has been used in other fish tanks and I should not have to remove it. That would be so hard and expensive, I would have to quit AP and run the system as hydroponics. Next spring I will restock with channel catfish only.
Great to see how well your system is working out. Keep up the good work

Welcome back from winter. It seems several of us have returned with summer. The Toms look great John. Keep on APing.
Joyce

Has anyone tried clove oil + vodka to kill catfish?

What is the Most Humane Way to Euthanize a Fish?

I have clove oil, and I had vodka lined up, but then the neighbors with their raspberries called...
We won't mention *that* hangover...

Lets see, clove oil is good for tooth aches... and if vodka in any quantity would kill you... I'd be dead long ago.
So, how does clove oil and vodka kill catfish? And how much would it take. I do not know if their teeth ache, but enough vodka and they won't notice you killed them... I guess

clove oil is an anestetic ( spelling) for fish ,, the vodka ,, same effect as for us but calculate the dose on weight:)
It will kill them , called alcohol poisoning ,,

On a serious note, how much clove oil? It is rather expensive, if you need much.

The link gives you dosage and instruction Doug...

I think it's funny that we all meet back at John's thread, whether he's here or not.

heh! 9 posts and a month since we've heard from him
That is funny

I'm still ap'ing just work 60 per week so little time taken to read or respond to reads. Lost alot of fish 2-3 at a time. not sure why. I suspect bad fish food as the pellets I had been using was from the original purchase what two years ago?
If anyone ever grows a tom called lemon plum do not plant very many of them as they produce like mad and you will be over run with the fruit. That's a fact!
Still feeding the fish and eating my veggies just dont have much planted at the moment.
Hope every one is doing great and making it through the wierd times alright.