Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yeah could run 15 min on off. Bell siphon drains the bed quickly. I do run at night 15 min on 45 off but do skip a couple of hours during the night.
I will try running the pumps a bit more.

And add as much material to act as bio-filter as you can. Some people have made bio-filters using bottle caps, others using well washed shade cloth or fish netting. Bio-balls of course but if you can afford those, you can probably afford another grow bed. One thing I learned about bottle caps, they are good at getting into plumbing so make sure to put netting over the plumbing to keep bottle caps out. If you have not fish in your sump and have your pump protected in a net bag, you could throw extra bio-filter materials into the sump tank but it will probably be more effective if you add some air to it as well.

Many of the DWC systems use barrels or tanks full of netting/shade cloth (again make sure shade cloth is not treated to resist mold/mildew) with some added aeration as a huge portion of their bio-filters.

Sorry I don't know how much you need to add to take care of a given amount of fish.

Cheap, cheap, cheap.
Never to be repeated sale.
buy 1 get one free
We are overstocked and everything must go at below cost.

I was greedy and have more fish than I should have and as a result I'm am giving away 50 x 65-75 gram trout (FREE).
20 are spoken for so who ever wants the other 30 or part there of, then send me a PM.
It's bring your own bag and air.
I am in WARRADALE, South Australia.

My better half has been good enough to solve my Ammonia problems.
She killed my fish.
Accidentally turning off the power to the shed my Trout died a slow death.
All 80 of them.
The silvers and goldies appear to have survived so that's a bonus.

Oh well, teach me for not having a backup.
I'm off to sulk.

Ohhh, bugger Gilly..... chin up... it's probably not too late to get some more trout...

yep, definately not too late. I know a bloke who got some last weekend and they are pretty good size and straight on the feed like mad. I would be happy to get a few in on Steem;s order and drop them at your place when we do it next Saturday if you are interested.

Thanks, guys.
Will wait for more silvers come spring.
Will give me a chance to change a few things around and better prepare.

No worries,
Let us know if you change your mind.
Even a couple of fish will keep you and your bacteria motivated over winter

I got mine last weekend as well, started to feed them today...

they are about 5 inches and 80 cents each for 50 or more..

5 inchs... 80 cents each.... that's a good price...

Yep thats a real good price

I got quoted $80/100, when I said I needed less than 100 and it was going into an aquaponics system they said they could do the same price for 50...

I wound up getting 60, guessing that I would lose a few between now and the summer solstice..

H.

the bloke I know that got some ended up with sizes ranging from 3 inches to over 8!... generally about the 6 inch mark... He bought 500, counted about 530, so a good deal all round. He'll be eating the first ones in a couple of months.

My first round of Aquaponics has had some up's and down's. The up's would be the great veg and the down's being the loss of all my trout after the power went out. A learning experience. It is now time to jump in and build a bigger system. A new move to the Adelaide Hills and some great new opportunities and here we go.

I had a small pond in an atrium and have decided to dig a big hole to house the fish. Half way there and dame it's hard work. Luckily I need the exercise. I expect it to be 2.4 x 1.8 mtrs at a depth of 1 metre. Any deeper and that would cause problems with the local council. That will give me a good 4300 litres. I will expand this by pulling up some paving and expanding along a garden bed at a depth of about 30 centre metres. Any deeper and I would need a pool fence. This may give me a further 3000-4000 litres depending on the shape. A bridge over the water to the door will give access to the house.

For the tank, I was planning to put in some vertical H poles (corner posts) cemented in each corner and the slot in some sleepers to retain the walls. Not sure if this is over kill. Some blue board (cement sheeting) on the walls and sand on the bottom to smooth it off. A pond liner (two thick) would line the tank.

If anyone has a better way to build the walls of the tank I would be interested to hear them.

I plan to keep trout and with the cooler Hills weather and in ground tank, I expect to get 9 mths growing. Year round growing may be asking too much but I will just have to wait and see. The stocking density will be low with maybe 50-100 trout to ensure minimal problems.

Filtration will be via a living wall of ornamental plants. Something like the attached photo. We will need to do some research but the better half thinks we should use Bromeliads and Dichondra Silver falls. The wall will face the atrium with door access on the left. This will keep council happy as if the wall wasn't there, I would need to put up a pool fence. It will also give privacy to the house as this area is towards the side fence line. You can see the roadway while standing in the shower. Nice view though.