Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone.
Research shows that catfish is suitable for an overwintering AP system not in a greenhouse. Has anyone come up with other species other than Catfish however? What could replace catfish in a temperature environement from 20 degree winter lows, to 95 degrees in summer.
Thanks

Look into what fish farms in your local area sell for farm pond stocking. The list I'm used to seeing is like Bass, Bluegill, sunfish, catfish. What is common in your area?

Trout Ask Monya, he's an authority on the topic

Naughty you will get into trouble

Is your water 95 or the air temp.? Trout grow just fine in S. Carolina. Keep your system shaded and aerated, trout are fun. Bass are too, bass will do ;great where you are.

F&F, I can't in trouble over trout if I am on the other side of the ocean.... can I?

Mathew

The trout thing is an inside joke

As to the water getting up to 95 F, I know it can happen here in FL in summer so depending on the system, I expect the water temp can easily climb to 95 F further north. Flood and drain does act like a water heater in the heat of summer and as a chiller in the cold of winter. Now my water temp hasn't gotten much over 90 F this summer but I did add over 600 gallons of fish tank to my system.

Bass will handle that temp. easy, at least mine have. They are nearly as fun as the trout. They really fly out of the water for the bugs. One even latched on to my dogs nose one night when he got to curious as to why the fish were hanging around the pool light. He has not been so curious since then.

Mathew

I would consider Yellow Perch (first choice), Trout and Blugill.
All are easily pellet trained and do well on that diet.

I would avoid largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, etc. They will give you very little growth over the winter, are generally more difficult to pellet train (particularly smallmouth) and even with pellet trained ones growth will lag behind others.