Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I had a homemade biopod towards the start of the year. I found I had to add some milk to the contents before I got any BSF. It brought in heaps of other type of fly but once the BSF had got a hold of it they soon left. It was only an experiment and I had to shut it down because I didnt even have an aquaponics system to use the larvae on lol!

I found someone else say to use a bit of milk on another forum somewhere during my searching.. I dont know, I guess it makes the smell stronger so they can smell it from further away?

No worries EB - only thing I fracked up was those extra rubber rings - thought they were O-rings for around the drain so thats where I put them. By the time I got to the end of the instructions and found they were for holding the lid on I couldn't be buggered undoing it all. I'll find some thick lackey bands somewhere.

And before you ask, I was only one Coopers down by the end of the job

Hey Nocky - you up for a challenge ?

First one to produce a handful of BSF larvae wins !

Nigel I didn't know BSF were into the Coopers, may give that a try I will invest in a pod when I actually see a BSF in Narrogin, as for the challenge I am yet to see a BSF in Narrogin, and wins what if it's beer i'm in

Yep, I was thinking of the true Aussie currency - a carton (oh, and probably a couple of handfuls of larvae for the loser)

Doesn't have to be Coopers, but as a ex-Barossa Valley boy, I like to do my part for the Sth Aus economy !

I like the pale ale, not much into the sparkling though, and I will have to decline on the bet, I will change it to couple of drinks when and if we meet up, even after faye bought down some BSF larvae I still have no action, have tried the milk as posted above and see what happens, but keep us posted, that flash pod should be full by now

Fair enough - the drinks are a promise !

Yeah, I did the milk and banana thing too.

At the minute it's a draw - all I've got so far are those little vinegar flys.

yes I have those flies, Banana's didn't work for me though,
Nigel you must have a better job than mine your in here more than me

I Have Maggots
The drinks maybe on you Nigel, a nice pint of Tooheys Old but they are same Maggots I had in the Worm Farm, so assume they must be BSF's, the main drama is they are also on the lid of Pod so may have to make some adjustments, but they have only be there a couple of days, pic isn't the best but at least you can see them, I think the splash of milk on the scraps did the trick

Three cheers for milk!! i will try it too! The moment this darned off season rain stops.

Woohoo go Nocky!
We saw two flies today buzzing around at the shop today, yeeha.
Go Chilli Dude too, I am not taking sides, go the Soldier Flies.

No worries Faye - you can take sides - especially know it looks like there's a winner !

Looks like you've sewn it up Nocky - still haven't got past the vinegar flies and a couple of blowies !

Congrats Nocky ! Beers are on me as soon as we get together !

Cheers

still haven't harvested them yet Nigel, but have thrown in some fish heads as well so will see how things progress

Awesome! Glad the milk trick worked for you too Nocky

Make sure you keep the feed up, they go through it at an impressive rate of knots.. also, if you haven't already, fit a drain to your pod, the vegies are filled with heaps of moisture and the BSF dont like it too soggy. Makes good fertiliser for the dirty garden too

Congratulations Nocky. I took these photos today of the first BSF I have seen on my pod. It was just going in the hole so got the camera and waited patiently for it to emerge. It looks like there are eggs on the cardboard inside however I cannot get a decent photo of them.
I think the milk idea works well as I have been soaking the cardboard every couple of days.

But when you think about it, it is a sad life when we get excited about flies.
Whatever puffs your adder I guess!!