Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,
Have just set up an AP system at home and am wanting to get some fish in ASAP. What fish species would people recommend. I like the idea of trout but have heard they can be a bit troublesome. We live in perth hills so can get a bit cold in the winter. Any ideas and potential suppliers would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers

From what I have read in the forum thus far, it appears that due to W.A's weather, extremely HOT in summer and cold in winter, most (but not all) run trout in winter and then change to silver perch or barra in summer. April is probably the best time to get your trout so you may be best to wait another month till the temperature to drop a bit. Troutman seems to be the trout Guru and I believe he delivers to Perth in April sometime.

Cheers Rawprawn

Trout like their water to be below 23 degrees as a rule, so float a thermometer in the fish tank and keep an eye on the temp. this will help you decide. Most people that have grown trout have found them to be fun as well as fast growing, ideally suited to Perths cool season, you really can't go wrong with them, they are also well priced and value for money. Good luck Rob.

Not sure why you say trouts are troublesome. Care to share? Trouts grow best in cold/cool weather.

If you have only just put your system together (ie. system is not cycled yet), I suggest you get yourself some common comet goldfishes pronto and get them to start your system cycling asap. System cycling tends to be quicker in warmer weather, but also needs more attention since it would be much easier to kill the fishes too... Or consider fishless cycling.
Search the forums here to read about it.

Not sure if Silver Perch will take the "bit colder" temperature in perth hills... But as suggested, PM Troutman, he does have trout and silver perch... and I think he is coming to Perth with a delivery of silver perch this Friday...

Good luck... if you are going with silvers then you don't need to have the goldfishes. Goldfishes are just to start the system cycling in time for trout...

Thanks all. We are going to give the fishless cycling ago to get the bacteria conditioned. Will get some trout into the system when the temp starts to drop.
Cheers for the help

rob_s, if you would like some comets let me know, i live at the bottom of the hills, kalumunda area.