Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Everyone,

As Easter approaches, my Barra are looking more and more delicious and definitely plate size.
This is our first harvest and I was hoping to get some advice to the following questions please?
1. Do you people harvest in one big batch or one at time based on required dinners?
2. When do you harvest generally for Barra? When water temps reach a certain low temp consistently?
3. Do you purge Barra before harvesting?
4. How do you euthanase humanely?
5. How soon do you restock with trout?

Thanks.

Look forward to your feedback.

1. One at a time, unless water temps dictate they have to come out now. If you need to do a mass harvest, get a few mates around

2. Once your starting to sit below 20 or so I believe, I have not kept Barra.

3. Not unless your AP water is really dirty. I have not purged any of my fish yet, and everyone reckons they are great.

4. Whack on the back of the head with a bit of PVC pipe works wonders.

5. Straight away.

Thank you so much.

The information is very helpful.

1. If they are big enough start enjoying, as many as required. Guests can chose which one they would like for dinner.
They like to know that it doesn't get fresher than that.
2. As the weather cools they slow right down. I have actually kept barra in my drain tank after I received my trout.
They weren't exactly happy, but hey were certainly still well alive.
3.I have purged by putting them in a separate tank with airstones and salt for 4 days,(but wouldn't bother again)) others have done it in the bath tub. I now move them to my drain tank and stop feeding, that is a form of purging in itself and they are easier to catch in a smaller volume of water.
4. As barramundi like warm water, the best and kindest way to kill them is to put them into an ice slurry. They drift to sleep peacefully.
5. Keep an eye on the water temps over the next fortnight, with a floating thermometer ($5-50) as long as the max temp is below 23 degrees you may go ahead with trout. (Unless there is a hot spell ahead, consult the crystal ball.) It is okay if you don't have fish for a couple of weeks as there are residual nutrients slowly releasing to feed the plants.
Don't ever wait for the death knock before starting to eat your fish- too many people actually leave it tooooo loong and tooo late.

ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOUR!

Thanks Faye.

I have young SP (our trial crop from when we set up) in my drain tank so can't do the swap over unfortunately.

Thanks for your feedback.

Will crank up the BBQ ASAP.