Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have always found guppy's good i have used them a few times i would recommend them
I had and issue after 2 emails it was settled amicably

How to build my own manifold? No real hurry as water temp is still 26 deg so there will be no fish going in for a while yet, so I dont need aeration yet. If I ever hear from Guppys, then I might have 2 of them.

Jeez - haven't they arrived yet ? Would send 'em an email.

I have sent 2. I asked some questions before I bought the things (air stone outputs and delivery times), and I didn't get a reply then either. There is a phone number on the AVK site, but it never answers. I have received some emails from them about order conformation and to ask for my street address as they don't send to PO boxes (I don't have a street address so it went to the post office anyway ), so someone is sending them out.

Anywhoo......! The weather tonight on the TV said we had 11/36 deg. Can anyone match a 25 deg difference in max/min temps? My tank is reflecting this. I think this will be a long term problem unless I find a way to insulate my tank.
I visited a mate last weekend, and as I told him of my insulation woes, he grabbed his phone and rang a bloke. This bloke had a chook shed with some sort of damage and he'd replaced the whole insulated lining under insurance. Goodness knows how many panels of 600x2400 styrene (I guess), perfect for what I need......... all mashed up down the tip the week before I was there. Apparently they'd been sitting at his place for a while and he'd asked around but no one wanted them so they got cleaned up .

You're lucky to have even got an email reply from them...

Isn't that typical
Somebody always telling you "if you were only here last week"

or

You finally chuck that bit of junk you've had for years and need it a week later

I hope there's a good tip around the Riverland area
but you probably won't want to tell me

Hi Dexter
looks as though the purchase for the Moorook property is going ahead
Looking forward to a temporary sea change and becoming a Riverland Rat

Woohooo! 5 minutes spare. Time for a quick update.
Veges are going along nicely. Still some confusion as to why some of the seeds didn't shoot, but all the seedlings are motoring along.
Still no fish. Over easter 22 deg was as hot as it got, so we're getting nearer the mark.
Never heard from Guppies about the manifold for the air pump. Their prices are good and the gear turned up, but if you have a problem, my experience so far is that they are hard to get hold of. I built my own. Cost $4 and suits better.

I hope everyone had a happy and safe easter, and that you didn't get trapped down the river by 13mm of rain so you had to slide four cars out through the mud, ladden with kids and camping gear, and had to go get the last of the said camping gear in the tinny launched from the other side of the river, or if you did, that you enjoyed the adventure!!

I must get some new pics up soon.


Welcome to the neighborhood DesertRat.

I find that some seeds germinate better is soil or similar material than in the AP growbeds... For example, I was trying to grow basil from seed for months... got fed up and put some in the soil bed, grew to decent seedling, transplanted it to AP, and it's growing well now...

We've got basil everywhere. Michelle broke a branch off a plant down in the garden and bashed it around a bit on the gravel. Nothing happened so it was planted up with seedlings. Now there is cabbage AND basil in that bed.

Time for some more photos.

My home made air pump manifold. Still haven't heard from Guppy's.

Soon after I found the thread suggesting circulating the water was a more efficient earator anyway, so all a waste maybe.

Good roots on the strawbs.
There are Strawbs and Carrots in the front tub. At the back are Broccoli, Peas, Silverbeet (Spinach??), a Cabbage and the pale leaves behind the cooks hand we think might be Turnip or Parsnip.

It's about time. First fish are in.



Back to get Trout next week or so. I'll do things differently next time, but the extra cost and the two trips is offset by a new aquaintance and some interesting information.

I like the stainless washing machine tub as a fish enclosure for small fish. Easy to lose them in a big system.