Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,
Just getting the hang of this been going for almost two months. I just lost about 12 of my 30 trout over the weekend. I have added a massive aerator and sorted out the ammonia and other levels. I stopped feed for about 5 days now and thought I would try and feed the survivors today. None of them even look at the food even if I turn off the aerator for a while. Any ideas how long they can go without eating?

Weeks...... without a problem at all.

May have a got excited a little early just had two more floaters.

Have you tested your water? Post your water test results...

In the meantime, salt with seasalt (most pool salts are okay) to 1ppt (1kg per 1000L of water).
I go my salt from Bunnings (natural lakes salt or something...)

And stop feeding....

Thanks for any help in advance,

I just lost another two,

Levels taken last night were.

PH 7.6
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40

I have added salt twice this week a bit more than your advice.
I am thinking the current deaths might be do to stress. I am pretty sure this all started as over stocking issue. I am worried the new aerator might be stressing them a bit. I have not been feeding them for about 5 days now. I changed out about a third of the water on Monday and hand scooped the bottom last night looking for any debri of which there was very little.

Stop playing with it, and dont feed until they really want it, water test results are good, has there been a period of no aeration?

We did not have an aerator for about the first 7 weeks just got it this week after the deaths started. (bought this system mid june). I have one grow bed on a 1000ltr tank. Originally started with 30 trout as I expected some to depart on transport and new environment however all were doing fine until Saturday. they are between 20 and 25 cms. I have noticed that even with flow now on continuous and the aerator running flat out they still spend a bit of time swimming around the top. I have lost around 17 fish now. I have had a good look at the dead ones. The skin and eyes look good. Originally the gills were bloated but the last few have looked fine other than being dead.

... shouldn't laugh... but there's something Pythonesque about that...

I'd say you fish deaths were due to oxygen starvation.....

Just watched another one struggle for a while then just float.

Well you probably learnt a valuable lession. If you overstock and plan to lose them, you will eventually lose them and possible a few more than you planned.

Anyways, try not to fuss over them too much, it would create more stress for the remaining fishes... hope that you are using the correct type of salt...

"Less is more", a common saying.
Adding, using or applying more of anything other than the recommended dose is often not a good idea.
The "golden rules" issued with kit systems specify fish stocking levels and feed rations, for a very good reason. This was created to allow safe introduction of fish in a new system.
Overstocking and overfeeding may cause high levels of ammonia and nitrites.
Salt will help, but if the damage has already been done it may bee too late for some.

Thanks for the advice, I only bought the budget set up. It did not seem to come with any advices on stocking or feed could some one help me out with the levels for one grow bed and a 1000ltr tank?

Thanks Rob

Stocking levelss for 1 BYAP growbed containing 500 litres media would be 20-25 fish.
Feed ratio for the first month would be 1 tbsp per bed per day.
Hope this helps Rob.
Faye

G'day rob
don't know if i can help much but if you want to come around have a chat and look at my set up it could help you a bit we can only try i hate loosing fish


cheers Wolly

Gday Wolly

Met Rob this afternoon. Nice setup and a load of fruit trees.
Nearly time for an Ellenbrook club i reckon.....AP and Homebrew club