Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ah I see, I was wondering how well paint would stick to plastic.

My set up is going to be in a green house, do you think the moisture would get trapped in between the black plastic and the IBC and harbor any nasties?

Also, I can't wait to see how your trees grow. I wanted to use blue barrels for some fruit trees as well but I felt like I didn't have quite enough space (both vertical and on the ground). But maybe I could do one or two in the middle where the roof peaks...

Thanks for the info and ideas!

A bit of an update. System has cycled with about 5-6 trouts in there. Have added 10 more trouts into the tank, and will check water parameters in a few days time.

The Dwarf Peach and Dwarf Lime should have survived the transplant. Peach has small 2cm fruits coming along nicely. Lime has started flowering. Although some of the peach leaves seem to have peach leaf curl.

Looks great Ivan! Nice touch with the fencing on the IBC. The fruit trees look like they've had great growth in only a month too

We've got leaf curl on the nectarine tree too. We lost dozens of fruit last year to grubs (maybe fruit fly) and birds. I've sprayed with white oil and put the netting on this time, and just bought the fungicide and trace elements but apparently you're supposed to treat the tree after the leaves have fallen and we are now budding It also looks like we may fruit fly already despite the white oil - time to coat again.

Thanks Ash. Well did a bit of reading, apparently you need to apply some fungicide to peach tree late winter and just before spring (before they start to grow). And I think Ecorose is the same thing, so will try it the next year.

Ecorose is potassium carbonate. You want copper fungicide (Kocide Blue etc) for peaches, and you have to spray at exactly the right time - though I don't know how the copper is going to effect your AP - I guess if you're careful and don't let it drip down then it shouldn't really get into the system....

The guys in the nursery recommended using EcoFungicide, which upon googling has the same stuff as Ecorose. I don't think Kocide will be safe for fishes.

EcoRose is Potassium BiCarbonate.... and is good for powdery mildew...

Rigged up my auto feeding system today. On the left, feed dispenser works during the day. On the right, zapper works during the night. Only problem is everytime it zaps, the little dog goes crazy barking...

How attached are you to the little dog ?

Well don't even think about it... It's the missus's little dog...

Ahhh, OK - there goes the craypot idea then !!

...I'm sure the little dog will get used to the noise Ivan

Let's hope so. Don't really want to set it all up and then not use it because the little dog does not like it.

The last of the trouts came out today... Got some bigger silvers from a shop along Warton Road... so moved them into the tank that the trouts just came out of...

Graded the bigger barra from the 1st system and put them into the IBC tank in the 3rd system.

So overall, a good harvest... and bring on summer...

Ivan -

How are your FT temps looking?

I'm in balmy Thailand at the moment, and find myself checking Perths temp ranges and pondering how my system is fairing in the heat! I have no one watching it, so I hope it's ticking along a-okay?!