Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

The real problem would be converting wild caught fish over to pellets - it can be done, but requires a sustained effort.

I bought mine as fingerlings from the Challenger TAFE in Freo, so they were already pellet weaned, but they really do love a feed of worms.

Feisty, no, they seem quite happy with the SPs, but have their own character. When there's sun on the pond, they're quite happy to sit out in the light, whereas the SPs hate it.

People (mainly Rupe and EB) will tell you how slow they're gunna grow, but I actually don't give a damn. I want variety and minimal effort rather than maximised production. And in contrast to their opinions, I've certainly had noticeable growth on most of the bream over the last few months, and that was during winter. Definitely interested to see what results I get over summer.

im sure EB's were slow gtrowing in only 1 inch of water

Yeah, they just lay around - very lazy !

Has anyone tried Aturgeon or similar very long period growing fish? That way the vegiies could keep going without having to suffer from deficeincy when the fish stock was harvested and replaced.

Sturgeon aren't an option in Oz.

However, I'm achieving the same thing Abdul by a range of sizes of fish in the system. When I ordered my SPs from Troutman he was able to provide a good range, so I went with that so I could have a gradual harvest rather than a sudden huge one. As SPs can live all year round in the system, it should work well.

They can live all year round but how MANY years can they live?

I saw a video of this huuUUge sturgeon farm on youtube, immense! Can you imagine the amount of nutrients that is and the plant life they could possibly support? A couple of hundred 4 foot long fish put out a lot of ammonia I reckon.

A fair while abdul - EB pulled one out of his system 2 or 3 months back and said it had been in there 8 years ! It was about 3kg from memory.

How do you catch the size you want CD Ive had trouble with this so far, I do the hit and miss by putting in a large net bellow the surface then throw some food over then scoop

Now that's what I'm talking about! Did he report how it tasted?

He found it dead, so didn't eat it.

hmmm, any idea how it died?

Boy this thread sure is perking along. Sorry to hear about the builder

now I know what all these emoticons are for

And a parting shot at said builder is in order

Nope

Probably old age

Yeah, I think that was EB's theory !