Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've got spare hours...just a bit far away to help

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Hi obo looks like you have this system nailed is the old system still running !

Yup, beautiful clear water, has grown around 30 trout over winter.

How good are old systems eh? I don't know about you OBO, but my bathtub/IBC system is pretty much running itself, I just throw a bit of food in every day. 50 SP and some veg (which I don't tend to at all).

Yeah, the old system is really good, just the design problem of using small pipework still gives hassles lol. The system has so many worms in it!

The Trout harvest was recently completed, nearly 200 fish of around 500 - 750 grams made it through the season, not too bad after I thought I had lost all the fish very early on.







I let the water evaporate / transpire for around 1.5 months before the harvest, this made catching the fish much easier I also transfered water across to the other system during this time.







New plants have been planted for summer, heaps of corn, tomato, and capsicum are in, as well as table grapes, cucumber, water melon, rock melon, zuchini, as well as a lime and a lemon tree. Also put a dwarf mandarine in too.













All is running well, the one spider that was sticking seems to have fixed itself up.

Nahhh ! Rupe flew over and fixed it during the night ....

Rupe a.k.a. the AP fairy

System looks awesome!

They are some big trout, you must have really been pumping them full of food! The one you're cleaning doesnt look that big though maybe you have big hands

So, what do you actually do with 200 trout? Are you able to sell them?

Come on get some paint (or whatever sun protection) onto those IBC's before they start cracking up.

But other than that, looks great. Kinda different now that you have filled in around the tanks and buried the piping. Good to hear the big systems are doing well.

I am not too stressed about the painting side of things, I am a pretty firm believer in temperature playing a major role in IBC's becoming sun damaged. They dont get hot when full of water and gravel.

One of my clients has a IBC that has been full of old oil for over 5 years, and is still fine. Full sun in Kalgoorlie. I do plan to paint for more longevity, but my main priority so far has been actually building and maintaining the system in my pretty small amount of time I have off from work.

Mr0 - I 'gave' away my Trout

Forgive me if you've already answered this OBO, but what plans have you got for the commercial side of it, or have you abandoned that since, and just gone for a massive personal system?

Commercial side is definately happening The time commitment I have to make to my own business is more financially rewarding than the AP side of things at the moment, so AP looses out

Dont worry, it's going to hapen. Just remember, this system was only started 9 months ago really. I work 12 hour days, usually 6 days a week, sometimes (quite often) more. I cant wait to see the whole thing finished

I have pretty much all the fittings and pipework / IBC's already purchased, just waiting for council approvals before I actually spend any more time/money building more.

No worries mate, was just wondering since you said you gave the trout away. Makes sense if you're not 100% up and running yet.

Keep at it!