Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Gnoll110-- Good point.
C1

We have been discussing all those darned flies going into the fly traps. What about hanging a light over the tanks at night - harvest another food source and remove the flying insect pests?

a few fish farms do that for supplementary feed, but there is not enough insects getting zapped to make it a complete solution

Hi,

The idea of hanging a small wattage light over the tank is an oldie but a goodie......probably more for insect control than as a consistent food source (although that depends on where you are).

Many years ago, I worked for about four months in the gasfield in Northern South Australia........in the desert.

Wherever the lights were on during the night, the insects would build up into quite substantial heaps. Once they dried out in the sun, the breeze would distribute them all over the place.

You don't need a zapper......the insects beat themselves to death on the light source.

We've got the tiny solar ball light in the tank, puts out an odd little glow, bugs come in and don't swim too well.

I'm also trialling a fly farm type of thing. The grill from an old fan slung up above the tank with old bread. Hoping for maggots to fall from the sky and feed the fish. (Manna from heaven)

still submerged is it

no, I dried it out, had words with the responsible (or not) individual. It floats quite well! (mostly)

I could get HEAPS of maggotd every week, from our wheelie bin ... but I know what is in there and there is no way THAT is going into my AP system

joys of nappy-hood

I am going to try to close the loop with Black Soldier Flies(BSF) this summer. Started a topic to follow efforts in this area. I want to raise fish that prefer eating insects (blue gill and yellow perch). The BSF will eat veg waste (kitchen, grass clippings, animal dung) and produce larvae for feeding fish. That closes a sustainable loop for me...if it works out. I plan to test it. I am in a cold climate, so everything slows down for me...fish, veg, bacteria, BSF. To minimize energy use; I will let that happen. After all, the warmer months should provide a surplus of fish/veg for winter use.