Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Gees...weve been so busy with the greenhouse havent watched much telly - just saw footage of Irymple (about 25mins away from us on other side of Mildura) where the drainage water from Mildura is running, and as well as them getting dumped on themselves the water is still rising as the stormwater pumps have failed.
And evacuations are still happening apparently!

Anyway... need help with this one guys - Our system seems to be being overrun with this...(used to be smooth algae...are they eating it?)
Where we have had algae growing in the tanks, this had started to occur, not until I picked up one of the pipes for a better look that I realised there were worms in the strings of stuff... touching it was mucous-like. Look like baby compost/earth worms or something... looking closer at the water today and they are swimming around in these tanks - and there are lots of them ...any ideas?

My parents are in Irymple (that's btw Mildura & Redcliffs for those who don't know the area), they got 180mm in the 1st heavy downpour, and 230mm over the 2 days. Heard that some got 300mm.
Sorry to see that you have had some damage , but with all the rain it could have been a lot worse.

Nothing to worry about netab, just midge lavae. Funny looking buggers aren't they?

Wow! hadn't heard up to 300mm - but not surprising.

Everyone we usually double check our measurements against had the same prob as us I think... it came down so fast that our gauges were overflowing each time we went out to empty them... hubby had confirmed at least 115mm but didnt know how much had overflowed each time he went to empty it so gave up in the end. A friend down the road had gotten 150mm in hers but it had had the same prob of overflowing so could well have been much more than that here ... but they definitely got more than us over the other side of Mildura.

You are absolutely right tho... could well have been much more damage. None of the IBCs were damaged at all which was a relief when we raced out after waking to the crashing noise. Everything was still ticking over nicely

Hubby and bro-in-law spent the rest of the weekend fixing up the GH so now apart from the shadecloth and plastic roof the structure is back up with some modification...pics coming.

EB... thanks heaps for that - googled midge larvae and got some info, and that is definitely them so we are relieved its not something more sinister taking over the system!

And the fish will eat them...

Greenhouse repair pics...

Almost like new again

Impressive system.

WE HAVE BABY PLANTS!!!!!

Found 4 shoots in 2 beds so far... Im so excited because to be honest I thought the heat and lack of water in the GBs would have done them in and was going to buy some plants just so something was in there but then saw little shoots so am REALLY REALLY HAPPY

sorry... looks like ive had WAAAY too much coffee today dont it!



... but it is pretty exciting

Yeeeehaaaaahh...

Haven't had any coffe yet... just thought I'd get into the mood....

Wow, I feel really embarassed now, I've checked your threads a few times but had never noticed the pics, just the general banter along the way.... And now I see your system??????? That is HUGE....!!!!!


Bloody brilliant Netab.... I can't believe I hadn't seen the pics before... Wow, I'm lost for words.......

Will be following more religiously now....

Thanks Rupe You rock everyone here rocks

... did I say that Im really happy......

Aww shucks EB ... no need to feel embarassed ...to be honest I just cant believe you havent been witness to my ASTOUNDING photographic abilities all this time!!!

Seriously, thanks for above - its made me even happier now!!!

Well done guys, good to see repairs well under way with blue skies above. Hope that is the last of the winds for a while!

Thanks Faye,

Wasnt actually the winds that were the problem tho. The amount of rain we got in a 6 hour period overnight was so heavy the roof couldnt keep up and started to bow in one spot. Once that happened it just collected so much water it tipped the rectangular steel beams sideways until they couldnt take the weight on their weak side and buckled. (We had them sitting vertically for strength as lying them down horizontally meant they were able to bend.)

To be honest I would have LOVED to see it just before it happened... would have been cool to watch... and to see how much the plastic stretched down under the weight before the whole thing caved in! ...but thats just me