Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just emailed Ken and said he is welcome to come and have a look at my systems

Hey thanks Ian & Richard.
I get the Picture. Simple. Yes the only TSP i did know of was a teaspoon but there you go you learn something new everyday. Cheers Bernie.

G'day all.
It's been a while. I have found out finally what went wrong with my system. No Fish. Couldn't work out why i never saw them or could catch any. I reckon the first day i put them in they went straight to the deepest point - yes where the pump is - and they got sucked up and turned into fish mince. It's no wonder nothing grew.
I have now set up a large aquarium and i will grow my fish a little larger before i intro them into the pond. Meanwhile i have thrown about a 100 yabbies in the pond and they seem pretty happy with several dozen frogs and a few goldfish. About to try a few seeds in the GB's and see what happens. Need to buy some fish now- have to save some more money etc etc.
Nothing like learning from experience.
Cheers Bernie.

haha this made me snicker . . .will have to go read the entire thread now

Thats a bit of a bugger Bernie. You need to put some plastic mesh around the pump to stop little fish getting sucked in.

Yes well as i said this is called learning the hard way. Mind you the fish i put in were pretty tiny-just didn't think about that happening.
If i put mesh around the pump it would have to be pretty small and fish proof as well as possibly having it block up. Hence the idea of raising the fingerlings in an aquarium first to get them a little bigger and stronger.
I am also going to have to do something about a 12 volt backup, not quite sure what or how yet, maybe a deep cycle battery and a 12 volt pump with a bubbler.
We have had 2 occasions in the last month of no power 1for 48 hrs and the other 28 hrs ( this is rare )and because i didn't have any fish i wasn't all that upset but it did highlight the fact that it is nessasary.
I will be interested to see what the yabbies do to the GB's while i wait for the next lot of fish!
Anyway cheers for now.
Bernie.

The yabbies should power the growbeds ok. Mine (20) in my sump eat a small handful of chook pellets a day