Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi computer savvy AP gurus. I am a slightly computer illiterate Bullcreek resident, keen to figure out how to get information through this forum. We have an aquaponics system with 2 surviving barramundi, 4 yabbies, 3 goldfish and a veggie tray full of almost unrecognisable veggies (amateurs). Did spot some green beans, a snow pea or two and some herbs. We also have 6 chickens. Ignorant but enthusiastic might describe me...Anyone nearby doing this too? Mandy.

Well I know there are some folks at Jandakot that do some of this stuff

Hi Mandy, any chance of a photo? Might help in trying to get an idea of what you have and what might be going on..

Other handy info, would be how long have you had the system going? How big are your fish? And how much are you feeding them?

Thank you to those who have replied! I'll work on a photo, our system went in about 6 months ago. Folks at Jandakot are wonderful, went to their workshop last Wed and came home and treated powdery mildew. I am feeding 8-10 floating pellets three times a day, now the water has finally cleared in the tank. Off to take a photo. Mandy.

Happy to send a photo, don't know how?

Think I've attached a photo here. MandyS.

Hey that doesn;t look to bad...... Bit hard to make out the plants from here, but they are green...

MandyS, welcome to the fun!!

Plants are growing like gangbusters. Looking forward to some closeups.

Thank you for the encouragement, yes the plants have taken off. We have little beans, strawberry plants, onions, oregano, basil, carrots (tops are good), and masses of something we think are zucchinis and squash, no fruit yet though. In the tank, mint, water chestnuts and something I bought from Faye atJandakot which looks great. Close ups to follow. MandyS.

Hello again, been away a while and struggling with the system, hopefully after a consult from Faye (THANK YOU) this afternoon, I am back in it to win it, now. Well, after my uni exam in a week and a half. This was a good reminder reading how we had more stuff growing before. Mostly celery and spring onions now. We have so many rodents and bugs to contend with, plus a very green tank. Today we are sorting it out finally, thanks to Faye, reducing the water level, clearing out debris from an offending pine tree nearby, removing yabby houses, and will buy a shadecloth to protect it from the pine needles and 'dicky birds', who enjoy a bath and snack if they can manage to grab a bite. I will have to cull our green tank raised trout too and buy some Silver Perch. Anyone know a seller? Mandy.

Here you go Mandy, onwards and upwards Trevor 0402 725 337.

Was the powdery mildew caused by the water level in the GBs being too high, or was there another solution? I have some tomatoes with moldy looking leaves, is that likely to be the problem?

Gazza, tomato leaves don't like being wet. So if you are adding seasol, make sure none of it gets onto the tomato leaves else it would start to rot.

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Faye has fixed my pondy, slimey green water - hooray! Thanks Faye.
On another topic....would Seasol in the growbed help along some struggling plants? I have tomatoes that haven't grown much and rainbow chard that looks the same as months ago, ditto strawberries. But I can see my 6 trout now and the water is almost clear after almost a year of struggling with a green tank. I think I had too many fish. We culled about 13, one had died, out of 20. Now they are feeding madly, look fabulous and are happy, not sure how often to feed them they are about 15- 20 cm long.
MandyS.

now that your water has cleared up, more nutrients will be avalable for the plants.. you'll be able to notice growth pretty soon!