Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey all,
Can someone in perth (or anywhere really ) tell me if silver perch will live year round in Perth weather? Considering my fish tank is a 1000l IBC (900l water) sitting in a semi shaded protected area ( 2hours ish direct sunlight daily).

Should do but will just go dormant for the winter

thanks for the quick reply. I dont mind if they go dormant but if i heat the tank with an aquarium heater, understanding that the heaters probably slightly underpowered for the size of tank should this help keep them happy?

An aquarium heater might not cut the mustard in 1000L Merrick

Any chance you can find 20-30 trout for winter and get silvers at the start of summer?

oh I probably could, but, this being my first time with an aq system i was trying for something easy care. I can try trout, the tank should be ready for fish in 2 - 3 weeks.

System should be complete this weekend... wife permitting.
then beer, wee, seasol.

Might be hard pressed to get trout by then as supply is low atm....on the bright side beer and wee is in plentiful suppy

If you are considering using wee, it is going to take longer than 2-3 weeks (more like 1.5 to 2 months) for the system to cycle and be safe for fish...

Actually there are still a few trout available and Woodvale fish and lily farm should be able to help you out. Not too far to travel either, they are easy care as long as you harvest when the water heats up around Oct/Nov/Dec. Look forward to seeing pics Merrick!

No wee!
Well its back to peeing on the front lawn then.

I am a bit of a fish person myself, I have friends that have said they wouldn't eat the veges if I got a composting toilet. You can gather where this conversation would go, they wouldn't eat the fish that we grew either. Bla bla blah! More fun having trout in the fish tank anyway, people would rather look at them, I think

Another handy trick for the winter months is (if your pump is good enough), run your water through some black poly weaving across a fence/ house roof/ shed roof /something in pure sunlight and then into your grow bed to warm it up on its return.

Hahahahaha... Headline tomorrow, "Ballajura man arrested for exposing himself in public"..

thats what we used to do out bush for a hot bath. rainwater tank, valve, roof of shed, old bath. Best feeling ever!

I assume they won't eat things grown in animal manure either? What about animals that have eaten plants grown on animal manure? I think you see where I'm going - every food comes from manure eventually.
I understand the issue regarding human pathogens in waste being transferred to the plants, but it is possible to eliminate cross-contamination.
ATM, much of our treated sewage is pumped out into the oceans, taking with it much of the nutrients we need for food production, and we import fertilizers from fossilised manure deposits overseas.
I have a vested interest in this matter, because my household sewage system waters (and fertilises) about 30 fruit trees. This provides us with food and stops the nutrients getting into the Peel-Harvey estuary.