Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Some are more positively evil and sadistic...

only the females are evil and sadistic. The males drink sap.

(Go ahead, it's an easy one....someone, anyone???)

my libps r seaeealed

Funny you should mention mozzies weve got afreshwater swamp behind us and on the other side of that are the mangroves so no shortage of the little blighters here. had actually promissed the kids a trip down to the lakes to collect some Rainbow fish to throw in the tank as weve got some in our shallow pond.

I like to leave out some pvc cuttings in the garden. The antas make a nest out of it and all the larve builds up. Then onece in a while i just toss the pipe in the tank. the ants and larve all float up and it smorgasboard time.

JT, I lke your system!

An d themale mozzies are responsible for breeding with the evil, sadictic females, so they ar no good, either!

I think the ideas around mosquito larvae, maggots, termits and worms are all good.

Jaymie, if your ham fat fails to attract the flies, try some bread soaked in milk.

I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to breed mealworms. Breeding is probably not the appropriate word......it's more a matter of putting some darkling beetles in a plastic container with some bran and bits of carrot and neglecting them. I need to take another look at the information that I've got and do it properly.

Was it Stu who was experimenting with silkworms?

Gary - Nick gave away all his mealworms to Les and me. I too have neglected them a bit - but they are doing okay. I can't see them as being anything but a little treat for the fish - they are pretty small after all.

Regarding silk-worms, I raised one batch which Stu was kind enough to give me. Let heaps of them go to moth and got thousands of eggs. My intention was to go straight into a second generation - but none of the eggs have hatched. They may not hatch until next spring, in which case they are useless for AP - as only 1 batch is going to be available each year.

i like your idea christopher.

whats a swale ?

A swale is a term we used in engineering school for ditch. It was used because it would be less offensive to people. Ie they would not get pissed off we were putting in a huge ditch through a park or what not. Well the idea was they would not get pissed at us just they poor guy that had to dig it

thanks jtjf_1,

that makes sense.

A swale is a ditch or a long depression that is used for water run off and the like. You see large versions in housing estates where ground water and runoff collects.

I think Cris meant swale in a permaculture sense where a swale is a ditch or depression across a slope to slow water runoff and collect topsoil and organic material on the up slope side these stabalize the slop and make great places to plant stuff!

i think i'm gonna need a pic. can this be arranged chris?

Damn too slow.....!!!