Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey Joel. . . . .
Plants are going gangbusters I have the beds so crowded now that I am having trouble seeing the hydroton! I have so many ideas of what I want to do, the only limiting factor is space, oh and money! Hmmmm I have lots of roof space, and a big park out the back with a pond or two. . . .

New dilemma now. . . .since Gnash took some trout off my hands last week my fish have decided they don't want to eat. . . . well no where near as ferociously as they used to. I might get one or two break the surface but that's it could this be due to the water temps dropping with our cold nights? (haven't checked the temp but it sure is cold when you put your hand in it They seem to be a bit more active towards the middle of the day which sucks, cos when I'm away they will only get fed in the dark!
A.J

we found our trout weren't really that hungry after dark... Yours may still be a little stressed perhaps after the netting, though generally it doesn't take trout long to go back on the boil after an upset.

I don't know about the netting Joel, they fed well the next day and now don't seem interested at all. There is a family of Kookaburras that have taken up residence near by, that may have something to do with it but they can't get to the fish because they are covered with mesh. . . How often can/do you need to salt your tanks? I did mine a while ago but we have had a few inches of rain since then.

Mine haven't been eating as normal lately - started about the time the temps went down.

Same here. They were less active when the cold weather came.

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Yeah the Rainbows slow down a bit once the temps get down to 10 or 11. The Brown Trout dont seem so bothered about it and mine are still feeding as per normal. This year my Silvers are still feeding well every day even though the temps are around 10.

Great system A.J. Very impressive use of limited space.

Excellent example of aquaponics not always being ugly. Even your fish look prettier than mine.

Hi All. . . .been a while since getting around to taking photos, here's a couple of updates.
Cheers
A.J
73gms @ 190mm

73gms @ 190mm (same fish)

79gms @ 210mm (conservative estimate, it splashed water all over me from out of the tub)

Broccoli Head.

And some more of the beds.
Bed 1, has some strawberries, garlic, tomatoes, beetroot and rhubarb, chives, a lettuce and cappos.

Bed 2 has carrots and celery with some heirloom beets and a tomato in there for luck.

Bed 3 has heirloom beets, silverbeet, celery, rhubarb, cappos and rattlesnake beans.

Bed 4 has strawberries, celery, peas, beans, a couple of tomatoes, leeks and onions.

Bed 5 has broccoli, cabbage, pak choy (for the chook) and chives.

Being new to this and a habitual fiddler, I have moved several things around, like the leeks. . . .they are in their 3rd bed now. I am a bit perplexed with my chemistry though, my ammonia levels are 0, but my nitrite levels are 0.25 constantly. The pH is 7.5 and nitrates are 20-30. I installed a bio filter last month and that has certainly helped with the dirty water and Gnash collected a few fish a while ago, so everything seems to be working 'cept for I can't get the nitrite levels down.

A.J,

Very nice looking set up, great use of the space you have.

Rich

Looking good AJ.... Not too sure why you might still be getting nitrite levels...

Can't wait to see the beds when those purple cabbages grow up a bit...

Hey Joel. . . they have grown up, they were tiny until a couple of weeks ago and then they just kicked into gear. I think the chook might end up eating a couple so they will have some room to grow! It is amazing to see how things just sit there and then all of a sudden grow like crazy, the broccoli did it first, thankfully they are the dwarf variety, otherwise I am going to need many more growbeds and a larger block to put them on. I guess I could always move back to Bunbury and leave SWMBO up here in the city

Hi AJ,
if your getting high nitrite levels I would lay off food for fish until it drops, thats what I did anyhow. Another thing is why do you have a bio filter when you have GBs that utilise fish solids to grow. I have followed your thread but missed the bio filter need bit. I could re read but just finnished reading Brians 29 pg thread.

I guess if he's getting nitrite readings a biofilter won't hurt..