Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I successfully got 45 trout through 3 days of 25.5 degree water temp (highest was 27.9) and numerous days at 24.0 - 25.5 buy turning of GB's during the day, adding ice and tons of oxygen (3100 litres per hr in 1 IBC). This is and was with consultation and advice from Tooperang Trout Farm down the road from me. It was a lot of work for me but it paid off, and i have 60 now that still need more time

Ohh - did i mention tons of oxygen?

Happy to hear that Erich, well done Have you eaten any yet?
We know that it can be done, but if people do not bother to add extra air and ice, as you did, it can end in tears and they don't always seems to understand that.
When people start out with aquaponics, they seem to like the idea of harvesting fish as well as vegetables, but some don't come to terms with harvest time, and unfortuantely leave it too long. Not fair on the fish and can also give the art of aquaponics a bad name.

Yes, last years all in my, my wifes and friends bellies

60 more >200grams (some at 400 now) and going well in 2 x IBC's It will be "weather dependent" again this year to when i pull the fish out however you are correct, it take special attention daily (numerous times) in that type of heat

I know of quite a few people this year that have harvested fish over 1kg, but the consensus seems to be that a 300g fish is sweet and very, very tasty! 400g is certainly worth harvesting, that is for sure!

yup - mid 3 to low 400 gms (gutted and no head) on an oil pan with lemon, black pepper and fresh chilli on it wrapped in foil on the bbq with the hood down at about 180 for 12 mins, yummy

pulled 15 of mine out today, largets 450, smalled 380. left 8 of thr biggest in the tank till another time

I will be reducing my numbers tomorrow as well, probaly have 20 left in the tank so might harvest around 15 if I can catch them without causing anyone undue stress. Forgot to bring the BIG fish net home today

Good luck chasing them around the tank Faye.

So far my tank temp has only reached 18 so I should be ok, although checking on my air pump and it doesn't seem to be as powerful as when I first got it. I have multiple areas disturbing the water surface causing oxygenation but would like air pump functioning 100% as well.

I am suspecting the diaphragm so I contacted the store I purchased it from asking if they have any replacements in stock. Amazingly (and unexpectantly) I got a response last night. Bad news: they dint have any in stock. Good news: they are on order.

I am off to buy another air pump this morning as a backup any way.

tank got to 21.5, turned off my larger GB and put a spray bar onto the shadecloth tank cover. also put the shade cloths up over the garden and tank has already dropped to 20, fingers crossed

Our trout in the outback system didn't like the increase in temperature, there was only a couple left in there.... Though it could have been the bird.... I hope the family system will be a bit more stable, but the fish are still all pretty stressed because of the bird problems..

water got to 20.4°C yesterday and currently sitting at 20.0°C

Is heating up a bit more easily as I have recently taken out most of the winter vege and put in the summer crop (tomatoes, capsicum, eggplants, lettuce, cucumbers), however they're still small plants so much of the gravel still exposed to the sun.

What sort of pump you running Arbe ?

New air pump installed. An additional airstone as well. Much more air coming thru now. Tank is almost at 20.

I think am stressing more than the fish.

@Chillidude. I am running an PondOne O2 Plus 4000. Has been running 24x7 for around 6 months.

yeh mine peaked again @ 21, so i put towels over the tank cover, under the water comin out of the preader bar, and added a bit of ice, back down to 19, and seems pretty stable i think im the same as you arbe, stressing more than my fish

Yea thanks Col.

Ill be gettin those little fellas out tommorrow and keep the one in the chilli tank in the shed.

I think next year I will start culling earlier and avoid this stress of having all the trout left to cull in one go. I personnally prefer fresh fish to eat instead of pulling them out of the freezer. I was also planning on purge session before consumtion but left it too late. A new lesson learnt.