Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Honestly I am thinking about ditching the idea of using the bottom IBC outlets to link the tanks. I was trying to figure out an alternative, because currently the water pours into one FT that sits slightly higher than the other, and the water then flows through the IBC outlet into the second FT, which has an SLO that goes out to a swirl filter and ultimately the GBs. I am not sure if this is good enough to move the waste from one tank to the other, plus this fish crushing indecent has shown what a pain it is to try an work with piping at the bottom of the tank, so I think I may just do an SLO from the first FT that dumps into the second FT? Not sure if that is wise, but since water only goes into the first FT, I don't think I can have 2 SLOs that both go to the swirl filter, because I think the water flow from the first FT will fill the swirl filter and the water will then backflow into the second FT, and the second FT SLO will work in reverse.

EB recommended to put some screen over it. I bought some plastic screen... maybe 1/2" holes, put a cirular over the hole on the inside of the tank, leaving a good 2 inches extra all around and put a LOT of silicone around the edges. It's lasted for 5 months well. The only problem I had is my daughter dumped a bunch of big pellets in one day. I thought I got enough of them out, but next morning they had expanded, blocked the 2" screened outlet and there was water everywhere.

But he has to empty the tank to install it! Bummer.

How about a temporary fix?

Could get some sort of heavy duty container and cut off part of a side but still keep its shape. Drill holes in it to let the water through but not the fishies. Then lay it flat on that side at the bottom of the tank covering the hole.

If you attach a piece of pipe to it, sort of like a fishnet on a stick, you could put it where you wanted and clip it to the side of the tank.



Or I could just be loopy and should stop posting while taking these prescription painkiller pills.

Keep it up Mr. Bill, makes for interesting reading.

I think Mr. Bill is... inspired I like the idea.

I already went ahead and took the SLO out of the second tank, and put it in with the fishies in the first tank by drilling a hole in the sides of both tanks, in between, and connected them which lifts the waste from the first tank and dumps it into the second tank. For now, there is no SLO in the second tank, so the water just flows out at the upper hole. I have both the IBC outlet ball valves closed for now... like Mr. Bill said, saves me from having to swim.

Do we think this is the best idea? One SLO dumping from the first FT into the second FT, and an SLO in the second FT going into the swirl filter?

Not sure if I mentioned it, but I am now the only licensed Aquaculture Facility growing Tilapia in New Hampshire! (I met the only other guy, but sadly his barn burnt down along with his whole setup! He had a wood stove used to heat his water, and some moron watching his farm while he was away put some hot coals by a stack of wood and poof!)....

Also TODAY I got my breeders in the mail. Now I have 7 survivor fish out in one of the big tanks, the other big tank has no fishies, and the 2 GBs are taking off quite nicely... just fighting with the aphids a bit, but some garlic/chilli/soap spray seems to be the medicine.

Here are some pics of the breeders, more full-setup pics to follow soon!

you may not be able to tell from the photo, but this shy little lady is already knocked up and mouth-brooding! Fry and fingerlings, here we come!

Good job! I was going to say set your temp to 86 degrees and you'll have babies in no time, as always the tilapia are on the case.

Yup, and it was only about 82!

Question... is it normal to have Ammonia readings of 0 and nitrites over 5PPM? I had high ammonia and nitrites (probably from that rotting fish who got decapitated in the ball valve, finally got him out) but now the ammonia seems to have disappeared, but nitrites are still up there... any input?

That would be the second curve for cycling, unless you're sure it was cycled already? First the ammonia rises and falls, then the nitrites rise then fall, then cycling is finished for that load. The second kind of bacteria seem to take longer to build up. Nitrites are more harmful at higher pH.

Nah, it would not have been cycled already... it has had water in it for a long while, but it was cold and non-moving water until about 3-4 weeks ago when I got the water heated, pump running, and put in the fishies... guess I was just not expecting it

what is it about females and mirrors?

Transferred the pregnant lady into her delivery room, and I think in the net she coughed out these little guys! About 20 or so on the floor of the tank, no gravel, so she can retrieve them. You can see the eyes, tail, body, and the little egg sac... not so much in this picture though, was about the best I could get Some of them were even swimming around a bit. Pretty cool!

I also live in NH and am interested in raising tilapia. Is the permit only needed to raise them commercially or to have them at all? Where can I find more info about this? Where in NH are you located?