Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Went down today and momma had spit out her babies! Probably around 100 little fry, ready to grow up into fingerlings for sale and/or for grow-out in the currently empty 275 IBC outside!

...not sure how long before that switch would have flipped and she would have started to eat them, but I got her back into the tank for a nice meal and to get knocked up again

Shipment of 700 ladybugs just arrived to help battle my aphids problem.... go little ladies go!

wait till evening,,, keep the bugs in the fridge in the meantime, after the sun sets, spritz all the plants with water, then release some of the bugs, put the rest back in the fridge..
they'll be thirsty before they're hungry, if they find food and water when you release them, they'll be more likely to stick around..
add more ladybugs every week or so using the same technique,, they'll live in the fridge for up to 2 months
if you release them all at once, more are likely to leave

Thanks Keith! Since they are inside-ish on a grow light, i figure waiting for the off cycle works then I let maybe 50 or so out for 2 beds during the off cycle, most seem to be hangin around, so I will probably do the same again today. Man I hate aphids!

We got peas! First fruits of the system... though premature, snap peas... quite delicious, will post some photos soon.

Also, system is fully cycled. 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrates, 0 Nitrites, PH running somewhere between 7.6-8, maybe too high? Hoping it will come down, my natural water PH is 7.5, so I guess I am in line... any thoughts on PH from anyone? The plants seem to be ok, lettuce seems a bit yellow, but maybe now that my ladybug army is in battle they will perk up.

Can you do photos please Gtmylo, I want to see your bugs ?

As requested

General plant growth pics

Hello!

I noticed you are in NH, I am trying to get going with aquaponics and wanted to get my hands onto an IBC tank. However, the ones I am finding on Clist have been used with motor oil and or close to 300 each. I was wondering where you located your IBC tanks? And about how much you spent on each one?