Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Johnny - love Dragon Queen!!

I cut my teeth on Black Sabbath back in 1967.
Is that you playing lead

Great

Hamie, AA has suggested a couple of additives if you are low on nutes. Personally, I agree with GD and others. Stay well away from anything that is not absolutely chemical free. I have never added anything to my system and I plan on it staying that way maybe except for chelated iron.

Ok Monya.
Feel like a naughty boy now

Don't worry mate, there's no naughty corner for us Aquaponists LOL

Oh dear. My 1:50 ratio was pertaining to growing medium as opposed to water...

However, it is a very fish friendly stocking ratio. Commercial operations, well, I wouldn't do that type of stocking myself even if I could manage it, reminds me too much of battery hens.

I'll probably stock close to 2 kilos per 50 litres water in my greenhouse eventually. I cycled it up with 1 kilo fish in 600 litres. Like the slow but steady approach but been very slow on this project...

Earth Juice is an excellent organic product. Swear by it I'se do. 1/40th strength, mixed in with AP water, and bubbled for 24 hours. This will cloud the water, clears in 1 day, keeps plants happy for months if nitrates and bacteria are coming on line. I've not used any for a long time as I ran out and everything was growing really well anyway. The Seasol is also organic, and used with success by our beloved leader Joel.

Organics should be kept in a dark cool place, and the shelf life checked. If purchasing, try get the shopkeeper to give you some out of the box as opposed to off a bright shelf. It is reasonably cheap, and at 1/40th strength, lasts plenty long time. Found in hydro stores.

ps - the 'GROW' is a bit pointless it's high nitrate. But sometimes a pack of 5 is cheaper.

Aquaddict - oops you are right 1kg:50litres of growbed - not water. But as you say - 1kg:50litres water also good for the fish

OK, by that reckoning I need Lots more growbeds...

I'll get to it

Yes the formulas coincide over several peoples research and experience, and all of them successful AP. However, Gary's system using run to waste is an excellent way to handle things if you lack the space for many beds etc. This does not neccesarily need to be plumbed in...

Outdoor gardens LOVE AP water, so even with manual water changes, the excess nutrients can be utilised.

The ratios will let you know if those water changes are necessary. Or if you should be considering them.

Just been checking out Osmocote.
The manufacturer reckons its safe for pets and earthworms. No info on fish.

Chemical composition is http://www.scottsaustralia.com.au/MSDS/ ... ds%20(1037).pdf

As far as I can see there's nothing unusual in this lot. If it's safe for worms I suspect it won't be a trouble for fish - obviously at trace levels.

Start of week 4:
My biggest fish are close to 80mm.
pH is up to 7 - I'll keep adding dolomite till its 7.5.

My veggies are growing at a phenomenal rate - the tomatoes seem to be increasing in height about 2cm a day.
I guess fast growth in toms shows lots of nitrates but not necessarily good.
The plants all have blossom though.

A bean pod has grown 1cm in the last 24 hours.

I planted some beans (seed) in the soil and in ap at the same time.
The soil beans are about 15cm tall with no blossom.

The ap beans are 30cm tall with many blossoms and lots of small beans.
The largest bean pod is about 4cm.

I am most excited about my maggot farm. Even though the ants removed huge numbers of small maggots, there were still loads falling into the pool after 24 hours growth.
I'll use derekh's idea of vaselining the string to keep the ants at bay.

Because of the phenomenal growth in the fish (3x original size in 3 weeks) I added another growbed. getting used to cleaning gravel

My next lot of beds will use coco coire. 120 litre blocks are $14 from Bunnings.

jamie, youre comming along nicely, r u hooked yet?

Jamie, how much are you feeding your babies now?

I just ask because my 250 silvers and jades (from about 30mm - 80mm) are eating about 160gm per day , plus the assorted duckweed and bugs.

They only seem to slow down at about 70ish gms (two feeds a day).

I think they would easily go for 3 or 4 feeds a day

Jaymie - I started off trying to be scientific. We actually bought a digital balance to get it right.
However I forgot about the 7 comets and unknown numbers of guppies in the water whose collective mass far exceeded the weight of the Jades!
All I can say is I get a full handful of feed in the morning and at night and trickle it down to the fish. The Jades are always like a pack of pirahanas fighting for food at the surface, with the comets down below trying to get the scraps.
I have never seen them "full up" and I am not game to feed them much more because it already seems to be way over the 1% of body weight they are supposed to get
I also feed them lettuce leaves - which are stripped to the veins within a few minutes - and now the maggots.
I guess they are getting plenty of feed - they have grown 300% in 3.5 weeks.
They just seem to want more!

Steve - definitely hooked
My wife has started on the lettuce already and there is a huge crop of bean on the way shortly.

Certainly helps when the AP widows love the produce!

Out motto here is "get 'em hooked young", but you'll do

Glad to see you're enjoying it, that what its about!