Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well.... After about a 2 month wait, I finally have a permit to transport and stock trout in the Farm system. There where issues due to my location close to a river bla bla bla. Apparently a bird could fish out a trout and transport it, about 5km to the river and drop it in there potentially infesting the river, which in summer is just a whole bunch of murky pools sweltering in 40 degree temps. Fortunately the collective logic of the people at Cape Nature won through and the permit has been granted. So next year I will be on the ball with trout.

I will be picking up some as soon as possible... if there are any left by now. They will probably weigh about 500 grams by this time of year. Oh well. It is actually only two weeks later than when I got fish last year.

Have bought a decent aerator for the trip that runs on 12 volts.

100 trout installed! Only 1 fatality so far. No idea why.... They are not eating yet. Also no Idea why. This did not happen last time. Last few times they were munching away the day after collection. Bought a 12 volt air pump for the trip specially designed for transporting fish. It worked awesomely! Masses of air...

I wouldn't worry about fish not eating for a few days after transport. I generally say don't even try to feed them for a day or two.

Other good news is my pH has come down! currently 7. I never ever thought the day would come. I think it may be the AP wicking bed compost bringing it down. Or just the nitrification. Still lacking in Iron though. That stuff is damn expensive at the rip off garden shops... over R100 for a container which looks like a lot but when you open it the damn thing only has a few grains in the bottom. Damn profiteering! There must be a cheaper way???

Been having an issue... My grown windbreak is dropping this long thin leafy dried up stuff all over the place. Usually not an issue but with the fierce storms we have been having here the stuff keeps blowing into the fish tank. The SLO and the top level drains keep blocking causing the tank to overflow. I may just need to make a different plan for a fish tank cover... One that keeps leaves and other stuff out, but still allows easy feeding and viewing and harvesting of the fish... some sort of dome shade cloth arrangement... my mind is taking me in a geodesic dome direction... See what you have done now Rob!

For my fish tanks I've used a metal pipe across the tank and attached wire fence panels so they kinda hinge open. Over the wire fence panel I attach netting or shade cloth to not only keep leaves and debris out of the tank but also keep the fish in. I can lock the panels down but they are also fairly easy to open for access. I usually also leave a little gap or easy open flap for feeding without having to open the whole cover and the cattle panels I use also work fairly well to support a bug zapper I just cut a square out of the netting or shade cloth to place the zapper so the bugs can fall into the tank but the grate around the zapper usually keeps most leaves out.

In the short term till you can make up a good cover, simply lay a pipe across the tank and throw a chunk of shade cloth over it and tie it around the tank so it doesn't blow off so you can at least keep the leaves out and pull the cloth back daily to dump the leaves off out of the tank.

That does sound like the most practical solution TCL. Two half circle frames with one half hinged... like the byap ones. Of course if you want the most practical solution just copy whatever EB does.

Quite amusing what happened with the snails in the Fish Tank when I chucked the trout in. First couple of days they all amassed above the waterline. Clearly they are not as stupid as we would like to believe. They knew they had to get the hell out of the predator infested water. I have never seen so many snails around the top of the tank. But of course when the water level rises on the pump cycle they get submerged again. Now there is not a single snail left in the tank at all. Perhaps that's why the trout where not so hungry the first few days...

If only I could send some trout down all the pipework to take care of all those. I think I should chuck a few in the sump tank to clean up in there too. Then if I bomb the gravel around the irrigation points with salt I should have a pretty snail free system.

Not that they seem to cause any real problems.. in fact a bit of free food for the trout can't be a bad thing...

I think at least many of the snails probably eat detritus and algae so not necessarily a bad thing unless you get the ones that are a vector for some type of disease or if you get the ones that eat your lettuce.

My biggest problem with snails is that they tend to lodge in irrigation holes.

Yeah... And they block and jam the smaller pump impellers which is most anoying. Their shells may also contribute to high pH although I am not sure about this. There are masses of snail shells around my irrigation inlets in the gravel. Many are still alive but lots of empty shells too.

Hi Brian
I have been following your thread and I see you have lately bought some trout fingerling/fry.
I live on the east coast Port Elizabeth and I have not been able to find trout fingerlings or fry.
I would appreciate if you can please point me in the right direction for where I can buy trout fry or fingerlings.
Regards
Your System looks Good

as to the snails. Their shells decomposing my contribute to hard water but if they are growing in your system, they are using up some of that calcium carbonate to make their shells so snails in your system may be more a symptom of plenty of calcium carbonate rather than a cause of it unless you are some how importing lots of snails from elsewhere into your system to decompose.

Hi Brian
I also have been checking out your thread. btw your system is amazing.
I would like to sart a small-medium sized system but I'm struggling to get fish, no one wants to sell me less than 1000 fingerlings. Do you know where I can get trout fingerlings in Stellenbosch area or can you direct me to the dam with free tilapia please.

Hi Brian
I have also been checking out your thread and btw your system is amazing.
I live in Stellenbosch and whould like to know if you have any contacts for trout here as Jonkershoek hatchery only want to sell me 1000 fingerlings at a time, also would you point me in the direction of the dam with the free tilapia. I dont want to start to spend money on a system without having a reliable supply of fish.

Hi Jaco. It is Molapong aquaculture. I have PM'd you the details etc etc. First apply for your Permit. Have fun )