Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

You know the rules Faye, if you don't post the pic, it didn't happen.....

I hope you made some fish stock out of all of those fish heads Faye.

I've become completely reliant on having various stocks in my freezer now. The commercial ones simply don't compare.

Next time Orcy, but only if I have your special recipe.
I have never made fish stock, so it is time that I did. Those fish heads became the compost under the new lemon tree. I still have around twenty or more fish to harvest, so I can try your recipe then.

I dont really have a recipe more than a standard stock type recipe.

a couple of carrots, a stick of celery, bouquet garni (thyme and bayleaves go nicely with fish). maybe some garlic if you want some flavour. a couple of onions. and a bunch of fish heads/frames. Cover with cold water, bring to the boil, skim crap off the top, simmer gently for a couple of hours. strain big bits out and discard, then re-strain through a few layers of cheesecloth to get rid of all the little shitty bits.

I normally store around 500-800ml in sandwich sized ziplock bags, just fill them up, seal with as little air as possible, and freeze them flat in the freezer. Otherwise you can freeze it in cubes, though i find they take up a lot of space, and its hard to get a good pot of stock all frozen down.


PS. Compost under a lemon tree is also a very good use for fish frames

I reckon I could probably do stock as well as compost, recycle and repurpose.

i'm so jealous of all you trout people. Brisbane has its plusses, but the fact that its hard to get barra through in summer, and theres no trout in winter, makes fish a clearly secondary part of aquaponics.

I am jealous of your tropical rainforrests Orcy. Trout are the funnest of all fish to keep I reckon, I've said it before and I'll say it again. A great reason to get out of bed on a cold winters morning as you know they are waiting for their feed. Some people are so fussy and reckon that we should be able to do whatever fish we want and we don't have much choice. I think that we manage okay to be able to do two crops of fish in a year, trout/ baramundi, which is what I have been doing since 2007. The other edible freshwater fish being the silver perch, of which I have a few in my fingerling tank, which have been there to keep things ticking along.
I am even thinking about growing up some little koi to stock a new fish pond/ waterfall garden that is being designed in my head. Note to self, must get other gardens tidied up in readiness for summer before starting new projects.

I like my Koi in my large tank as they are nice to look at and very friendly.
I also have a problem with not finishing a project before I start a new one.
Annoys the DW no end.

My trout are all dead Yeah I harvested all the ones from the main tank and they are now in the freezer One jumped in to the drain tank with the silver perch, I hear it calling "nup, there's no trout here, I'm a silver perch". Until you throw in a caterpillar that is.
I have pulled two wheelbarow loads of greens and dead peas from the systems, the brassicas have gone to the rabbits and the chooks are also in heaven. No waste here. I foraged breakfast this morning, purple beans, cherry tomatoes and peas. I found lacewing eggs, dozens of green caterpillars and pupaes -good for the chickens.


With all the foliage that had taken over, the bugs had lots of places to hide. I didn't plan to empty too much until the trout were out. It reminds me of the need to practive hygiene, lots of lush growth means there are places for the bugs to do what they want unchecked. There were a few too many slugs in the leaves of the raddichio, I found three or four couples Can't help wondering what I uncovered when I saw this pair.
The scarlet runner beans are looking very prolific, seeds saved from the back garden at the BYAP shop.

There are so many things that you can do quickly and simply with a little attention to detail. I was amazed at the colour of the flesh when I filletted one the other day. I reckon this breakfast rivals Dome, and its only shop purchase was the bread toasted base and the hollandaise sauce. Slack I know.

Pretty sure i just drooled on myself...

Today I picked the first black russian tomato of the season, the plant grew all winter and hid this little baby. Breakfast was lovely fresh bread and butter, tomato and onion sandwich with salt and pepper. Simple and a little festive, don't you think.

Beautiful! I love tomatoes and onions with cream cheese on a bagel! Oh don't forget the Nova lox!

Beautiful! I love tomatoes and onions with cream cheese on a bagel! Oh don't forget the Nova lox!

I wonder if once my system is established will I be able to grow everything (except for the dairy) for my favorite breakfast. Hmmm nice thought... I'm hungry now.

Did you fill out the correct paperwork and/or get some one else to pack those bean seeds from work.Or the unauthorized stock removal could be tracked down to above photo.The management at byap could be monitoring this forum
just kidding
Byron