Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good they are showing interest, wonder if any will start their own systems.

You can never tell CC, all you can do is sow the seeds in their minds and hope that one day it will germinate into something based on what you have taught them. As quite a few of them were still attending school they might possibly incorporate what they saw into school projects.

The reason we enjoy having such groups come and" look-see" is that we are passing on AP knowledge to potential growers and that producing food is the most important science to pursue.

WD and OH

wow nice size trout how long it take you to grow that 2.5kg job ?

Hi Fishyink
As we said earlier about 18 months given that we feed them with good, top grade fish pellets, plus worms, caterpillars etc. They get fed twice a day except when the weather and tank water get really cold then we cut back on the grub. If they come up to feed, then we feed them,if not then they are not interested for some reason. If the water parameters are OK then it is usually that the water is too cold which will happen in December,January and Feb.
I estimated the growing time from when we lost the whole bloody lot,(see earlier in this thread) and we had to restock with fingerlings and a few that were a bit bigger but not much.

WD and OH

cheers dude, missed that part, lightly skimmed over the 29 odd pages =0

An update - after one of the wettest years since records began.
The fish are all growing well and enjoying the cooler weather - it will soon be time to cull some Christmas Trout!
Today the rain falling onto sodden ground came pouring through the aquadrome, through the greenhouses, onto the lane next to us and into the neighbours field next door.
The dogs thought they could drink the lot! although the Kerry Blue *Nelson* was a bit wary of the water and did not want to get his tummy wet!

WD was not impressed with all the water but said at least we did not have to sweep out all the autumn leaves - which made a change!

Note nasturtiums and parsley still growing profusely!

The small greenhouse with seedlings and cuttings- ( winter lettuce and water cress seeds for prolonging the growing season before it gets too cold.This is WD`s hidey hole - where he potters away thinking I do not know where he is !!!! Seriously though - this is where a lot of work is done throughout the year.

Due to many enquiries and emails we have now fixed the date of our next Two Day workshop.

Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th April 2013

We have found there is an increasing demand for a*hands on experience*
As our UK weather is so contrary we have to pack our courses into the warmer months - spring to autumn. So this will be the first course of the new year.

OH on behalf of WD
( we are as one!)

Today we had the first ice of the year !
Soon thawed out - but a sign of the things to come?

Luckily it was our outside spare water tank -next to the Hercules which is full to the brim with rainwater -everything in the aquadrome was fine - and we even found a baby cauliflower! Hiding !

WD and OH

Well that takes care of your water problem I guess...

All 6 of my cauliflower heads went mildewy and brown by the time they got that big

RoZ - no water problems this year !
But do not want to have to ice skate around the property!!

DrL - cauliflowers can be grown all year round here - its just a question of finding room amongst all the other plants - I think from memory this was a winter growing variety.

January 2013

After all the rain in 2012-
2013 brought snow!

The carp outside with watercress beds :

Carp in outside green tank enjoying the cool weather


All the fish appear to be enjoying the cool weather. Plant growth is very slow or in dormant state.

Our hydroponic polytunnels have suffered and torn this winter and two are covered with tarpaulins for the time being. All growing systems have had to be moved into every little empty space we could find.
Unfortunately we shall have to wait for the warm weather before the tunnels can be recovered.
This will take some money and a lot of hard work.

Our courses have had to be suspended for the time being.

"The best laid plans of mice and men"

We SHALL overcome !!

Wd and OH

All that snow sure does make the landscape look pretty.

It is lucky the tunnels and all the stuff in them have some very dedicated owners

Wow, talk about challenging conditions, but I too think it looks very pretty. Hang in there guys.

March - and spring is here !
The outlet pipes iced up so the water from the gbs overflowed inside making a hell of a mess.
Fortunately we spotted the problem at 6am and went down to the aquadrome and managed to move the trout to another tank before all the water was lost.
All of our spring seedlings have been wirped out - so we shall have to start from scratch - again ..
This is something to bear in mind for all those in the UK who think that growing in the ways that we do are problem free.



and more pics to follow

WD was not too happy but between the two of us managed to move the trout.


The outside carp tank also froze up again - fortunately these fish all tolerate cold water !

We just pray that the weather improves from here on
The sun is now shining and it looks like it is going to be a nice day to clear up the mess.
(WD is off out to teach his Tai Chi +Qigong classes and so I shall do the best I can - OH )