Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey, Scotty, where do you get your cats? That's what I've settled on trying first, but I haven't found a source yet. (Haven't really had much time to look, actually!)

Hi SSD! I'm in Seattle myself, got a basic 100-gallon system that is in an entirely too cold greenhouse. Nice to see there are more... (What do we call ourselves? Aquaponicists?) in WA state.

I have just been using goldfish for now because they're hardy and I entirely expect to screw up. So far only killed 7 of the 21 I've bought, though! (That's good, right?)

Here's the Oregon list - http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/docs/licensed_operators_who_have_fish_for_sale.pdf

Mine have not done particularly well, quite a few deaths of otherwise perfectly healthy looking fish and some others that just waste away. Could be where I got them or something in my system so I'm not going to point the finger one way or the other. My system is really pretty cold for these guys but they survive much colder winters in other places, warming them up seems to help though so who knows I figure I'll see if I can't breed the survivors and grow Trout or Bluegill for my main fish.

Noticed there is someone in North Plains which is probably the closest unless you want Bullheads which you can get in Oregon City. I'm betting there is someone in Washington that is closer though.

You might also want to consider Yellow Perch but call WDFW to be sure they are ok. I looked and couldn't find where they are prohibited in Washington.

Hmmm, that's discouraging. I thought channel cats were pretty hardy.

Maybe I should drop a heater in the IBC and see how much it takes to bring the system temp up a few degrees, before I get any fish. I really have no idea how much thermal coupling I really have, with the half-buried sump tanks, or how much of a temperature drop the water undergoes on its way through the grow beds. Some of the plants might appreciate it being a little warmer. My little fig tree is not at all happy about the frosty temperatures right now.

PS Thanks for the list!

I've got my IBC 200gal tote heated with a 1000w and 500w titanium fish tank heater and I can get it up to 84F. Although it is insulated all the way around and the greenhouse it's in stays at about 40F and never goes below freezing.

That's encouraging. Mine's not insulated, but it is inside the greenhouse. I need to check the thermometer I put out there and see how cold it's gotten recently. It's supposed to store high and low temps, I just haven't figured out yet how to get it to SHOW them to me.

I just ordered a 1000W heater from Amazon, so we'll see what that does.

If you need to order another one to make it hotter make sure you get a single heater controller and plug them both into it. That way you won't accidentally cook your fish before their ready for the dinner table

Hey, now there's an idea. Pre-cooked fish and steamed veggies!

LOL

Here's how I set up my fish boiler. Seems to work pretty good. Still in the cycling mode right now with some veggies just starting to sprout

Nice-looking system! I can't seem to make mine look neat...I keep having to settle for functional.

Very pretty.