Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I just noticed the car accident in your first photo (photo3)... are the kids ok?

Hi Thommo

its ok the centre beam isn't resting on the fishtank, and its supported by a second jarrah sleeper leg you just can't see it in those photos, I will try and take a better picture in the light tomorrow to illustrate

cheers

haha, I like that one

usually looks like a crime scene whenever our kids have finished playing with their toys

Seamonkey / Jeff

thanks for the reassurance, I'm not so worried now

and I really like the idea of adding in a few trout (if I can still get them) once the tank is fully cycled. Kids are already getting impatient with the plant growth......ITS ONLY BEEN A DAY!

So I tried to the feed the fish today (Day 3 in their new home) not even slightly interested, they were very spooked and stayed near the bottom despite my best efforts to stay out of site. The second a tiny 5mm pellet hit the surface they darted around the bottom of the tank in terror.

So I fitted a shade cloth over half of the tank, hopefully that will make them feel more comfortable but I don't like my chances of them ever going for these floating pellets

First photo shows the extra support leg in the middle of the growbed I mentioned earlier, second photo shows the added shade cloth.

PH 7.4
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0

day 5 of the silver perth still not eating, 5mm floating pellets, also tried some worms with no interest, can't get near the tank without spooking them. I have to crawl up to the tank very carefully (its a strange sight)

when should I be concerned?

I've had an interesting experience as a newbie.
Bought 6 fish, they took 3 days to be comfortable to swim around up to the surface around mid morning feeding time (haven't fed them anything pelleted yet because I'm yet to get feed)
I then got 24 more fish and now they all stay at the bottom.

I'm thinking that they stay in a school.

I also think they take a while to explore the territory and also they are probably not 'hungry' yet. I rekon leave the feed for a bit?

Lloyd are they used to floating pellets? At this time of year they wont be very hungry and might only eat every 2 days or thereabouts and that might be at the warmest part of the day. How big are they ?

Yea, mine wont eat pellets at all during winter. I substitute with lettuce, worms, meal worms and cheap prawn.

they are about 20cm, a couple slightly bigger than the rest. I will give the shop a call and see what they've been feeding them.

a might try to feed them some more worms etc

Love your avatar Lloyd

What is your water temperatre today, I hear that we may have had frost this morning. Don't you just love Jandakot in the winter brrrr

:-) yep its always coldest in jandakot

Not sure on the temp, went to use the digital thermometer and it won't turn on, must need a new battery, but it would be pretty cold


Just rang golden ponds, they have been feeding them a 3mm sinking pellet, maybe I should get some sinkers?

Lloyd,

I had to crush my pellets so they sank last winter.They are eating the whole pellets I chuck in now, but I am only feeding about half as much as I did per feed over summer, and only once per day, not up to 6. Might give the worms a go. See if they disappear.My BSF farm ran out of juice and stopped producing.

I found a way of getting the fish to move out of the back corner, take a photo with the flash turned on. Damned if I can getthem to sit still while I take a photo!!

Still not sure if the fish are eating the broken pellets, they are still very scared and uninterested in anything I throw in.

Noticed some flashing from a few of the fish.

Water test today

PH - 7.4
Ammonia - 0.45
Nitrite - 0

Limited plant growth so far