Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

You're going to struggle to keep Jade Perch in the Blue Mountains... what made you decide on Jades???

When i set up the system i knew it would only be for a year and it was in the middle of a hot summer - i was building the system on the day it hit 46C.
I looked around for trout but couldn't get them from close by or find anywhere to send them to me.
I am in the lower mountains so the air temps are around 4-5C hotter than say Katoomba.
Why jades?
I know (pretty sure) I want to keep when I go back to Alice springs (where my first system has provision for solar heating if necessary) for their growth rate and healthy oil content. Also, we aren't allowed to keep Barra in central Australia.
Also, as the system (in the mountains) will only be up for a year I wanted a fish that might be ready to eat towards the end of the year (hopefully) - silvers are a smarter choice for temperature but I'd read grow at half or third the rate and taking 2-3 years to get to plate size.
I have had to insulate the tank and I am using electric heating which will cost me a bit (I plan to put an electricity meter on the heaters to find out exactly how much). I am currently exploring options for solar heating by using evacuated tubes.
Silvers were more cheaply available from a local breeder so I would recommend them for others setting up a system with a longer life span. I'd probably also take a drive to a trout hatchery instead (although that could be about as costly as heating the tank??)

Are there other fish options I could have tried?

None that would grow any faster through winter.... without heating....

Except for trout.... pity you had posted.... I could have got some for you....

Just an update.

I've lost 4 barra since purchase (mid May). No obvious signs of death.

3 of them are still feeding like there is no tomorrow and are substantially larger than the rest. Incredible growth rate in temps of between 22 to 25 deg. Difference in size to the others is exceptional. We are talking 100 grams difference and 3 to 4 times longer.

The other barra haven't really grown. Possibly a few centimetres max. Low on weight. I haven't seen them eat for weeks now. They hang around the bottom and pick at debris there.

So far larger barra haven't predated smaller ones. They seem content on pellets.

As it stands , if the smaller ones don't eat soon, some will starve. So interesting to see a few fish feeding like mad while the rest seem completely disinterested.

Ph at 7.8
Ammonia 0
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Temp approx 23

Until I get the refractometer can't give salt ppt but salt added and it did make a difference to whatever the fish were scratching.

here's my 2 bob...

Barra are completely mental & skittish. I was amazed at how their behavior differed from their reputation as an aggressive sport fish. I had similar experiences with growth rates with only 15 fish in 1000L main tank.

My runts survived the cull (due to not being worth filleting) & came inside over winter into a 6 foot aquarium where I have been able to observe them more closely, & I reckon the reason they are runtish is not due to any genetic reason but for the fact that they don't recognize food for being food. If the food is disturbed by the return water supply it ducks below the water & is usually struck before returning to the surface. If not it remains untouched. This would tie in with their predetorial rather than scavenger behaviour in the wild.

Unless you want your runts to become food for the alphas, pull them out into a separate tank, sump or aquarium & allow them to grow at their own rate. They are probably scared senseless by the current constant threat. I know that would put me off my dinner too. Decreasing your stocking density will also increase your growth rate for the larger fish too I'd think.

I removed the Alphas into the sump and yes the runts behaviour changed immediately. Still early days to see if they begin to feed but will update on any progress in this area.

I seem to have a bunch of gradually starving runts that just watch pellets get thrown into the tank. They show no interest in floating food. I know they have an appetite - throw a small shrimp in and its immediately eaten.

It is interesting though that the Alphas are happy to eat pellets all day long. They will even be that full that they just spit them out but go for another gulp of pellets later to once again spit them out.

These fish were originally reared on pellets at the aquaculture farm until 100mm long. I assumed that the behaviour would continue but no. Where it all came undone was the new environment, temperature change and that their health struggled for a while until I sorted it out with some salt. Since then they show no interest in floating or sinking pellets.

Barras can be frustrating. Bring on the Summer I say. I want to see what happens when my water temps hit 27deg.