Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello Fogazi and Bundibear

Thanks for the feedback.

I got my fingerlings from the fisheries for $2.20 each and yes minimum order is 50. You can get single one at Aquagreen in Howard springs for I think he said $4.50. Hurley Aquarium in Marlow's lagoon sells them as well but I think the price is even higher. I was there for sleepy cod and the price tag said $16/20...

What kind of system are you planning to build?

Cheers

If you search Aquatic Eco Systems you should find a catalog site that lists the cfm (cubic feet per minute) recommendations for their air stones. They are located here in FL though. I know they do international sales but it of course costs. But perhaps you can glean enough info from their site to translate it to a source closer to home for you.

I am only starting with a 2 barrel system (1 split in two for GB and 1FT). Therefore probably only 200l of FT.

I'm only starting small to get my head around things and trials things etc..

Howard springs sounds like the go for me. Although I was thinking I can go and catch a heap of spangled perch as the are every where and free...


Cheers

I just scored 10 Blue drums for $10 each on Gumtree. I am gonna pick them up in the morning. Looks like they have hundreds of them there in East arm.

Cheers

Yeh I found them a day after I payed 30... Spewin

Nice score, but check what they have had in them.

I bought two of the expensive ones as well.

cc bear, the guy said it had something water soluble in them and they are already pre washed. I will clean them again and check the msds.

hello TCLynx

Thanks for the link. I found out that the blue airstones which i use push out up to 16 lpm, which is exactly what i need for the new pump (to run it with 20% back pressure), maybe i just get a big box full of them and replace them when they break down. Because i have only found some suppliers who say that their airstone work longer because of suchandsuch technology etc., but not really user who say the same and that the higher price is ok.

But i am going to order some more uniseal and connect the 2 fishtank with maybe a 40mm equalising pipe which gives me same water pressure and airflow.

Also when i install some of the blue drums and maybe another 300l tub i will need both pumps running to supply enough water and the problem is also solved.

Bloody cherry tomato bushes got too heavy and i lost 2 big branches... luckily i just bought some 50m 2mm stainless steel coated wire to extend the trellis on the weekend.

Today's system expansion...

Another approx. 400l GB which will be filled with gravel. The plant selection will be maybe something like a patio lime, i got a nice bird's eye chilli bush which i want to relocate from the dirt garden and some other plants which are good for multiple years so i dont have to move the gravel too often.

The cycle will be controlled by loop syphon, i just have to figure out what the best way is to connect the hose to the barrel, but i think i will find something at B tomorrow. Along the container wall i have room for another 4 half barrels but i ran out of steel. :-/

Before i started this morning i used Google Sketchup and made a quick sketch of the container and the orientation and the program came back with around 750mm of shade at ground level at lunch time in the middle of the wet season (that is maximum shade) which means the gravel will be in the shade most of the time but the plants get filtered light.

And some other good news, i did water changes the last three days of around 20% a day. The nitrites went from way over 5ppm to 2ppm yesterday and 0.25ppm today. Cant be just the water change, i also stopped feeding for 3 days, cleaned all the sludge from inside and outside tanks and sadly lost 5 barramundi, so only 49 left.

3 days ago i made a nitrite test as every day but also one with watered down tank water... i used 80 drops of destilled water and just 5 (five) drops of sump tank water and the test still returned 5ppm reading brilliant pinkish instead of purple.

The fish was much more active today and i started with a slow feed again and... wow... were the fish going off on the food...

I hope that concludes the cycling, started around 19.6. so a good 8 weeks on fish cycling.

the water temps are now stable without heater at 30 degrees celsius, the barra is loving it and it is big fun watching the cherabin eating on crushed up pellets... showeling the food in with their claws and first set of legs/mini claws.

Seems like you've worked out how to fit a round peg into a square hole. Well done.

Next project get the square peg to fit the round holes.

ohh come on... You know the drill...

If it doesn't fit... use a bigger hammer.

Lubricated with more beer.

That helps heaps as well.

Here todays snap shot:

Barramundi - Subspecies: Clown fish

Took him a while and lots a tries until he balanced himself correctly. Now he moved to the lower suction cap which is closer to the heat coil, i hope he doesn't fall asleep there.