Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

FM, the others are smashing the feed, no signs of lacklustre movement.

Checked again after last nights storm, and they all seem fine.

Maybe that one ate something it shouldn't have or choked, but couldn't see anything when I gutted it.

Skin still had the jelly-like coating on it.

As for the DO, I think it's ok, got 3 airlines going into it, plus the timed pump hose, and none of them were at the top of the tank gasping for air.

(was going to add another airline sometime later in October when the weather warmed up).

Trout not eating, sunny and warm last few days.

Water a bit green, likely due to the sunny weather and direct sun on the water in the sump tank. I've shaded that now.

So I figured I'd take a temp reading. Water was 20C thereabouts at 5pm. Don't trout die at 22C?

I put in the other two airlines into the FT, and prayed that would keep them alive.
I've switched the pump to full 24x7 overnight to maximise GB cooling with the overnight expected 13C.

I'll check again tomorrow morning, hoping the weather stays below 22C for another few weeks.

Trout season coming to an unexpected end otherwise...

Yeah!!! Trout attacking feed again.

Cooling of the water temps over the weekend by running the pumps continuously overnight when temps went down to 13C, helped lower the water temp in the day to managable 16C. Quite sure this was the reason for the fish going off their feed.

I have also put shade cloth over the ST, and a reflective insulation cover on the top of the FT to assist in reducing a gradual buildup of 'green water' that has started to affect water clarity.

Brined 4 and kept 1 cold overnight. Put a little pouch of mesquite into the gas bbq, and went for it this morning. Took it out after 1.5 hrs (turning 30mins) at 90-120C range.



Tasted a brined version vs the plain unbrined one. Brined tasted better, as it had a saltier taste (brine result) and slightly more moist. Tasty in any case!

Didn't eat the skin portion though. I didn't bother scaling the trout anyway.



Taking out the majority this week, don't think my system will be able to maintain temps at survivable rates for trout over the next few days.

Today, mercury hit 36C, and the water was easily above 24C, due mostly to the recirculating of water through the GBs. Added more water in the morning to the system, hoping that the additional volume would help disperse the heat. Had the 4 airstones in the system throughout, and they seem to be doing the job ok.

Checking the tank at 6pm today, and looks like trout were still alive and kicking. Though, the water is progressively going green and just checked near the SLO to see if there were any 'drifting'.

The SP water (blue barrel) was alot warmer, nearer to 30C I would think. They're fine, with the 2 airstones, and just waiting for the trout to vacate the premises, so they can get the big digs then.

Fuzzy I think your creating a trend. The paint scheme LOL

Nice job aquanoob

I never scale trout and still eat the skin, scaling trout is unnecessary.

After crisping the skin up from the smoking effort within the bbq, the taste test revealed an 8/10 yumminess factor by the kids.

Delayed taking out the remainder of trout till tomorrow... another stay of execution (literally).

I'm going to miss the trout when it gets replaced by weeny little silver perch though. Tank will look very empty.

Fished out another 7 trout this morning, biggest was 475gms. Noticable size difference with the runt at 280gm. I think there's 6 left in the Tank... hope they'll survive the heat till tomorrow, and then I'll take them out the next morning.

Love the Vacumn Sealer. Great toy that the missus used to vac seal up the trout after gutting. Straight into the freezer. Must say, I did have a moment taking those trout out, maybe I might have to grow out silver perch instead and cut back on the culling experience. *but I love the way the trout hit their feed, though - smashin!*

Took the pics of the final haul of 6 trout this morning.





Freezer bins look a bit full now with all these trout. Gonna have to work on those trout recipes!

Gotta admit, the vacumn sealer did complain a bit after doing just 3 bags, had to let it 'cool' for a few mins before it went happily again.

Nice - you don't like the heads? Or was it so that they fit sideways into the bags?

Left the heads off, didn't need to be reminded what fish this was in the freezer. The novelty factor of keeping the heads on wore off after the 4-5th trout I gutted. Guess it'll be better to cook on the bbq with the head on for moisture retention and stuffing, rather than exposing the flesh directly...

They fit pretty much right without the head into the bags, but the bigger ones I had them turned sideways, and vac sealed two trout in the same bag.

Funny story... left for a 3 week haitus in January 2014, entrusted the system with instructions on feeding sparingly to extended family. Results below.

I transferred remaining SP fingerlings into the IBC outside and left the aquarium in the garage (still had water and pump running, but no fish).

Came back to find that my brother and been putting feed during my absence into this 60L aquarium tank (in the garage) instead of the IBC outside all this time.

The tank was fetid, and the pump had failed from all the muck that was built up in it.

Checked the IBC, fish still in there, famished I would expect.

And no, I don't know why he didn't just look into the glass to see if there was any fish in the aquarium.. there's not as if it was stocked with decorations for the fish to hide.

You must be proud of him hehe.

Isnt always the same when you leave your system to a family member, never ends well hehe

Good to post something different. A month and half ago (yes, was busy..), the SLO pipe within my FT came loose and it was an open 50mm opening from the FT to the GBs. I didn't think it a problem or an issue when I checked and just popped it back, as the pump from the Sump Tank was pumping water up to the FT (CHIFT PIST model).

I didn't check for a week or two other than do feeding. Fish started going off the food, and was wondering why. Thought it was the wierd weather, and normally they take food twice a day... noticed a buildup of uneaten pellets at the bottom of the tank.

Siphoned off the excess food. And did a pH and Ammonia test... Ammonia reading was only 0.25-0.5 max... wasn't too bothered, and pH was around 6. Thought it was a pH, and added some shells into the ST. Then did a small water change.

Still no change in fish behaviour.

I then started noticing the GB at the end of the water flow pipe from FT to GBs wasn't flowing as well, as plants weren't flourishing as what I usually expect. Cleared out any muck (minimal) from the outlets and still the water flow was obstructed. I popped open the end cap...

A partially decomposed trout came flushing out of the opening... *spew*

All those steps... and in the end, didn't think a stupid fish would go into a 50mm pipe.. lucky it wasn't very big.. under 250mm from my guess.

Showed the kids... a teachable moment.. never assume everything's easy fix.

All good again...