Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good morning.

We're almost ready to start filling our first fish tank. Currently 1 IBC.

We plan on introducing trout once we have cycled the water. I do have a couple of q's.

1. We have a few lakes nearby that contain trout and other fish. Would it be alright to grab some water from those lakes to help out with the initial bacteria, etc.? If so, how much water should we bring in? Keeping in mind we'd have to transport it via 5 gallon buckets.

2. Is it a good idea to put any type of media or other objects in the bottom of the fish tank? Something for the fish to swim around, etc?

Thanks a million.

Simple answers:

1. Don't bother just fill with water. even if you use chlorinated or worse even chlorimained town water the process to cycle will just take longer (a week or two at most).

2. Generally no because media or objects in the bottom of your tank can create spots where the solids will get trapped and accumulate. Having said that lots of people do especially if they have yabbies in their tanks.

Sounds good. Unfortunately, we will be using town water. I'll just have to be patient once the tank is filled.

It is not a problem it just takes a bit longer.

The best thing to do would be to pinch someone elses GB but that would be a lot of effort and you need to find an available GB. Much easier to wait.

I had thought about that but you're a bit far away

I might be having to move relatively soon.

If so I might be asking for volunteers to pinch either one or both of my GBs.



Any takers?

Move to Perth, then I'll come and nick your stuff