Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Has anyone used shiners in their AP tank? I was thinking they would be good so I can raise my own baitfish for bass fishing as well as possibly selling some to local fishermen.

I have raised them in aquariums but not AP. They take to pellets pretty fast which is the biggest hurdle. They were wild caught at 6 to 7 inches. Any fish you can get on pellets are good for AP IMO. Lots of oxygen is needed because the never stop moving.

Thanks for the quick reply buddy

Crap...now I miss them. They are really cool to watch. They are ADD and just dart around for no reason.

Those are some nice pics. What did you use to feed them?

They would pretty much eat anything I gave them. Chiclid pellets, flakes etc.... I'm sure they would eat purina aquamax or TSC sportman's choice.

I'll try it out and let u know how it goes. At least tgey are cheap to get the system cycled. I was thinking of using a few buckets of pond water from my neighbors 5 acre pond. Thought that would get the cycle started better than peeing in the water. Plus my wife has a fit if I'm working the fields and pee outside. Can't imagine the joy she would express peeing next to the house

That's a good idea! I wonder about suckers for cutbait....

don't use pond water, you could introduce things you don't want
"pure" ammonia (no surfectants) can be used to cycle up a new system.. or cycle with fish, and keep an eye on water parameters

I use pond water in m system and I am not having any issues. Been doing that for over a year now.

What Keith is saying is that there is a greater chance of getting a waterborne contaminant if you are using an open water source.

I've been running a 2 barrel system with crappie sized minnows for @3 wks now. My biggest problem is a high mortality rate due to the expendable nature of said fish. I'm down to maybe 1-2 doz from a start of 6. I'm really not complaining tho since the veggies are going like mad.

I understand that, but he told the other person not to do it. I have been doing it for a long time with no issues. There are reasons to do it and reasons not to do it. For me the low ph water is more important than water that may or may not induce something to my system.

i should have said, i wouldn't use pond water,.....
better?