Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Random thoughts and observations after having the system up over 6 months now.

Finally have fry! Found around 20 in the sump when I was cleaning the pump filter last week. The crayfish in the sump (after stocking it 2 times) do not get along well together, as I could only find one left. I have rocks and hiding places in a 55 gal drum on its side, but I guess one mean one keeps finding the others.

I tried growing broccoli, even though the water is heated for tilapia. Most plants sprouted when about 1 ft tall, and were small but tasty. The one large plant that I let grow did eventually have a nice large sprout, but it tasted horrible. Fish liked it at least. Lettuce grew great. Carrots are about 2 inches long and very fat.

I canned my first batch of gold beans, and latino beans are growing well. Jalapeno plant has doubled in size in about 2 weeks, but a hoard of aphids attacked. I got some organic pest control from a local aquaponics store and that has taken care of most of them. The tomato plant went from a foot 3 weeks ago to 4 ft tall and 4 ft wide now. There are some blooms, but since this is a first year system I am not expecting alot of yield.

I have lost several tilapia to jumping, and finally installed a net above the tank. Biggest males are close to a foot long now. The one Koi is very fat, but seems to get along nicely with the tilapia. I have been fighting some brown stuff that has been growing. I am pretty sure it was mainly from overfeeding, and it has cleared up quite a bit since cutting them back.

I like the look of the clay rocks as grow bed, but its light weight can lead to plants falling over when they reach a certain height. When I expand my grow bed, I am planning on putting mostly pebbles, with a layer of clay rocks covering.

About everything I can think of at the moment. Questions or comments welcome. Any local need to buy tilapia fry/fingerlings, hopefully I will be seeing more soon.