Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Gary, thanks for those notes on cocopeat - copied to my file. I've been trying cocopeat, cocopeat+cheap potting mix and plain cheap potting mix for the last 3 weeks. So far they have all been much the same in response as a cutting medium (even with the sudden hot dry weather). Will continue experiment.

Hi,

Big day on our micro-farm today....

Renovated growing systems – planted new seedlings – set up a herb bed in my gravel grow bed. Bought some Iron Chelate from Bunnings.

I harvested a good quantity of BSF larvae – I'm feeding a fistful every day now.

Stinking hot weather – added 120 litres of aged mains water after giving everything a good drink.

I added 500 compost worms to each of my bio-filters in an attempt to improved their efficiency. I was going to change the media from the oyster shells that I've been using to something much lighter like shadecloth but I decided to just put the worms in to see what effect they had.

Gary

Still snow on the ground here, but the signs of spring approaching are showing. So you should soon get a break in temp and start the pleasant weather of fall. I would bet that is a good time for you there. I always enjoy fall. Sounds like you have thinks perking along there ...great!

Hi Doug,

The next eight months are one of the big reasons we live in Queensland.

A nice spring day in your parts is probably what we'd experience in the depth of winter.

Gary

NICE!!!

Hi,

I'm overdue for an update so here's the current state of affairs.

We're still running our 800 litre mega bin and it still contains our 44 Jade Perch several of which are quickly approaching eating size.

I've attached a 250 litre tank which contains 66 Jade Perch fingerlings.

We've improved the filtration of our system with the addition of a pressure filter. It's made a big difference - our water is now crystal clear.

I've also attached a 200 litre drum which serves as a sedimentation tank and a top up tank. I use a syphon arrangement to pick up the sediment that gathers in the bottom of the drum which is also useful for mixing up top up water.

Gary

Hi garry whats the pressure filter is it made or bought whats in it i am thinking of one for cleaning the water in the glass house part of that will be isolated from the rest

Hi F&F,

The pressure filter is a purchased unit. It operates as a mechanical strainer and as a biological filter......and it exposes the water to UV radiation which kills off the algae which is then trapped in the strainers.

Gary

this will also kill beneficial bacteria ... hmm, guess you should still have plenty within your grow beds.

a UV will definatly kill of bacteria but once the water is exposed to the growbeds again it will be present in the water so i doubt that this would be a porblem unless you were trying to seed a new GB down stream of the filter

so if you have it just before return to tank i dont see any problems water will return to tank nutrient clean and bacteria (all of em not just our bacteria) clean
Cheers

are you having a problem with the algae, garry?

Hi Gary, is that UV filter one of Muzzas $400 ones??

Where does it fit in the flow of things? Does it replace the oyster shell bio-filter or does it supplement it....

If I remember rightly the oyster shell biofilter was in the orange drums ... right???

Naa, I think its just another (expensive) addition as they look like they are still running (unless they have fish in them now?? ) -


Did/do you have an algae problem - I was under the impression that you kept most of your system indoors, thus avoiding the algae woes - how dirty was it before the new addition?

Remember AM that he's increased his stocking level by 150%....

Granted they are fingerlings at the moment and by the time they grow out I suppose the original 44 Jades will be well and truely gone....

Still means a 50% stock increase... maybe the filter was an option rather than increasing grow bed capacity

Can't really tell from the photo just where in the flow of things the filter sits....

aaaahhh, I see - but that still will not remove nitrates etc...