Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

jade plants doing very well for the future dil

rosemary doing well behind the jades

the single tote gb, gotta replace the 200w light, maybe this coming weekend - some dill, another rosemary, and a lonely strawb

there's some oregano in that bed too...

can't forget the rosy reds in the sump, can't see the 10 or so crayfish (marmokreb)

and in case you were wondering about the mosquito dunks... bti (takes a couple weeks but i noticed a reduction in fungus gnats in 4 or 5 days)

Hi fellas...
I thinking and planning and gathering at the moment..

A question if I can... Any issues with having Fish and Red Claw crayfish in the same tank..
or is it ONE or the other..

I am currently struggling with two IBC's and getting soap out of them, so that is my start point..

Peter
..
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it depends. charlie has a video of some crays in the same tank as fish in one of his system threads. Iirc it was yabbies and perch. Ultimately, either species will eat the other if they can. They have to be big enough to not be food for the other and you would perhaps need to regrade them periodically.

I dont think keith ever tried red claws. The crays he raises are marbled crays which are smaller and he raises them only as a supplemental fish food.

starting getting some nitrite readings when feeding heavily so decided to harvest, took some before, during and after pic's
there were 5 tilapia in the single tote system, these were born in the pool, escaped to the sump and overwintered in a 55 gallon tank, this was their second year in the tote (i love saying that past tense!)

tilapia in the pool with yellow perch

i didn't go fishin, i go catchin.. the tools
two nets (the crowding net is a pita with one person)

my kill spike

harvested from the single tote first

at first i was thinking i'd just harvest tilapia.. spent a little while catching the beasties.. they like jumping to avoid being caught,, much fun was had by all, so here's the cooler after round 1 in the pool

that clearly wasn't enough fish
and i was having a hard time catching the blue tilapia,
so lets just catch what we can catch

then the even funner part.... cleaning.. lets outsource!
got a couple rolls of bags for the vac sealer, tomorrow am these will get vac sealed in meal size packs with spices from the garden

MMMmmm!

I am jealous you have someone clean them for you. It always stresses me out killing my pets. If i didnt have to mutilate them maybe it wouldnt be so bad.

i didn't have a problem killing them after catching them.. a spike to the brain and they're done..
funds are kind of tight right now, but i'm going to get an electric fillet knife as the next "tool" so that i can take care of it myself..
so this morning, i gathered herbs from the garden, and a few lemons from the farmers market

if you're keeping score, there were 30 tilapia fillets, and 70 yp fillets, 50 fish total
i like the idea of a vacuum sealer, and the one i got works ok, but if you want to do some serious vac sealing, you need a commercial unit

How does tilapia fare after being freezed? As a rule, I only eat fresh fish, but I've had grouper and a few others (due to the sheer amount) that we've had to freeze(whole in water) and it's not too bad. Looks like a good harvest!

first time using the vac pac, but my previous harvests, i froze in ziplock bags, just covered with water, and those came out great when cooked.. nice firm white flesh, and mild flavor

all around perfect day...
woke up to find the groundhog that's been terrorizing my garden, caught in the live trap.. took it a couple miles from home and released him.. on the way home i picked up some shiners to feed the perch and bluegill left in the pool..
then the highlight of my day, my older son got married ...wonderful little ceremony in the village square, and a little dinner after..
gotta think of something to "shine" at the reception in a couple weeks.. all the main dishes are covered so i'll do a smoked potato/bacon soup (with homemade croutons!).. and a i'm thinking a nice yellow perch ravioli with a red pepper sauce

Good news, Congratulations to your son!