Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

http://www.aquaponic.com.au/Fish%20to%20plant%20ratios.pdf Fascinating reading Wilson Lennard PHD: fish to plant ratios. Apparently has much to do with the amount of feed for the fish, as it is the waste we're most concerned with. Makes sense to me. Back to reading...

Yes, fish feed input is the critical factor. More feed, more waste, more BSA needed. But if you have 40 fish at a high feed rate, or 80 fish at a high feed rate, there's a big difference. I'm only running 35 fish currently, but upped my feed rate, and my nitrates have been in the 20-30 range, and growth is good. Been busy with work and RAS, so have some insect issues, but getting things cleaned up and planting some new Summer stuff soon. Still have some toms holding on. Looking at another 4-6 weeks I think on those. You should be in good shape with your GH situation.

At least in my head it is coming together. Must be meant to be the way my build is moving along slowly compared to others here, gives me plenty of time to figure out what I'm actually going to be doing

Concrete has a way of reminding you that you should have had concrete plans first. Luv ya man but I had to say it.

Hey Brian, great to see you progressing with the build and recovering from the kidney stones. Its so frustrating doing all those finishing off jobs (eg. the ceilling and wall lining) which you know MUST be done before finishing the ponds/tanks and getting the water in there. Its so close now and I can't wait to see it in action.

Been busy with work and RAS, so have some insect issues,

Coach i know i have posted this before but i can’t remember the outcome,availability etc,but since using Wood Vinegar i have NO bugs,even the leaf miners have disapeared,i do weekly spraying mixed in the Foliar application to keep on top of them,its one of those things i have just forgotten about now....

yup yup, what are ya gunna do? One of the issues I'm reading about is water levels and the tweaking needed to get them right. It seems like I'm in for that no matter what. Finally getting water is another mixed blessing. It's thrilling at the same time as worrisome. I'm up for it.

Ain't this the truth. I did make progress on my day off. Still have a lot to do. I got a few pieces of insulation up, looks like it is going to work. Some of the interior wooden panels are straight forward cuts, they should go up easily. The rest of the panels have outlet boxes to cut out, ceiling line angles to cut. Now I'm wishing I did green-board (gypsum board) as it is so much easier to cut.

"...more BSA needed...." ? It doesn't look like my Kiwis made it through the Winter in the tomato greenhouse, the fig either, sadly those were going to be shade for the fish tank. Now I've got to get more realistic about keeping the sun off the water, sigh. I'd like to have a DWC tank built just above it bridging the pond, but up enough to be able to see under them. I don't know that seems like a lot of work. Probably just need to do the hail screen cover over all the roof and add 80% shade cloth over that screen.

Brian

Das Boot- I can't find the wood vinegar anywhere over here. I'd love to try it, but right now, I'm working on trying to use biologicals. They work, but you have to keep a very close eye(daily) on things and get them in the growing area asap when you notice pests.

Hi Coach,

You should be able too find it in the US somewhere, but looks like it might have a few restrictions on it being classed as a toxic substance.

http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/pyro ... _acid.html


You could always try making it yourself, here's 14 Simple Steps to Making Wood Vinegar in 3 Months

http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Avail ... ochure.pdf

Good luck with making it yourself



http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/members.echoco ... inegar.pdf

http://www.rjpbcs.com/pdf/2013_4%284%29/[161].pdf

Thats a shame as its by far the best thing i have used to date,i would whole heartedly recommend this to every one,APers,Hydro people and dirt growers.

Andy thanks for the heads up on the Wood Vinegar I've just purchased a litre and will give it a try.

http://www.woodvinegar.com.au/buy/

Benefits on crops
Stimulates vegetable growth
Strengthens roots and leaves
Enriches soil fertility
Reduce odor
Works as flavour enhancer for agricultural end products
Inhibits virus and soil disease when mixed in high concentration
Increases the quantity of useful microbes
Repels insects on plants
Prevents diseases caused by bacteria
Improves fruit quality and increases sugar content in fruit
Nourishes seeds for germination
Nourishes seeds for germination
Facilitates composting

Advantage:
Increase crop resistance to adverse condition
Repel pests ,Prevent plant infection from fungal, bacterial and virus-like disease
Improve flavour, color, firmness and preservation of fruit
Strengthen the photosynthesis; Increase the content of chlorophyll of the plants
Improve absorption through the roots

Application:
Soil Application: 6-10 L / Ha / time, 2-3 times during seedling stage and growth stage.
Foliar Application: 3-5L / Ha / time, 2-3 times during seedling stage and growth stage.

I had this on my computer so i posted it,another one of the benefits of wood vinegar is its collapses water molecules by two thirds,so in foliar applications its an option to reduce the mixing rate of your fertiliser by 50% as the stomata on the leaves are more able to take up the nutrients.
Do you know what sometimes it even sounds like i know what i am talking about....

fascinating about the vinegar, who wood have thunk it?

One more day and it’s the weekend.Yahoo!
We’ve got a lot to do this weekend. Tuesday I’ve got a doctor appointment to get the stent out. I’d like to combine the trip to Santa Fe with a jaunt down to Albuquerque to buy this Aquarium

I’ve not quite convinced Nell we can have a 55 gallon aquarium in the living-room.Where ever we put it we’ll need a place to quarantine fish we catch before they go in the pond. Also it will be a good place to keep fry until they are big enough to go in the pond.

Of course I have no idea what kind of fish they are. This is the lake my son and I will get out stock from.

Pretty sweet, eh? It's at about 9000 feet above sea level

Brian,

I noticed on another thread that you were concerned about adding your well water to your system. This is what I use.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-Water-F ... ethod=p13n