Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

We're high enough up not to get frost so will have a look at strawberries again.

One other question, stocking. I don't plan on raising fish for food so that's of no account but my prob is I only have a couple of goldies that can be moved out. Although Peach and Phasmid are fairly big fish they'd only weigh in at about 250g each. Would they provide enough nutrients to support any type of fruiting plant? Actually would they provide enough nutrients for a plant full stop? Reading about most peoples systems, even the smaller ones theres 2-3kg of fish per hundred litres. I'd have about a gram per litre of fish LOL. So do I need to buy more fish? None of my other fish are suitable for being placed in ponds outside, half my fancies cant even live without a heater.

Emma, the stocking levels listed around the site are for full grown or harvest size fish. Basically, when the fish are small, the plants are also small, they grow up together. The ammonia that even a couple of fish produce will support the bacteria and the plants.
You said you were worried about birds taking your fish. Have you thought about bird-netting over the tank? Hardware shops or landscaping suppliers should stock netting for a few dollars a metre.

I generally dont have problems with birds, its just the idiot fish who float around the surface begging for food from every moving object. Styrofoam over the surface should do, plus its deep enough that the fish can dive down and hide in pots etc on the bottom.

I understand about them being for harvest size fish, but these goldfish are full grown, they havnt got any growing left in em, from what I've read on various sites, they have the ability to support a 10 cm x 10 cm patch of herbs LOL.l Dunno if its right but I found that on a couple of different sites.

Ah well, maybe it'll just end in an excuse to buy more fish LOL.

Also I found these on ebay, its quite close to me. Would something like this be any use? I could build one myself fairly simply, but these are designed for hydroponics, would anything need to be changed? or would they work at all?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Hydroponic-table ... dZViewItem

yep, they'll work, it's called NFT, have a look here for the description http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... 8865#38865

Okies thanks, will look into building something similar. Though smaller then that ebay one, I can see my parents look of horror already if I brought home a 6m table like that

Cuti, you can build something similar and just as effective, fairly cheaply out of 100/150mm pvc pipe....

Look at Steve and Anges Courtyard system

or Gnash's System

or David’s System

I've even seen these sorts of things offered for sale on eBay or the web... way too pricey... just follow the above examples of other members and adapt to fit....

Going back to Cuti's pic of the tub (previous page), I am amazed that nobody picked up the use of the chocolate used as a reference size point....we have had many objects, but this is the 1st choccy bar

Welcome Cuti!

Rup, I also have that variety - my wife works at Target and bought a bunch of little pots (like 1-2" tall/wide) that have strawberry seeds to plant in them. I am assuming "alpine" is a subliminal cue for cold tolerant?

Cuti, I put a floating raft of grass on top of my aquarium last year and it grew OK. That would be a good way to start until you get really addicted! A very small pump might get you going if you set the stuff up so it is right there with the fish tank.

Good point Dave, vb uses oat seeds to fill gaps in his GB when he wants to control his nitrate levels....being on a farm, grab a handful of oats/wheat/barley/whatever and use (make sure it hasn't been treated with an insecticide tho - might equal dead fish )

LOL no chocolate, theres a tube of aquarium silcone, mineral turps and a whole pile of tissues tho...

We dontgrow plans, were a cattle farm, a very small one at that. I'll have a go at grass though, it sounds easy and would work on my axaoltl tank.

Gee Les, Is that wishful thinking here? Didn't you get enough chocolate over Easter?

Well a few changed to the plan. The rabbits broke into Mum's veggie garden last night and ate all the lettuce, so she wants me to grow some rabbit free rocket LOL. Dad also decided he didnt like my ugly tub and has banished it behind the pool. I have a LOT more space for grow beds now LOL.

I also found an outdoor pot plant stand. Its 3 tiers all 120cm long and 35 wide. I could easily put NFT style grow beds on all 3 levels, so that water is pumped into the top level and then gravity feeds through the other levels and back to the tub.

Also had a look at fish prices, its $7 for 3 goldfish so pretty cheap. IU picked up some airline connectors as well today, so can start building a weather proof container for the air pump and some type of filter fore the air pump.

What'd be better? A sponge filter with a long air lift tube to create surface disturbance or a 10 cm long airstone?

Bugger

I'dd defer to J7AU, he is the resident airlift king

Well ideas have changed once again. I recently rearranged all the fish in my tanks, and I now have a spare 600l/ph pump for the system. I also have a pot plant stand to hold grow beds and several containers to use for growbeds. I don't as of yet have money for gravel, so am going to try an NFT set up first. Also stocking has changed, if their the right price I'm going to try yabbies, will be stopping by a bait store that sells live yabbies on Tuesday to check the prices out.

My siliconing job was rather poor, when I tested it today I found a leak, so I had a go at repairing it and will see how it goes, if dosnt work I'll pull it all up, sand paper everything and try again.

I'm also collecting, pots pipes and various other hidey hole type things for Yabbies, and have a makeshift lid for the top. Though I'd say it wouldn't be strong enough to stop a yabby climbing out.

The growbeds are small to say the least LOl. Ones a 23 litre tray and the other two are 8l trays. When I've got a bit more money to spare I'm going to buy those little kiddy pools from Big W and use those.