Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am relatively new to aquaponics. Been research and planning for a year my set up while I finished building my own house. Set up first grow beds in June, first 20 rainbow trout early August and a second batch after it had cycled late August. Everything going well after initial ironing out. Trout growing and feeding rapidly.

That cycling a little stressful, but a few water changes sort that out nicely.

I purchased a pond max automatic feeder, it drops 150-180 pellets at 6, 10, 2 and 6. Though appears to not be enough for my 38 trout (lost two about 5 days in, suspect transport to great for them).

How many pellets should you expect that each fish would consume in a sitting? For example this evening the feeder gave them the max does it can, then 10 minutes later I spent the next 10 minutes giving extra pellets by hand just to see how many they would take. I estimate that they took close to 300 more pellets. They smash the surface, often jumping six inches clear of the water as if the pelet might escape. Is over 400 pellets for 38 fish too much in a sitting? Do I need to add more pellets through the day? My wife is often home.

My water is currently at about 6-6.2 pH. Due to my rainwater tank going pH below 6 after the last big bit of rain. I have been adding bicarbonate to it a teaspoon every day, but not really only maintaining it above 6. I have a mixture of split pea grave (slightly acidic) and pea gravel (basic). Everything seems to be loving the pH, though I thought it should be a bit higher.

Any advise etc would be appreciated.

Will try and get some pics on if I can work it out....

Anthony

Hiya Antonio, welcome to the forum.
Auto fish feeders may seem like a handy tool however I've found the fish can be ravenous one day and be opposite the next. Weather, water temps and many other reasons can turn fish on and off food. I like to hand feed starting with few pellets and gauging their mood before feeding a base amount I am confident they will consume. I do this twice daily, it's been part of my routine for the last few years. Although it would be nice to have them automatically fed I just couldn't trust them.....
Nice to see a new sandgroper on the forum, our numbers are slowly dwindling.

Hi and welcome Anthony,

>> Will try and get some pics on if I can work it out....

look here for the pics instructions (first 2 threads) viewforum.php?f=4

> I have been adding bicarbonate to it a teaspoon every day, but not really only maintaining it above 6

what sort of bicarbonate ? Usually you want to be using Potassium or Calcium Bicarbonate as you wont need a lot of Sodium.