Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just an update. I'm growing Basil and Cilantro exclusively. Added white board and fans in the grow chamber. I'm on my fourth generation of Tilapia. Now that the system is on autopilot...... I have more time for racing the bike...

Hey Mike, nice growth, nice to hear from you. Looks like breeding is the least of ur worries judging by the amount of young uns in ur last photo. Is that momma or poppa tilapia? Seems well fed too!

Watya doing with all that basil and cilantro MF?

Way to grow MF .....

The Tilapia you sent me are still growing. I think I've finally separated the males and females and am trying to condition them for spawning.

How big are your females MF? My female has hardly grown at all because she just keeps putting her energy into babies..

Looking great there mate - those plants looks Very healthy!

I am going to try and make a mess of pesto sauce and if successful we will start canning it and passing around to friends and see what the response is.

In the photo above, that is one of five females from the original broodstock. Interestingly, she is the only one who has given me babies. I believe it must be her good looks;) She happens to be the biggest female, around 8 inches.

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Just goes to show - size does matter, though 8 inches seems a bit small

...haha, I asked the wife if she had any idea how big it was......, she said well isn't it the same size as your fish? Since that is where you spend all your time??

One for the wife!!!

at least she didn't say "fingerling" or "small fry" LOL

Saw this and thought of you
http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/srimanual.pdf
I will be giving it a go (small scale)

Thank you ES... interestingly, last weekend I was out pubbing with the wife and I met a gentleman who works at the rice experimental station here in the Central Valley. I told him about the AP system and growing methods used by us AP'rs and he was absolutely fascinated. We are getting together in a few weeks and I will tour the experimental station where he works. I hope to learn some interesting facts about rice.

I'll report back with information. Cheers

Hey I wanted to link MySpace to the system thread here since that is where I will keep my blogs about it.

www.myspace.com/michaelferrini

You have to sign up to view the blogs and pics.

It's a great way to network and showcase your AP....

On another note: I have been reviewing other member's systems and wanted to highlight something that I really stumbled into, and that is the white foam board insulation.

Not only is it amazing at refracting light back to the plants and within the grow chamber, but I provides excellent insulation between the grow chamber and the fish tanks. This keeps the water temps from skyrocketing when the grow chamber hits 100+ degrees. The highest water temp so far this late spring has been 78 degrees. This time last year I was well into the upper 80's with water temp, especially on hot days. I am expanding the grow chamber a bit and have ordered two new grow beds. I have found a source on those trough liners SANS the frames (woot), and they are $25 apiece!!! That's a deal. Wish we all lived closer. Anyway, more pics after I get the new beds and chamber even more purpose built.