Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks for the feedback folks.

I've got lots of comfrey growing Joel, so I'll be definitely experimenting with using it as a fish feed in a few months when I finally get my system set up.

From my perspective, one of the best things about it as a significant part of fish diet is how easily and quickly it can be multiplied by root cutting or crown division.

Also, with any luck it may boost the trace elements in a system to a point where no extra additives are needed...worth a try anyway.

VB, Steve, from my personal research, I can't find anything which puts me off using it internally...there's an enormous amount of evidence to suggest that over centuries of use it hasn't caused any problems whatsoever in its raw, whole form, whereas the tiny amount of cases 'against' I've read about have been related to extremely high usage in pill form.

Isabel Shipard's article (I forgot she had info online VB - her book on herbs is sensational IMO) alone goes a fair way to proving the above IMO, whereas all the info against internal use seems to fall into pill usage - and big business getting scientists to provide any evidence possible to back these type of decisions for the purpose of ensuring commercial pharmaceutical interests have no competition from mother nature (a Canadian example but much the same thing happens here):

http://www.pnc.com.au/~cafmr/online/fre ... b-ban.html

Just incase you wanted to check out the original paper which provides the reasoning behind the banning Steve, it's:

Experientia. 1980 Apr 15;36(4):377-9.
Structure and toxicity of the alkaloids of Russian comfrey (symphytum x uplandicum Nyman), a medicinal herb and item of human diet.
Culvenor CC, Clarke M, Edgar JA, Frahn JL, Jago MV, Peterson JE, Smith LW

I am about to buy my first bulk amount of fish food pellets. I will probably get Ridley ones. Unfortunatelly I have to get these from a middle man as eventhough Riddley is her in South East Queensland, they don't sell direct in quantities less that a tonne.

The pellets are available in 2, 3, 4 & 6mm. I was thinking that 4mm is probably the go. What size are others using - Joel what size Ridleys do you use.

Also, how much are people paying for their Ridleys for the 25kg bags? I want to make sure my supplier is giving me a competitive price.

Thanks.

VB, I am using 4mm pellets....fish gobble em up... When the fish were smaller I ground them up using a house brick on a piece of 12mm ply.

Murray

Yep, I use two sizes 4mm, only coz they ran out of 6mm for the large fish, and 2mm for goldfish.. Mine was $50 a 25kg bag, then I think they have put it up to $55 where I get mine from.

Thanks EB and Muzza. Cool - think I will go for the 6mm then, as I already have a kilo of 2mm that I bought from the we and this should be sufficien to get future fingerlings to 6mm pellet eating size. I reckon my aquarium based jades are now big enough to eat 6mm (they eat 6 inch worms whole) and my silvers in the pond are certainly big enough.

My supplier here in Qld can do them for $50 for the 25kg - so doesn't look like I am being ripped off. Maybe one day we will have enough of us in SEQ to get a tonne from Ridley at a time and distribute amongst ourselves. They are prepackaged, so it wouldn't be too much of a hastle. I will find out some time how much a tonne costs.

Talked to Ridleys re: price per Tonne. Would work out at about $35 per 25kg bag (that's if somebody was able to pick up the whole tonne from Narrangbah, so I am not sure it would be worth the hastle - though worth keeping in mind for the future.

VB that would be a saving of $600 per tonne. Pretty significant I recon!

Yes it is significant, but only if you are using a lot. Petrol is not cheap these days so it really depends for some people on how far they have to go to get the things.

Maybe Murray could get into fish food retailing aswell.

Any of us could do that - but unless you are breaking it down into smaller quantities and marking it up heaps, or you live in a really central location (where people can pick the stuff up), its not going to be overly cost effective because postage on 25kg will kill much of the saving. Also unlike the things that Murray is stocking in his aqua shop, fish food is perishable and would need to be sold within a reasonable time - which may not happen until a market is created.

I'd like to see us guys in SEQ getting together a bit of a co-operative where we can buy things in bulk together and all benefit from the savings. Once there are a few more of us I might start posting some suggestions as to things we could buy together. The idea would be for people to commit to purchasing before the product is bought, similar to what is happenning with the fingerling order sharing , but for hardware type items and perishables like fish food.

Hey VB, I live in Narangba if that helps...

Heh Derek - not really, unless you also have a truck that can take 2 half tonne pallets (and you know 38 other people that each want a 25kg bag of fish pellets . What are yoour plans Derek - are you getting a system up and going, do you have one already?

I'm getting my equipment together. I was given an old metal bath yesterday and have been offered 2 fibreglass ones tonight. Already have 2 blue barrels and 20 foam boxes. I priced a 3000 lph pump at "B" yesterday ($70). I plan to reuse my irrigation poly-pipe and fittings from the greenhouse. Have the worm farm. Visited the local aquarium supplier and discussed bulk fish prices and have a design in mind. Have the approval from wife so I'm ready to go :-)

Good one Derek - sounds like you are well advanced.

I'll post more information when I start the build. I don't want to hijack this thread or go off topic.