Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have seen them in the chemistry lab for many things. Theres even one for chlorine. I have have a set for K P N test.

I guess thats the problem. Its a pro testing thing. Perhaps I should look under lab supplies.

I found a digital tester! $179 Here It optically examines the water then gives you the right number.

I was talking to a friend who was asking if my nitrate was really 0ppm. I said yeah, as far as I can tell, but I can only tell the difference between 0 and 5. He wandered off on this big discourse about various algaes and such being happy at 1ppm, and wondered what level of nitrate a plant truely needs. My answer was still 'dunno, I got 0'. But the implication is that scientific folks can get tests or test equipment that will measure very low readings. So there must be drop-counting tests or fancy meters that do a lot more than a typical aquarium test.

Let us know if you find something reasonably priced.

I just got my fishies in the mail!
Im so excited.
I got 20 of the gray ones and 11 of the orange ones.

The gray ones are very small. I guess this will give me some time before they can breed.

I think he said breed the gray to the orange femals to get 99% male offspring.

That's COOL! Isn't this FUN!

Not bad for an order of 6 each.

Some of the small ones do not react much to movement. The others dart away as soon as I come near.

Will it be ok to not feed the small ones for 3 days?

http://www.novalek.net/vshop/shopexd.asp?id=175

There you have it Janet and every one else. Those fancy breathing bags we have been wondering about. This would cut the cost of shipping considerably. Anyone want to split an order of them?

Looks to be several sizes available.

Dan,
Glad to hear it, thanks for the pic.

I don't see a problem. I had 3 week old fry and not feed them for 3 days before.

Whenever I get new fish in the mail I don't feed for the 1st 24hrs and feed lightly the next 24hrs then feed like my other fish on day 3. What's nice about these Tilapia are I never had to treat them for any sickness which is the standard course for other fish I have received in the mail.

My Tilapia is pigging down on duck weed and Veg pellet food. Never saw a fish eat so much. I was reading up on them and if they over eat it just bypasses their gut and strait out the other end.

Are gold fish flakes ok for these guys?

I fed mine flakes until they were big enough to eat crushed pellets.

Thanks! I just want to get it right on the first shipment of fish

Mathew,

The fish club I belong to has them for sell at cost from time to time. I could see if they have any at this coming up meeting. I could pass them onto anyone who wants some, at cost plus shipping. They only have one size and I don't remember what it was.

Bruce

Bruce,
check it out and and let us know. I know Janet had wanted to ship so fish, MF, as well as the people up in Illinois (the highschool that raises Tilapia), but the shipping is always too expensive. This would make it possible/reasonable as we could ship 2nd or 3rd freight. Much cheaper.

Dan,
How did they come packaged? was the bag in a box? how big? was it a very hefty box? what about the overal weight of the package? measurements of the box (they want to know all this stuff when we go for a freight quote). What size was the bag? Could you have put more fish in there safely? (maybe that is a question for the bag manufacturer, I will check on that)

Mathew

I just checked my Ammonia and today it is much more yellow. I forgot my camera at work, but it looks to be between 0 and .25. It smells like an aquarium today also.

No holding back now Dandee... fish are here and cycling has begun....

Look out fish ..... here we come....

Good to hear Dan.... keep up the test at least daily and post them up....