Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

no not the new one have posted update in dads thread, just got off a tow truck, alternator died on the toll way while dropping reets into work. might re-start the nday now using my car..................fingers crossed

sorry for the hi-jack TT

Ooops!

Hey TT, just spoke to lyndsay, he's delivering 70 Silvers to my place tuesday they are absolutley huge some pushing 200grms for $2 each.

One of Emir's mates lives in geelong and might also be getting a delivery in about 2 weeks if you're interested in sharing the delivery.............PM Emir

Geebus that's cheap. I would love to have some larger ones in my big tank to get the whole nitrate thing kicking along. Bit scared to put the ones in my spa in. They had ich after i gottem and I just don't want any issues with the babies. Also, big diff in temps b/n the 2 tanks at the mo. Would they eat the babies if all other things were suitable temp wise etc? Or do I have to try and keep them separated in the same tank?

Hmmm just got given another ibc, maybe I could pipe it into the system and keep them in that. Bloke would be a fool not to jump in at that price.
Nobody mentions this to you know who.

never heard of them eating the babies...................

but if you have another IBC them maybe just plumb that into the equation too! 2x the water volume is a good thing.

Yeh a aquarium selling SP at reasonable (yet still retail) prices said they couldn't buy them for that price

Hmmm... what I need to do is get the babies in the ibc somehow, then big ones can go in the big tank. Need to get that water temp up. Need more gbs, need more everything. Help, I think I have a problem.

HSM

Well, got one end of the shadecloth on today. Only me so it was a slow but rewarding job. Folded and tacked along the upper surface of the gh baseboard, the whole width. Then screwed up the middle support steel and worked outwards. This way you are always tensing towards the outside from the middle. Folded and screwed on the curve of the hoop. Used about 8 million screws. Cut gh cloth to shape. Gotta say it looks pretty good but it is a killer on the hands. Photos next week when the job is complete.

Fish on the chow tonight. Phoned the guy I gottem from and he suggested cutting the feed back to evenings only until the water hits about 17C.

I have started to transfer water from the spa setup to the big tank. I move 5-10 watering cans a day, then top up the spa with tank water. Just to get the nitrates happening a bit in the big system. Nitrates in the spa are at nuclear warhead levels, but the fish don't mind, (i do.)

Got the gh film arriving Tuesday. It will run the length of the gh which faces north, over the hoops to the southern side. Then shadecloth on the entry end to match that on the western end. Hopefully that will moderate extreme temps. Should get the heat happening in the fishtank then, and boom growth a few months on.

I must say this has been an extremely rewarding project to date. It has caused me to rethink my career direction a bit. It has been a hands on job, which develops skills and I have got to spend some good time with dad. I could quite happily spend the next 10 years installing systems for others, it's fun, makes sense environmentally and is flexible so can adapt to individual requirements. The people here on this board are generous with advice. We share each others triumphs, tragedies and there seem to be few agendas. My cyber home.

Not to mention that you get to exercise your imagination trying to work out how to maximise space and efficiency!

Looks like a fairly long project is starting to come to fruition TT, keep it up!

Looks like i am paying someone to instal the gh plastic. I simply can't do it properly. Wish me luck trying to get a tradie this side of christmas.

TT any pic's of your progress up to date?

AP

Not yet AP. Got the shadecloth on both ends don't want to plant anything more til plastic goes on, pics then.

Whats up TT?
Any updates? Any new Pics?
Come on man.

Hey LB. Everything is finished BUT for the plastic. Got a tradie here 4 a quote at 8.30 in the morning. The old man and i have had 2 cracks and given up-bloody frustrating. This tradie has been mucking us around a bit but is recommended by Redpaths at Bendigo. I will be putting it on him in no uncertain terms.

Once it is on, water temp goes over 20C and away we go. Fish are doing really well now. Water temps 16-19C atm. Just don't wanna show further pics til the plastic goes on. The whole issue is keeping birds out.

We have nitrate offgassing with our pump setup and some celery is removing whatever nitrates there are. Believe me, I am frustrated too, but have adopted "P" as my motto. Come March you will be telling me to stfu and stop posting so many pics. Thanks for asking and believe me, "I am on it."

Some small morsels to report at last!

Plastic goes on on Monday morning. Monday and Tuesday are tipped to be 33 and 36C so there should be a quick jump in tank temp (currently 19C) of several degrees over the 2 days. 3 guys, 2 hours, done. Will pull the (coarse) celery out and plant summer seedlings next wknd, yay.

Fish news too. I am not normally home for lunch but was today. Strolled out to the shed and saw a heap of fish in my tank! First time! The sun was in just the right spot and there was a 20% patch of the tank in filtered sunshine. Could see the bottom of the tank. The water has a bit of a coppery colour due to the fish food. Anywho, they have increased in size by a good 50% since I got them couple months ago. A few runts (I still throw some dust in for them), the majority a good7-8cm and the shooters a little larger and deeper in the body. A very proud dad.

I was surprised to see how active they were, darting here and there, never still. The return line kicked in whilst I was there and they lined up like little soldiers into the current. They look to be doing really well and i couldn't see any flashing so am pretty chuffed.

I also hung a couple chicken necks in some wire above their tank yesterday. Flies all over it last night, so there should be the odd treat dropping out of the sky in a couple days.

Dasall.