Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yea, aquamad, he's fast at doing things, but doesn't stop to think it through first. But, he is here to get his life straight, so I have patience.

Bless the man for good intentions. You've done a fantastic job and I look forward to hearing more of your Aquaponic journey in ministry. How exciting!

Mum was told 25 years ago, when given 10 years to live... in prophesy "You will grow to see all your children in their appointed ministries"....

So, though struggling a lot with myself, I believe my 'ministry' may be helping industry and our planet with Aquaponics.

So exciting! So neat to have you here too! Thanks for warming my heart.

Aquaddict, I'll keep you in prayer for the ministry you are called to. In this day, as all days, we do need to help each other. I can see how the aquaponics will be a intigrate part of life. This is a great place to come together and help so many.

Hi guys. I have been really busy with the ministry and can not believe how many posts in just one week. Also with my being so busy I had not watched my 150 gal tank so close. Nitrates and ammonia went high. The fish started acting different, and stopped eating as much. I changed the water out which is what I have been doing until I get them large enough to put in the big tank. It has also been very hot here. Over 100 degrees F at times. The testing shows everything back to normal but the fish have not started eating right. I changed the water 4 days ago. Any suggestions?

On a good note, we have our first batch of fry.

might take a while for them to de-stress? did you mean nitrite when you posted nitrate?

Yes, it was nitrite. At 1:00 in the morning it is hard to say what I would type.

Joyce, some one just mentioned this in another thread, but high ammonia levels can permanantly burn the gills of the fish. If nitrites are high you can pick this even before you do a test, the fish will be "breathing" much much quicker than usual, its becasue the O2 capability is much reduced (like carbon monoxide for humans).

Couple this with high temperatures (low o2) and i wouldn't have been surprised to see fish near the surface of the water trying to get air.

Its amasing how well you get to know your fish, and how small a change you will be able to notice, just "by eye"

Got any new piccies for us?

Steve, that's the crazy thing, the fish seemed fine, were swimming normally, staying under water, not breathing harder, just not eating right. Even the algae was not that bad. But, because they were not eating I decided to test. Well, good thing. A lesson to learn, no matter how well everything else looks, stay on top of maintenance. Pictures will come soon. I almost have the grow beds up and going. Only need a few more days. With it being so hot I try to work early in the morning and late at night.

Fishkeeping was such a big step for me to take I knew nothing of fish or water chemistry... But as Steve said, you will get to know your fish and their behaviour.

The system itself, once established, becomes easier and easier to maintain as the bacteria mature.

Here's a neat story for you Joyce.

Mum was a Pastoral Co-ordinator for Elim Church here. The church has grown and grown over the years and finally new premises were purchased and work began.

Due to Mums illness she did not get to see the new church but recieved many reports of progress. On her deathbed she continued to bless and heal folk who'd come to bless her. She then told us, I'm going to stop by and have a look at the new church before I go up to Heaven.

She died peacefully in her sleep on Monday evening at 10:12.

The next morning the church was opened to let the volunteers in for more work. The clock had stopped. 10:12.

Aquaddict, I have seen simular things happen. Over the last 20 years in ministry I have also experienced many miracles. The Lord can do awesome things and lets us see in the natural what is going on in the spirit.
As for the tank with the fish, this is only temporary and does not have a bacteria system set up to care for it. I have been draining out the water and changing it out 2 X a week. Lots of work, but due to the circumstances in how I obtained so many fish it is working. Only 10 left to get big enough to put in the bigger tank, then everything gets changed around. Today they were much happier and eating better.

New question in continuing my project. I have 2 tarps over the growbeds, see picture in gallery. I am ready to purchase a new cover. Which is better, a plastic cover, or a greenhouse shade cloth. See site I am considering purchasing from: http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/ see plastic coverings.
Update on tanks. Fish that would not eat are now spoiled. They are eating small fingerling food, won't take regular pellots and love tad poles. Growing great and should be ready to move to large tank. Small fry growing well. Found out do not put newley hatched fry in with 2 week old fry. They ate them all. Grow beds all set up and ready to run as soon as new sump pump is installed. Will send new pictures soon.

It is common practise in warmer climates to have greenhouse plastic, and additional shade cloth cover during hotter months.

The question of shade cloth or plastic is also one of climate and season.

Your tarps certainly make a good interim shadecloth.

What are your seasons like there in Florida? I'm thinking always hot but that is likely a media based interpretation.

What do commercial greenhouse growers in your area do to cope with seasonal extremities?

A quick phone around might help you a great deal.

Fry! Nice. What species are you breeding? Tilapia?

Hi Joyce:
How windy does it get there? If you get hurricane winds from time to time maybe a screening would be less trouble?
I like the show tank for the neighbors!

Aquaddict and Dave, the weather here is mostly hot, but in the winter it can get down in the high 30's F, 1 C. Winter months go from November to March. Then days are in the 70's, 21 C, and down in the 40's, 4C at night. This time of year is hurricane season. The last 3 years have been bad, this year so far so good. Most of the time because we are only 7 miles from the ocean we have a nice breeze. If a hurricane even gets close we can have up to 45 miles per hr. winds, or around 72 km per hr.

Now that I have fry I need to rethink of more ways to have small tanks to start them in. The one wall off the shed will be lined with tanks. It is fun to invite friends over at feeding time. The tilapia are fast at going after their food.

Keep posting pictures of the tilapia, please! I am very interested in your experience with them.