Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Joyce,

I hope your tilapia go well.

My head reels when I think of you keeping them! They are a prohibited species here in Queensland. When I was at college we would have field trips to go and poison dams that were infested with them! They have even had unofficial bounties on them!

But, having said that, I hear they are good eating!

I can see why they are a prohibited species. Murray was very serious in a much earlier site about this. They are however very good eating and because they are so hardy, with my busy life style, even if the water gets alittle out of control, they still bounce back fine. I have seen them live in some horrible conditions, although, because of the water, I'm not sure if I would have wanted to eat them. After I learn more I may want to try something else.

Joyce,


Our systems are very similar. I will post pics as soon as possible. Florida is the best climate for Aquaponincs I think. Have you been to the Epcot exhibit? We were there this summer and they were pretty dumfounded when I suggested they take thier water from the monster tilapia tank they have and cycle it through thier hydroponics....hehe. Nice work Joyce.

Mike

Joyce,

I am usually fast to post and slow to read but I wanted to comment on your fish stress. The DO and ammonia relationship is critical as well. It is possible that with the increase water temperature you had as the ambient temperature increased lowered the DO and allowed ammonia to temporarily spike. Steve is correct, fish rebound after a spike can be slow depending on the severity of spike induced stress. I feed less during warm spells, and keep stocking population low enough to absorb a spike. Producing fry and fingerlings in the same system can also increase sytem demand for DO and increased filtration. Do you have fingerlings and fry in the same water as stock tank?

Hi Michael, good to meet another Tilapia "farmer". The stress was only temporary, and I had the first batch of fry from that tank today. I knew the females were making nests, and have been looking for small ones, but it took a friend to spot them. Must be like watching a pot waiting for it to boil. I have seperate tanks for various sizes. When they reach 4" they go in the stock tank. I learned the hard way, don't put new fry in with 2 week old fry, they ate them, fast, so now there are 2 tanks, one for new fry, and one for 1/4" fry. I am in the process of also setting up a water garden, which also happens to grow out fish. My stock tank is 500 gal., the breeding tank is 150 gal., 2 20 gal fry tanks, this will increase to 4, 1 10 gal for tad poles, a treat for the breeding tank. There is a 500 gal, 165 gal and 70 gal tanks in the water garden. Since the system is not that old, over stocking is not a problem. There are 5 full adults and around 200 6" in the stock tank. I also have a 300 gal tank waiting for the next project. I am thinking of doing a barrel system, much like the one on Joels site. My husband wants to look at a similar system put together by Travis W. Hughey, see http://www.northernaquafarms.com/knowle ... Manual.pdf
Looking forward to chatting with you.

Joyce, don't tease with a title like "water garden" ! Pictures please please please

The sump pump was installed last night for the return water of the grow beds. I will get pictures today. They only thing is that when the flow comes on it comes with such force, I want to know if a fish happens by at the time will it get hurt?

Joyce, i doubt it. Little buggers might get a fright though

PS is it day there now? I'll stay up and wait for the pics if it is its 10pm here

LOL... and you said I was subtle with MY hints

Steve, it is 8:25 AM here. How late do you stay up?

I'll answer for him Joyce. He is a Vampire, never to bed before 1 am, just look at the time of his posts LOL. Quickly wolf down your brekkie and get the camera out. If you can do it in the next half hour, I'll still be up. Unlike Steve, I need sleep to function LOL

its not so much late as early... past midnight

I am going to try. My camera is a point a shoot. It also had a large memory, and my computer tec, Will, has a good nice camera, guess who has the memory now. We all live at the same facility here at the ministry, so it is time for Will to get up.
PS What day is it there, are you Saturday night, or Sunday. We are Sunday morning.

Bucket of water should sort Will out. That's how we wake up the late sleepers here in OZ!

It currently 10:53 sunday night here, Joyce.
And yes monya answered correctly, before 1am is rare........strangely enough, the week ends are usually early night for me........work it out .....i can't!

C'mon will, rise and shine mate, there's piccies to be taken LOL