Crazy things forum members do

[Burnsy]

We need a new section for us environmentally sustainable timber millers and the other things we do

Got a couple of new GB tubs from the big B but no time to plumb them up this weekend as I had to finish the chook house as the chooks were on their way. Not quite finished yet but livable for the week while I head off to school camp. All I had to buy was six bolts, all the other tin, flashings and fasteners were left from the house build. Bit sloppy on the construction and did not take the time to line up the tek screws - wish I had

Daughter gave it the thumbs up.

[pjt]

OK no worries...
Derek, the worms u added, How do they go being flooded every 45 mins? Can they swim? Sorry bad joke Do they move up to the surface? The no soil thing,
My guess is because of all the unknown elements that come with soil, myriad organisms, some good, some bad and that is the reason a hydro/aquaponics system uses an inert substance such as gravel. Does a gravel bed slowly become more like a soil bed, it would take years tho (umm thousands prolly) but the action of worms and roots and the gravel breaking down.
What about the elements/minerals that are present in a good organic soil that may or maynot be present in our aquaponics system...phosphourus,potassium and all the trace elements, I have heard that food grown in a hydroponics system just isn't the same, A bit like as my FIL says (woodturner, but we won't hold that against him) when he copares town trees (well watered) to bush trees. Does the food u have grown compare well with soil grown? Would some plants do better than others?
Is there anyway of having buffering systems, within the system? in the times when u only wanted to harvest either fish or plants, somwhere to divert the excess ammonia or vice versa. I spose its really a numbers game, take one fish or take ten and it has a larger impact on the system.
Just a few thoughts...
Peter

[pjt]

We need a new section for us environmentally sustainable timber millers and the other things we do

Got a couple of new GB tubs from the big B but no time to plumb them up this weekend as I had to finish the chook house as the chooks were on their way. Not quite finished yet but livable for the week while I head off to school camp. All I had to buy was six bolts, all the other tin, flashings and fasteners were left from the house build. Bit sloppy on the construction and did not take the time to line up the tek screws - wish I had

Daughter gave it the thumbs up.

I'm sure the chooks won't mind, but not sure the rest of us can let that slide.
And good reuse of flyscreen door/s
Peter

[rhancock]

The info here on Aquaponics is great. I've been thinking about how to fit it into my current place, but we're planning to move in the next couple of years, so I think it'll have to wait until we get to the new house. In the meantime I'll keep collecting information.

Nice work on the chook shed, Burnsy. I've had chooks for about 4 years now, and just getting around to building the 'proper' chook run. I finally started work this weekend and we've got a day off on Wednesday so should make some progress now.

There's a link to my plans on Backyard Poultry here, and my chook photos http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x...ock213/Chooks/, but here's one to look at now:

[derekh]

The worms don't seem to mind being flooded every hour and they don't come to the surface.

The gravel has several purposes: allows for free drainage, lots of micro-crevases and surface area to support the bacterial growth (nitrosomner, nitrobacter) and provides a firm anchorage for root systems. Generally the only additive required is Chelated Iron, I add a teaspoon to 1000 litres once a week. Some people have suggested putting nails in their GBs for iron and others suggest banana skins to raise raise potassium levels. I do keep a ice cream container of shell grit in the water to act as a pH buffer.

I try to not get too involved in the science. Provided you have a sound design that doesn't dump water overboard the fish / plant ratios and chemical imbalances can be altered later. Beware of any insect control products, Derris Dust maybe organic but is lethal to fish. I use Dipel for caterpillar control or garlic sprays.

Finally, thankfully my chooks haven't thought of jumping up onto the GBs. They only pick at the overhanging pieces of water-cress, etc.

cheers
Derek

[Gaza]

what type of fish do you guys "farm", how many months is it from when the fish goes into the tank until it is plate size.

[Sigidi]

So after what seems like many years since we put Silver Perch in our farm dam, only to have them flooded out about 7 months later, we once again have Silver Perch on farm...





I found a fish hatchery which had a late spawning this year so these 'fingerlings' where about 6 months old and where a minimum of 50mm, some up to 125mm (my brother in law got 2 of those larger guys - might have even been 150mm) Anyway, we paid a little more, 50c per fish more to have the larger 'fingerlings' and we asked for 100, but I think we got around the 120 mark and some of my guys where up near 100mm





Ross, (the hatchery guy) was terrific answered all of our q's even though he often had 3 at a time to respond too he was a bit concerned about the number of fish in one bag, so he split them into two bags to give them a better chance of getting home safely.



As soon as we got home I couldn't wait to get them into our tank, but made sure I took the time to acclimatise them as best I could to their new home.

I'm a bit bummed as my water is so dirty at the moment and they where much harder to see than I expected, but yesterday afternoon, we (my youngest and I) where lucky enough to spot them for the first time in our tank and thankfully it looks like we have a heap of them still, so fingers crossed they are all doing wonderful Dory (from Finding Nemo) impressions - "just keep swimming, just keep swimming"

Well I decided I couldn't wait for the water to 'naturally' clear so I made a water filter in an attempt to 'clean' the water, it isn't doing as good a job as I expected but it is certainly taking dirt from the water.

[Sigidi]

Gaza, there are a few species which seem to be used; Barramundi, Jade Perch, Golden Perch, Silver Perch, Sleepy Cod, Australian Bass, Black bream and trout.

Each species has it's benefits and drawbacks, but I know some who do Trout for the winter - as Trout love the cold and thrive in it, then swap out to Barra, or Perch through summer.

If you've got a good balance, any of them will grow amazingly fast in their respective 'growing' season. I've seen 40-50 plate size Barra harvested at the end of a Perth summer...

[Gaza]

If you've got a good balance, any of them will grow amazingly fast in their respective 'growing' season. I've seen 40-50 plate size Barra harvested at the end of a Perth summer...

wow.

when i was at school i built a hydroponic for sicence class, it was pretty easy and fun. i had two differnt set ups one using a foam box filled with growing medium the other was a pumped system where the plants where in a medium suspended in a PVC pipe.

that was a few years back now.

i will head over to the other website and have a look around.

[Johncs]

The worms don't seem to mind being flooded every hour and they don't come to the surface.

On occasion I've dug up worms for fish bait. Often, they're under water. Additionally, works are a regular part of fish's diet. Either the fish go on land to find them, or they find them in the water.

[Johncs]

A while ago, I found (then lost) an article about this on the wibbly wobbly. The major point of difference from what's discussed here is the circulation.

This system has three levels.

The bottom has Fish.

The top is a Storage tank.

Between are the growing beds.

I don't recall how often/long the pump ran, but it pumped from Fish to Storage.

Preventing storage from raining continuously was the valve assembly from a cistern. Storage had an overflow pipe, a fairly wide one. It contained a Coke bottle (probably Pepsi would do as well) anchored by a "chain" to the valve. A some point, the overflow filled sufficiently to "pull the chain and storage floods Growing.

Growing simply drains to Fish.

[Sigidi]

yeah there are heaps of different ways to 'automatically' set things up to drain or fill or pump out or pump in - up to imagination really.

Our water has cleared up something fantastic, I can see the little silvers hanging out on the bottom of the black plastic lined 'tank' at night time!! (with lights on) but I swear the fish mush have doubled!!! Good on ya Mike - it's a highlight of my day feeding the silvers and taking five to chill out

[Burnsy]

Al, how are your fish going? I finally got some time to do some work at home and got the home system progressed from the temp setup it was. Just need to find the money for a couple of the BYAP shop off the shelf grow beds now.

[Sigidi]

Hey Mike that is such a great Pic!!!! looks like those little fish where in pretty safe hands!!

My Silvers don't seem to be growing maybe it's cause I look at 'em everyday, but I'm bummed they haven't exploded out the tank yet... I know it has only been about 3 months, but I want big bloody fish!!!!

[Burnsy]

Hey Mike that is such a great Pic!!!! looks like those little fish where in pretty safe hands!!

My Silvers don't seem to be growing maybe it's cause I look at 'em everyday, but I'm bummed they haven't exploded out the tank yet... I know it has only been about 3 months, but I want big bloody fish!!!!

Mate didn't anyone tell you silvers are a couple of year proposition, that is why everyone wants barra and trout - single season grow out if you buy the barra at a decent size to start with, trout will do 50 grams to 500 grams in one season.

We are considering a second tank at school just for silvers, just keep pumping new fingerlings in as you harvest the large fish out in an ongoing manner.

It is a great picture, Maya loves the koi and has to feed them every day, they are so tame they will come up and nibble her fingers or her toes if she dangles her feet in to "kick kick" she thinks it is hilarious.