I have managed to keep my Barramundi going over winter by insulating the tank and using a couple of 300w aquarium heaters. Not sure about the power bill but …
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7 Responses to My Backyard Barra Aquaponics
The best aquaponic system is based on the passive floating chinampa system, combined with floating caged water hyacinths to prevent eutrophication, floating caged azolla to fix nitrogen fertilizer and provide additional fish food to the free floating algae feeding the fish. The bottom is covered with a mixture of diatomaceous earth and zeolites for both are highly porous to accommodate the required bacteria to turn wastes into fertilizer to sustain the algae-eating fishes and other plants.
Yep though have no fish at the moment and the grow bed is dormant due to re landscaping and fencing my back yard. I have purchased a second hand Solar Hart hot water panel from Gumtree and plan to use that instead of poly to pump water through for heat so hope to get it set up and running again soon.
Heating bill was minimal. I insulated the sides of the tank grow bed with silver bubble insulation from bunnings. I floated polystyrene lids and a boogie board to reduce heat loss. I bought 60m of black retic poly from bunnings and a pond pump that would push a 3.6m head and put it on timer to pump over the roof of my shed on sunny days. It generated enough heat that the bar heaters were hardly used. I had them set to come on if the temp dropped below 26C but had 28-29C on sunny winter days.
hi, things are dying off a bit at the moment (tomatoes) but had an awesome harvest, still have 5 barra in the tank all around 50cm, getting ready for planting new crop, I will post more video then
The best aquaponic system is based on the passive floating chinampa system, combined with floating caged water hyacinths to prevent eutrophication, floating caged azolla to fix nitrogen fertilizer and provide additional fish food to the free floating algae feeding the fish. The bottom is covered with a mixture of diatomaceous earth and zeolites for both are highly porous to accommodate the required bacteria to turn wastes into fertilizer to sustain the algae-eating fishes and other plants.
darthvader5300
October 2, 2013 at 9:39 am
Yep though have no fish at the moment and the grow bed is dormant due to re landscaping and fencing my back yard. I have purchased a second hand Solar Hart hot water panel from Gumtree and plan to use that instead of poly to pump water through for heat so hope to get it set up and running again soon.
michaelsmart61
October 2, 2013 at 9:57 am
Some good idea’s there hey. So you’re still into it it seem’s.
John Moore
October 2, 2013 at 10:18 am
Heating bill was minimal. I insulated the sides of the tank grow bed with silver bubble insulation from bunnings. I floated polystyrene lids and a boogie board to reduce heat loss. I bought 60m of black retic poly from bunnings and a pond pump that would push a 3.6m head and put it on timer to pump over the roof of my shed on sunny days. It generated enough heat that the bar heaters were hardly used. I had them set to come on if the temp dropped below 26C but had 28-29C on sunny winter days.
michaelsmart61
October 2, 2013 at 10:30 am
Nice Michael! Where’s the location? Im Sydney, would love to do baby Barra but I reckon the heating bill will kill me:)
bulleuston76
October 2, 2013 at 11:10 am
hi, things are dying off a bit at the moment (tomatoes) but had an awesome harvest, still have 5 barra in the tank all around 50cm, getting ready for planting new crop, I will post more video then
michaelsmart61
October 2, 2013 at 11:41 am
great setup, lets see some more.
Michael Barnabas
October 2, 2013 at 11:45 am