Charlie's First System

emp1953

A rule of thumb for healthy fish (and plants) is ONE fish for each 25 liters if grow media, That is a worse case where the fish is fully grown to about 600 grams, fingerlings of course can tolerate a higher density. Fish won't be stressed at those densities and will easily survive any power interruption that will take your circulation or aeration off line. But keep in mind that many of these fish species are fast growers.
You can always add more grow beds. and leave the Fish tank the way it is. It looks like you have room to the left and right to stack TWO half barrel GB's like bunk beds. Leave enough space between them for light to get at the plants and they will grow like crazy, Auto siphon GB's are heavy when full so make the framing sturdy enough. I experienced a lot of power outages in the beginning. I got a separate, smaller aerator pump and hooked up to and inverter/car battery set up and I put a cheap solar panel charger ($14.95 usd) on the battery and have been able to get through any power outages, even 3 days for hurricane Sandy. Everything in my freezer had to be thrown out, but my tilapia survived.
Below is a link to my system pictures. Note the construction of the cradles for the half barrel GB's

Good luck

emp

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=22925

Charlie

Emp, you've dug up a 4 year old thread there mate and embarrisingly your preaching to the pope. Ive learnt a thing or two since then hahaha.

1 fish (grown out to 500g) per 25L of wet media is a recommended safe stocking level set as a rule of thumb by BYAP given to newcomers and purchasers of the kit systems. But it is a rule of thumb. When you gain experience stocking levels are measured with mathematical equations. Search the forum for more info.

It is also incorrect to say fingerlings can be stocked in higher densities. Once again it comes back to mathematical equations. A lively large number of trout fingerlings can eat as much as a smaller amount of large trout. Feed ratios, BSA, FCR, BOD are some things worth searching for to further your knowledge.

Below is a link to my systems I have built over the years, feel free to surf through them.

Good luck.

emp1953

Didn't even notice the year in the dateline. Feel a little sheepish. When I retired I tried a small AP system and was hooked. I think it is a disease.

Thanks for the heads up. I've found that you can never stop learning valuable stuff about AP. I guess that's why I jumped on this old thread.

Thanks

Colum Black-Byron

If you look back at the old threads of most of the old hands on here, you'll see a few embarrassing errors.

I had a good arguement with Mr Damage about putting straight tap water into my tank because of chlorine, now I happily top up through the tap water.

BuiDoi

Colum Black-Byron wrote:

If you look back at the old threads of most of the old hands on here, you'll see a few embarrassing errors.

yes, and you don't have to look far.. We do say some silly things in our blissful ignorance..

Quote:

I had a good argument with Mr Damage about putting straight tap water into my tank because of chlorine, now I happily top up through the tap water.

Interesting - I still can't accept a serious top up from the tap..

Even using a serious carbon filter, I can see the reaction to a BIG exchange, but then the pH is likely swinging from 6.3 to 7.3 :support:

..
.

Colum Black-Byron

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20516&p=438081&hilit=chloramines#p438081

Have a read for yourself.

Way too many people top up with just plain water, people who aren't stupid. If they'd had a problem, it'd be preached far harder not to top up with tap water.

There are limits though, but normal topping up isn't an issue.

Tonzz

HAH! the answer is south australian water. drink that and it will cure anything, ....if you can stand it.

Colum Black-Byron

Tonzz wrote:

HAH! the answer is south australian water. drink that and it will cure anything, ....if you can stand it.

I remember when I first moved here, and I walked into the shower, and I just had this massive smell of chlorine. After a while, I think it kills your smell a little, because I can't smell it anymore.

Cool trick I learnt though, if you can smell chlorine, it's chlorine, if you can't smell it, it's chloramines.

Tonzz

Colum Black-Byron wrote:

Tonzz wrote:

Cool trick I learnt though, if you can smell chlorine, it's chlorine, if you can't smell it, it's Cloramaines.

you leave my sister out of this

Charlie

I was one of the poor fellows that fell for the 1 fish per 10L derived from a popular video at that time. If only I had found BYAP first, but I think Ive recovered well since those days.

Sleepe

So you have given up the idea of 3 fish to a beer fermenter for your new system ? :lol:

Charlie

Haha, well that is a rule of thumb Sleepe!

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