Anyone raise fish for food?

[alicefelldown]

http://www.growingpower.org/aquaponics.htm

Fish such as Tilapia and Yellow Perch are raised in a large tank of water. Growing Power uses Tilapia and Yellow Perch in our aquaponics systems because they are relatively easy to raise and because we can market them to restaurants, market basket customers, and they are a favorite in ethnic markets.

By using gravity as a transport, water is drained from the fish tank into a gravel bed. Here, beneficial bacteria break down the toxic ammonia in fish waste to Nitrite and then to Nitrogen, a key nutrient for plant development. On the gravel bed, we also use watercress as a secondary means of water filtration.


The filtered water is pumped from the gravel bed to the growing beds, where we raise a variety of crops from specialty salad greens to tomatoes. The water is wicked up to the crops roots with the help of coir, a by-product of coconut shells and a sustainable replacement for peat moss.

Finally, the water flows from the growing beds back into the tank of fish. Growing Power uses this type of aquaponics system because it is easy to build and only needs a small pump and heat to get the system running.​

 

[blueskylen]

we have a spring fed pond that always has either a small trickle to large stream of fresh water running into it. we have had no problem keeping fish alive and have had trout,bluegill,bass, and crappie in it for over 5 years. i think that the main thing is keeping the water fresh and cool - and not a lot of algae or underwater plants taking the oxygen out of the water.

Good Luck

 

[SillyChicken]

Quote:
Well... you're partially right.... aquatic plants add oxygen during the day, and take it out at night. You need a healthy balance of plants because they are also benefical cover for young fish and source of food supply for the critters, bugs etc that the baby fish or feeder fish need to eat..to feed the bigger fish.

Most transfers of oxygen happens at the surface of the water. So lilly pads can even be harmful if there is too many on the surface.

Water movement, and aeration will be the most important things to have in a pond. This helps keep the water cooler... Hot water doesn't hold as much oxygen.

If you have winters. You'll have to have a way to keep the ice open if you don't have a really deep pond, so the gasses in the water can escape.

 

[CoopCrazy]

I have looked into an Aquaponics system a few times.. Circulation and Filrtration are key..