Raising Catfish in a barrel!! 11-03-2011 UPDATE!!

[dkosh]

Thanks loriMN that is good info and makes sense to me. I'm still excited to hear how it works and to see the pics.

 

[knjinnm]

Quote:
You will still need to add air with the concentration of fish you are planning.
Also catfish are omnivores so at some point the larger cats will eat the smallest fish.

 

[gmendoza]

Im adding same size fish,not adding any new fish til these are all harvested.

Here is my youtube of it w/o catfish in it:

Its 9;37 pm and I already know how to make a homemade co2 pump.

New film will be on Sunday with pump.

 

[knjinnm]

Quote:
Why do you want to add co2?
You want as much oxygen and fresh water as possible to break down waste products. I realize you're starting with the same size fish but they're not going to grow at exactly the same rate, so expect the smaller fish to be eaten by the larger fish. If a catfish can get something in its mouth it will try to eat it.

 

[chickenRob]

seems like a good idea but wont they eat each otherin there? an what are ya feedin them?Bob

 

[colowyo0809]

my question is, what are you planning on doing with these fish? are you feeding them to your family or selling? if your selling do you already have a market/demand for them? In either case, will this be enough to offset the cost of the extra water? If you are looking to replace the water every 24 hours your looking at least at 1700 gallons ever month. On the other hand, if you could set this up so your outflow on the bottom fed into those soaker hoses and you ran those to the garden(s) and used a ballast set up like a toilet so it doesn't fill when its full but does when it isn't I suppose that would help on the water consumption, and you have really nutritious water for your plants

I look forward to seeing how this goes, definitly keep us posted!

 

[gmendoza]

ok here it goes:

First question knjinnm:

I will be growing fresh water aquatic plants in there as well to MAKE oxygen for the catfish.I know catfish are omnivours,Im aware of that and am prepared for loss.Everything is trial and error,but that dont scare me.We try,we fail or suceed,we grow and move on.If all my catfish get eaten by another larger one,then at least Ill have one big one left.Not a total loss.



Second question chickenRob:

If they do,they do. Its MY experiment. MY loss or gain. Just sit back and watch. I will be feeding them catfish food.


Third question colowyo0809:

Planning on eating the catfish if it all works well. The cost is only 1500 gallons extra per month = 5 or 6 dollars more here in rock hill,sc.
Not much cost at all.


Any more questions?

 

[silkiechicken]

Aquatic plants use oxygen at night when they respire. Actually, all plants make co2 at night because they have mitochondra just like us, and their chlorophyll don't work in the day hours. To make them always make oxygen, you'll need to put grow lights over it at night. Pumping in co2 into planted tanks is pretty common so you might look into a regulator that will adjust the co2 input day vs night based on the dissolved co2 content.

Also might think about adding a dechlorinator if your city ads chlorine.

I'm interested in seeing how this works out. Like many food animals vs pet animals, food fish aren't always going to be held to the same standards as pet fish. Like battery hens vs pet hens, one "requires" .8 sq foot each, while the other "requires" 4 sq ft inside with an additional 10sq feet outside.

Pet fish can get just as spoiled as any other pet. I know someone who has an 18 inch long pleco in a 125 gallon tank all by himself because he didn't know that it would grow up so big and fast at the time. They were one who felt a new pet is a pet for life and didn't want to give it back to the pet store so spent a few hundred for a 3 dollar fish.

 

[colowyo0809]

Nope, that answers my questions

I'm curious to see how this works out, cause I'd like to do something similar if it works for you! Or, turn 1/4 acre in the back into a pond, toss up some trees and such and call it good. You know, whatever works

p.s. I tried viewing that video, but it said it was for private viewing only?

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Sounds good to me!!

I'll be watching to see how it goes...
I like me some fried cat fish..