Fish Farming...
 

on a small scale

Some of you are familiar with "catfish in a barrel" ?

well here is the start to my fish venture.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/v...y/image0-9.jpg

4-200 gal tanks set up with plumbing connection.

Stopped at a garage sale last year and the guy ran a Fish business and had shut down. he was asking 30 a tank! I asked what he would do on three he said 25. Well we ended up with a 4rth.

That is a deal folks!

have a 100 gal hour pump.
have most of a frame for a poly house.
need some gravel for the floor.
plastic for the glazing.
few boards for the frame.
and need to figure out the plant beds.

this is going to be a aquaponic set up.

Starting with bluegills but plan on tillapia at some point.
perhaps perch and maybe catfish.

heres the test run of the pump since it sat for a little while.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/v...y/image1-8.jpg

going to incorporate something like this...

diy: home / garden / vertical farming at Greensgrow farm by beelaineo, via Flickr. It's made out of gutters!

in all actuality this is what jump started this project.

I had it in the plans section but the GF saw this and we got talking about it and mentioned that it would be perfect for aquaponics....

Oh well be nice to be able to just go a few steps and net a nice fish dinner!

Fish is your best bet for protein. 1 to 1 feed conversion.

Cool.... good on you.... keep us posted. I have had the same thoughts.

A week or so ago, The Lapeer County Press had a story about a guy raising tilapia in his basement in 150 gallon tanks. He sells the fish also. He said tilapia can't take weather colder than 20º.

One suggestion would be to add larger flat grow beds for each container.
Make each container seperate from the rest.
The gutter arrangement works but does not filter the water like a grow bed.

That is so cool, Downhome. How many fish per tank?

have fun! We are raising catfish in a 300 gallon water tank. Well its been a learning experience! we have a sand filter and the pump that moves the water but had to add a bubbler as they werent getting enough oxygen at the bottom of the tank. We use it to water the garden but we havent had really good luck with them living. What we have is 2 months old and really arent growing that fast.

Way to get Started! Where was this project positioned on your list...or did it just happen?

That would be 20 degree Celsius not Fahrenheit.

Add a venturi to the end of your return, you wont need a bubbler.

but you may also need a bigger pump.

that pump of mine will turn the water in those tanks 7.2 mins.

and its like turning on a Fire hydrant.

added a venturi to the end and it not only hits the bottom but all you can see is air bubbles!

it was a few notchs Down! but ya sort of just happened...

Michigan, huh?

Energy expense is going to be your biggest cost, I think.

For starters, I'd put the tanks on some sort of minimal insulation like foam board and put them in a tight square formation to minimize exposed area in the winter. Better yet, I'd find an insulated shed to put them in.

Then I would make a swamp outside to clean the water and...

I'd better stop now, I think you just committed to some serious work.

Please do a blog on it or keep us posted.

If you haven't already, look for books by/about John Todd & New Alchemy Institute. They built a 'bioshelter' on Cape Cod MA & raised tilapia & vegetables. Main (only?) heat source solar. Just one link:
New Alchemy Institute Publications Online
also:
New Alchemy Institute - Aquaculture - Aquaponics - Bioshelters. - Aquaponic Gardening
another:
http://www.aces.edu/dept/fisheries/e...stemsguide.pdf

was hoping to put in tilapia here but if they won't take the cold that wouldn't work here, anyone know what kinds of fish would take the cold in Michigain (our goldfish have been reproducing at an amazing speed in our large pond)

To answer your question.

You will deal with the Cool v/s Cold dilemma, Warm is kinda out!

Cool water fish are the easiest to keep alive. Hardest to feed and grow slow most of the year. They prosper with water temps of 55F to 75F. Higher or lower they will stop feeding.

These are
bullheads, they don't get big. But are considered one of the best eating catfishes. (For those that don't know it's a cool water catfish)
Bluegill and other sunfish, they will grow slow most of the year. They like the heat, but will tolerate cold water.
Yellow Perch, they don't like to eat pellets. Tho, a strain is available if you want to pay $$$ for them that are pellet "trained".

The big issue is they grow best at what would be high temps for most of the year. Not nearly as hot as warm water fish require. But because of this the growing season is limited. They need good oxygen and clean water to prosper. Up that pump to 1500 to 2000 gph. Or better use an air lift. It's cheaper and will work better in your case. For these fish densities of 1 pound per cubic foot is an acceptable goal. A cubic foot of water is about 7 gallons.


Cold water fish need cold water and will die if the water is above 75 for any time period.. Really high temps in 60's is best. They need the water very clean that is highly oxygenated.

Trout (rainbow and brown) will grow rapidly and take feed easily.
Chars (Artic and Brook trout) need the above but will tolerate very cold water and still have good growth. So they will start growing earlier and stop growing later each year.

Both species grow well in small areas as long as the water is kept very clean. This will be largly impossible without a good source of water to add continously. Add water needs to be at least 10% the per min. flow rate. So if your flow rate is 10 gallons a min. You need to add one "fresh" gallon a min. The number of fish that can be held is 50 pounds per gallon per min or 1 fish per gallon of water in your tank. Which ever is less fish.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

My opinion.


With your tanks. I'd suggest channel cats. They are a warmish water fish. They wont grow well till the water temps are near 70F. But they will tolerate some cold. You will need to protect them from really colds temps and frozen tanks. No fish deal with frozen solid tanks so keep this in mind. The tanks regardless of the type of fish will need to be protected from extremes of your winter. How you manage that will be the most difficult part of your build.

Good Luck.

We have a 1260 gph pump and with 300 gallons of water in the tank it will not hit the bottom. Until we added the bubbler the water was never clear, now it is. plus the amonia build up on the bottom of the tank now with the bubbler we have no amonia!

Good luck. ;)

There is a company coming to our town, that somehow is able to farm raise edible shrimp, for the market.

My problems is that I'd eat all of the profits.

Your biggest expense will be electricity for the pump, it will also be expensive to keep the fish warm in the winter. Catfish will not grow when the temperature drops below 18 c. Yellow perch can be trained to eat pellets, especially if you start them at a small size (3-5 cm.) but they still grow fairly slow. Tilapia will grow fast but they die if the temperature drops below 15 c.

Any fish will work if you don't go for heavy stocking densities or fast growth.

Looking forward to reading about your success in fish farming!

I was thinking Shrimp too.

How about Hybrid Bluegill,they get Big pretty fast?

big rockpile

Another link:
http://www.thegreencenter.net/pdf/solaraqua.pdf
tilapia & bullhead catfish

added a venturi to the end and it not only hits the bottom but all you can see is air bubbles!

you missed that I GUESS?

Yellow perch or Bluegill. ;)

The number of fish is related to the amount you can filter the water.
The system you showed will not provide the filter needed for very many fish.

Not sure if thats to me or freeb...

Again this will be a Aquaponics system.

thats just the start, tanks for the fish.

The GF already wants more tanks.

This is going to be a very intensive fish culture, I've already decided I want
three times the beds as tanks. the recommended ratio is 2 to 1.

the four tanks there will need 60'x4' of bed 5" deep.

there will also be hanging pots with drip emitters.

the grow bed are the last filter in the system.

first is a solids filter, graduated sand, gravel. I think a bit aof hay at the top would also be advantageous.
then A UV filter.
I need one more tank and that will be the bio filter. it should be able to handle 2000 gallons.
Finally hitting the grow beds.
Oxygenated in a separate tank then back to the fish tanks.
repeat.

If you have not seen what a venturi can do on a return line from a pump go find the video on you tube.

I plan on running the venturi tube to a home made ozone generator.
so the venturi will only suck Ozone which is a super oxidizer.

The site you showed in your first post is gutters. These really don't filter the water very much. If you depend on them you will need aditional filters.
Using grow beds will eliminate the need for additional filters.
If you have grow beds you will not need the solids filter or the UV filter. These are just added costs that will not do any good.

It is much better to keep the whole thing simple. Less cost, less problems, and less chance of mistakes.

The only thing you really need is the fish tanks, pump, and grow beds.
Gutters can be added for additional plants but they do not filter much out.

I have 4 systems including a 1000 gallon tank, grow beds, wicking beds, hanging baskets, and gutters. Certain plants will do better in each type of containers.
If you keep the tanks seperate you can grow several types of fish. Also reduces the chance of total loss in case of leaks or disease.

Many times people add too much to their aquaponics system. This adds quite a bit to the cost and upkeep and does not help grow either fish or plants.
You will have plenty of oxygen for the fish from the returing water from the grow beds. If you stock enough fish that they need more oxygen it is simple to add a small pump to the fish tank.

If you choose the gutters you will need continual flow. The grow beds do not need continual flow.

Just my opinion but you should start small and work your way up. Actually doing aquaponics is much different than reading about it. You will have problems. It is much cheaper and less frustrating if you only have small mistakes until you decide what type of system you really want.

Right now I have 4 different types of systems. Each one works better for certain types of fish and certain plants.

I DIDNT miss it i dont need pressure regulator on the end as i have reduced the size to add pressure. I seen your pic and mine sprays out alot harder than that pic, but what ever. Just letting you know what worked for us. I can see air bubbles HALFWAY down in 300 gallons of water.

I aint knocking you just sharing.
Sorry if you took me wrong.
if you find that vidio you'll see you do not need the bubbler.

the venturi isn't to regulate pressure.

it adds air to the water, as the water flows by it sucks air, the air forms bubbles. no need for a separate bubbler.
the faster the flow the more air.

looks like a pot on over boil.

pretty sweet actually.

if I can borrow a video camera I will tape it and put it on you tube.

thats actually too small a hose for the pump it does reduce flow.

but that pic is just the end of the hose showing some flow.

I sear it was rated 100 gpm, when I timed it,transfer from one tank to another it worked out to 50 gpm, thats 3000 and hour, but again that poly is to small a hose for it. its maybe 3/4 inside diameter, full flow needs 2" I think.

ya'll aint seen nothinh yet, so hold the opinions, advice is valued but keep in mind I'm no spring chicken and this is not my first rodeo. I also don't go swimimg with out testing the water first... not being mean just saying....

You shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. There has already been lots of research into aquaponics.

The main thing is to keep it simple and don't lift the water.

There should be plenty of free info on the "RAC" sites. That stands for "regional aquaculture centers". Try googling NCRAC.

Not reinventing Fish... fine tuning may be a better term.

heres a couple vids with venturi aeration...



who needs a stinking bubbler....LOL

A pump like that will cost a fortune to run for any time period each day. The other thing is your plants need the oxygen more than the fish you plan to grow. So who needs an air pump. You! :p

You only need to move the water a few inches up to your grow bed. Then it will gravity back to the tanks. A small air pump at a power rating of a dozen watts will easily do the work. The transfer is 20% air / 80% water when working well the higher you wish to pump the less water you move. It will also areate at the same time. So you just need the one pump.

Here is a simple demo...

The main thing that causes many people interested in aquaponics to fail is the equipment they buy because they think it will really make some difference.
The more equipment the more the start up cost.
The more the equipment the more likely there will be a failure.
The more equipment the more likely the loss of both fish and plants.

stan have the pump already. you did not check out the venturi videos did you?
that's why I said you don't need the air pump.

Yes the plants need oxygen, but only at night or if they sit 24/7 in solution.

A flood bed will aerate every cycle.

I'm doing a nutrient film system though, there will be plenty of oxygen in the beds.

yes it does cost a few bucks to run, but the return should be worth it.

I called the guy I got the tanks from he has 10 left, those will be added to the system also. so I'm going to have over 2000 gallon capacity.

he is also throwing in filter medium for the Bio filter I'm putting together.
perhaps some other stuff.

I've done hydroponics since I was a kid, every system you could Imagine, some rather large set ups too.Both Indoor and out. With great success. I wasn't growing maters either, lets just call it misspent youth.

I've also managed a good few Aquariums over the coarse of my life.
As well as a pond or two. with the ponds though it was more mother nature doing the work.

the larger the system the bigger the buffer in either system, hydroponics or aquaculture.

ever wonder why a fish grows to its environment?

Its not so much space being the limiter as much as Food,Temp, and the main key Oxygen. yes they may survive with low quantity but they will not thrive.

one study on Oxygen levels and growth.
http://www.unuftp.is/static/fellows/...ovita07prf.pdf

I'm of the school go big or stay home...

This will be a Ultra Intensive operation.

think I have the layout figured out.

the poly house will be 30 L, I Originally was going 24.
4' beds the length of the building.
Hanging pots with drip emmiters hung in three rows down the middle and the tanks are getting a surround that will have a ledge for additional potted plants. perhaps planks across the middle for more.

I've got propane heaters and a connection there. I plan on a rocket stove though to supplement heat,woods free!
the floor will be a foot of pea gravel for additional thermal mass.

besides the tanks,bed and poly house the only equipment really will be the heater (Have)
pumps (Have and need one) the bio filter is just another tank like the ones I will use for grow out. a bit of plumbing. I'm good to go.

Never fear when a Red Necks Near. We gitter done.

this is a summer long project.
And the 30 foot poly house is phase one.
I figure 4 tanks per poly house.
I will have 14 tanks total,12 grow out, 1 used as the bio filter and a spare.

Sounds like you got it figured.

You might be able to do well with crawfish in a system like this. We once considered buying a farm that was set up with ponds for crawfish, and the owner had a flourishing business. He was selling because he wanted a bigger operation.

well hears a sketch of whats been kicking around the Noggin.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/v...greenhouse.jpg

its more or less expandable...

Raising Catfish in tanks
 

About to begin a catfish raising project here on our farm. First of all - have a fantastic spring down the hill from the cabin. Have a ram pump (Rife) going 24 -7 - 365 which pumps fresh water a very long ways up to a 1700 gallon tank at the highest point of the farm. Everything is gravity fed from the tank (all underground lines) to the barn, garden, kennels, and cabins. On the grid at the cabin so thinking about placing the 300 gallon tank within 100 ft of the cabin so will have electric available for the air pumps and submersible heater for the tank. The ram pumps around 1200 gallons every 24 hours so we recycle the big holding tank daily - running off extra water to the pastures and garden - which could easily go to the fish tank. It's the middle of Sept to start this project so the first couple of months should not be difficult - but worried about Jan. and Feb. in Kentucky.

Has anyone used a submersible deicer in their tanks? Will a 700 watt deicer be enough to keep the young fish alive when its cold? Will be able to cycle the fish tank daily (at least 300 gallons of fresh spring water - probably at no lower than 40 degrees coming in on the coldest days). If the fresh water is colder - will just use the air pump for oxygen I guess during a hard freeze. What do you think?

Gonna start with 50 fingerlings in the 300 gallon tank. Have additional tanks available and as they grow - could move some to other tanks next spring.

Is it a good time to start a catfish project with everything here in line?

Will make my own food for them out of soybean meal, corn gluten meal, fish meal, etc minerals. Have begun raising worms for their feed so will hopefully get them to eat just worms soon.

So much to learn - any help is so appreciated. If all goes well, thinking about setting up trout below the spring head next year and Prawns????
thanks, sjp

well I'm a bit envious (not really) of your resource there.
I would love to have a stream,ram and hills here.
Would be so Advantageous.

You would be much better off providing some sort of housing for the tanks.
You could then regulate temperature.
Something that can make use of solar gain.
Fish are cold blooded and depend on temperature to regulate their systems.
Whens its cold they do not eat much if at all, which means no to slow growth.
In fact they can die from eating to much in cold temps as the food ferments in the gut.

If you have enough flow, a venturi in you delivery line will add plenty of oxygen and the bubbles should keep it form Icing over.

Add in sufficient flow I do not see Ice being a issue.

Could you add in a additional ram or even two?

you only have 50gph, max flow as is.
I assume its also used for other uses also.
if you devoted all the flow to your one tank you have a turn over every 6 hours.
a faster turn over would be better.

Your system sounds like it will be open, where mine is closed.
both have issues and potential issues.

Bio security in a open system is lacking but regulation is easy.
and reverse for a closed or recirculating system.

That is a start to a very nice learn as you go project.Tanks for the info and keep us posted.

Cant Imagine why anyone would go thru this much work to raise catfish...LOL To be honest I cant imagine why anyone would eat a catfish , sorta like eating vulture just not as good.

Be that as it may Id think if you do want catfish any mudhole would be fine, Raising them in spring water would seem to need a LOT of water heating.

In fact for all the systems Ive seen I think I would be sure to add several inces of hard foam insulation UNDER the tanks.
There was a threat here about raising prawns once...YUMMY!

I cant find the thread on prawns , It had some great pictures. IF I rember right they would get a BAG of about 20,000 tiny prawns and put them in a shallow pond to feed emout. there were some great pictures in it too!

You have to do some homework first or you will have more problems than necessary.
You have to pick which aquaponic configuration you would like.
Good sites for info (check the forum area)
Aquaponic Gardening - A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners
Practical Aquaponics Discussion Forum. A place to discuss every aspect of Aquaponics. - Powered by vBulletin

A good tilapia manual (there is a dwn load pdf. button)
Excerpt From Hatchery Manual

If you can stay in touch with the person that ran the fish buis that you purchased the equipment from could be very handy.

Make sure you fully understand how start the water cycle in the start up.
Fully cycle the water and prove it to your self, then ad some cheap fish and build from there.
jim
jim