Greetings from Central California

[Todd61]

Hello to the APHQ group,

I've been lurking around reading some posts so I thought it was time to join in. There's a lot of info over here and I'm looking forward to checking out microponics and Gary's book. I have a small single bed system that I will add another bed to in the spring. It's a 300 gal fishtank and 80 gal growbed. Very similar to Murray's balcony system. I have also started a small company, Pacific Aquaponics, making the same system I am using. We really wanted a fiberglass system and could not find one in the US so we had some molds made so we could get what we want. We thought others may be interested in the same so we started the business. No false claims or promises just small systems for the backyard/hobby grower. If you want to see it we have a website and Facebook page.
I was really only active on one forum for a while but have recently seen the benefits of reading them all.

Todd

[GaryD]

Hi Todd,

Welcome to APHQ.

I know the system that you're referring to......I designed it.

At the time, it was a system that was intended for sale to schools......but it eventually became the foundation for most of Murray's systems.

I used the system extensively myself.....you can read about it.....here.

How's it working out for you? I posted a photo of your version here somewhere. It looked good.

Gary

[Shane]

Hi Todd,
Welcome

[kellenw]

Hi Todd,

Hope you're doing well. Glad you joined us man. It seems like things are progressing nicely since we last spoke.

[Todd61]

Thanks for the greetings all. Good to hear from you again Kellen. Looks like you're keeping busy as always.

Gary, I hope you like my version of your design. Had no idea you designed it.

We're just keeping Koi in it right now as we hope to move in a few months and then set up another one with some Tilapia. I hope to try hybrid striped bass one of these days.
We have a aquaculturist in northern California who has bred them in captivity so maybe there's hope for Aquaponics.

Todd

[kellenw]

Hi Todd,

Yeah.... busy doesn't even describe right now. hehe. I love what I do, but we have been absolutely swamped. Busy's good though. It means job security. A happy medium would be nice to strike some day though. hehe

HSB rock. I'm a big fan, and I have some (along with some pure white bass and a lone pure striper) in my 14 acre pond. They do require higher DO than a lot of other fish though, so do keep that in mind. They will start stressing badly when water gets into the mid 80's F too. If water is above 80F I do not suggest handling them at all unless you are harvesting them. They are incredibly fragile in warm water, but super hardy in the mid 70's F. Still though, they are extremely fast growers, love a pellet diet and are delicious. The fillets are fantastic. They do need a lot of room because they are linear swimmers by nature rather than dabblers. I would probably suggest having at least a 700 gallon tank if you want to keep some. A few in with some advanced size tilapia will ensure that you have zero successful tilapia recruitment also (they are highly piscavorous but don't have the huge mouths like LMB do), leading to better tilapia growth due to lack of competition from offspring.

Take care bud and hope to see you around often!

[GaryD]

Hi Todd,

Had no idea you designed it.

I'm not surprised.....Murray doesn't acknowledge that very frequently.

I put an image of your system up.......here.....several months ago.

I see that it's fibreglass........don't know where I got the idea that it was HDPE.

It's a tidy little unit.

I found that, when using Australian species, it could only be very lightly stocked. This was subsequently confirmed by Dr Wilson Lennnard as part of his assessment of Murray's systems......I think he rated it at about 5kg/1000 litres.

How have you found it with tilapia? What sort of stocking density have you been able to achieve with them?

Had we persisted with the design, I'd have used the overhead grow bed as a multi-stage filtration tank......to create a little recirculating aquaculture system. That would have enabled its use with any one of several growing systems.

Feel free to link your products to your website.....for the benefit of our US members.

Gary

[Todd61]

Gary,

No Tilapia yet, just Koi. I have about 26 Koi from 4 to 7 inches in the tank now. If they grow too fast I will sell some back to the pet store. I think I'll be OK if I get the other bed added this spring. Thank you so much for your offer to put my link up. Which category would be best?

Kellen,

Thanks for the info on the HSB. Crazy how a few degrees can affect the fish. When I get more room I'll give them a try.

Todd

[GaryD]

Todd,

You can set up your link as part of your signature......that way it follows you wherever you go on the forum. Take a look at Kellen's signature for an example of what you can do.

Feel free to post some photos of your gear, too.......in your own system thread.

Gary