Well, I knew I couldn’t keep it up forever. Was way too tired last night to write anything and I’m not doing too much better today. I’m traveling and I don’t have the near to hand inspiration of the aquaponics garden with me.
I miss eating our fresh salads, eggs and fish.
So, here is a picture from last winter for inspiration. Last Feb I still had the greenhouse but the tomatoes were struggling and suffering from spider mites again by that time.
Feb 7 2010
I’ve been thinking on ideas to grow more natural foods for my fish as well as the chickens and ducks. I don’t think any of them are imminent but I hop to test some ideas out before summer.
Things I have in mind to test;
Minnows
small freshwater shrimp
craw fish
and I’ll probably test out some better bug feeders for the catfish as well.
Sorry this one isn’t longer but it’s about all I’ve got in me tonight. Here is another post you may find interesting Comming Back Around to the Earth
Good night
Hi TCLynx,
What a great blog you have here, you sure do know your stuff. Thanks for taking the time to share your brain-power with us newbies.
I had a question pertaining “natural” food sources. Does algae provide the initial source of Omega 3/6 Fatty Acids (or other fish oil precursors) to the aquatic food chain? I know some insects contain DHA and EPA, but I’m wondering where fish obtain this nutrient in their natural diet (besides from smaller fish). This would seem to be an important consideration in designing a more natural diet for the fish cultured in aquaponics. Any ideas?
Thanks for your time….Jeff
Hi Jeff, Glad you like the blog, thanks for reading and thank you for making a comment that is on topic!
As to the algae providing the Omega 3/6 etc. Um, I don’t really know the answer to that question. I do know that some where lower in the food chain those or the precursors have to be made. I expect much of it would be coming from the plankton and algae that the smaller creatures eat then the fish further up the food chain eat the smaller creatures and fish that mostly eat the plankton and algae.
I’m hoping that if I can give my catfish a more natural diet, that their Omega ratios will be closer to what the wild catfish are rather than the farmed fish. Seeing as farmed fish are fed mostly corn/soy based commercial feed.
I’m still trying to figure this one out too so hopefully we can do some learning together.
Hi TCLynx,
I managed to run across this pdf doc on fish farming before getting to work this morning. It might have some useful info in the use of algae to feed fish, though I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. I did notice that it stated termites are a good fish feed. LOL, you’ve been growing a natural fish feed all along 😉
http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/AD21.pdf
Also, is there a way to register to your blog so I don’t have to enter name and email every time I want to comment? Thanks….Jeff