[scubadude]

Mariculture = culturing of marine (SW) species
Aquaculture = culturing of FW species
Aquaponics = combination of aquaculture and hydroponics

I would love to discuss this further but would love to see others interest in it as well. I am in research on several areas for my next greenhouse and have considered the above 3 areas. I do suppose reeftanks w/ fuges could be considered a form of aquaponics. pictures, links, layout designs, and just plain ole chat on the topics are encouraged and welcome. Some of my considerations have been strongly persuaded to indigenious species to my area or otherwise adapted and thriving to my climate. I see this as being more effecient in many ways than coral propagation and am considering this as a financial supplement for coral propagation and others that want to get into it on a different level then just a small tank or two.

Some species that have my attention right now are

Tilapia
Freshwater australian lobster
White pacific shrimp
...and even alligators

One of my first concerns is having SW species and FW species in the same greenhouse, not to mention laws and regulations according to the Dept. of Agric. concerning this matter. I have recently become freinds with a local Tilapia/Australian lobster farmer that is successfully farming (or was before the hurricanes) these two species. I have pics too if anyone is interested?

[Elmo18]

Hi Rocky. I'd love to see pics of the tilapia farms. My father has worked in Indonesia and Egypt, and other places whereby he was in charge of making tanks, plumbing etc of the culture of 'protein' fish (i.e. tilapia, etc).

I think it would be great if you two can talk. He has a lot of experience on large scale projects... USAid projects....etc and has worked in suppliers located in Bali (fish and corals).

Let me know, but I'd like to see the florida tilapia farms

- Elmo

[scubadude]

Ok the first picture is the holding pond. All water is pumped from approx 100' well and into this holding pond and yes there are fish in there. The second picture is the actual greenhouse, this is where he does his fingerling grow outs. and more controlled newer species as well as some broodstock. The third picture is the natural wetland at the end of this strip is wild rice being grown which he actually uses for food to grow an Australian FW lobster variety. Water from well to holding pond (this gives more O2 saturation for the water which is needed), then pumped into tanks in greenhouse, tanks in greenhouse basically overflow into the wetland. Its kinda kewl because in the picture the wetland looks dry but after say 15-20 min it looks like it just rained real good.

[Elmo18]

Hey Rocky

Nice photos!

Do you have a photo of one of those Australian FW lobsters? They're way bigger than prawns, i'd assume.

- Elmo

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by Elmo18

Hey Rocky

Nice photos!

Do you have a photo of one of those Australian FW lobsters? They're way bigger than prawns, i'd assume.

- Elmo

Yeah heres a few pics of them




They actually mature in about 120 days as long as their water temps stay in the range of 70-95 degrees. So in an ideal climate you could probably harvest almost 3 times a year w/out having a ton of ponds/tanks

They also can live in same ponds/tanks as tilapia and from what I have been researching they actually benefit each other, and you can more effeciently maximize each others growth potentials this way.

[Elmo18]

Are they good eatin' lol

- Elmo

[miareefer]

Originally Posted by Elmo18

Are they good eatin' lol

- Elmo

I can vouch for that they are pretty darn tasty when we where kids we used to raid the local Dams .They have a cousin known here in Australia as the Fresh water Marron they grow a lot larger but are slower growing .Heres a couple of links Rocky for a few farms here in W.A where i am. As you can see they farm them very similar . .http://members.westnet.com.au/web/WAMARRON/index.htm

http://www.marronfresh.com/index.html