Christmas catch-up

Fish Fed well. Backwashed filter and topped up sump. Cleaned risers. Watered Chrysanthemums with approx. 500l from outside Reservoir. All well!
Will rent Oxygen tank and 'fish' grade oxygen for 2007- firstly to transport Australian Bass to Raymond Terrace and then for fish transport and care throughout 2007.

Preparing for Christmas

Cleaned ARC. Securely stored all equipment. Backwashed system- Reservoir now holding 1000l. Topped up sump. Fish all well- continued draining Tanks 6 & 7.

Summer-ise

Yr9 AT were impressive in their work at the ARC today... mulching was applied to the Chrysanthemum garden/s. Water that has been used in the recirculation (fish farm) was backwashed and dumped to the outside resovoir then syphoned & bucketed onto the garden/s. Australian Bass fed well, Yabbies transfered from Yabbie Tank 7 to Aquarium 3. Tank 6 syphoned/drained to outside grass. 2 computers have been setup in the ARC LAB initially to test our WebCam (WETCAM) to monitor the ARC and Fish. Thanks to all student for a great days work... there will be a little extra in your presents from Santa this year- well a can of coca-cola!

Clean

Hosed (using tank water) the inside of the ARC. Swept gravel and rocks from doorway. Continued to drain Tanks 6 & 7 (Yabbie Tank)

Trout Fingerling Order

Hi guys
Wadalba Community School would like to place an order for 300 Rainbow Trout Fingerlings for late March pick-up. We run an aquaculture education research centre within the school with commercial quality recirculation equipment.
Our recirculation water temps are expected to be suitable for the introduction of Trout fingerlings during March/April.
We will phone to arrange pick-up and use our own container and oxygen to transport the fingerlings back to Wadalba. I will arrange a cheque to be drawn by the school to pay at pick-up.
Thanks... let's hope that we don't get high temps. like Jan/Feb 2006.
If you need to contact me during school holiday time please use my Mobile: xxxxxxxxxx

Glenn
.............................................................

Glenn, Re your inquiry regarding 300 Trout fingerlings from the hatchery.
We can't guarantee there will be any fingerlings left by late March as it is quite late in the season. We do not take orders as such as we don't know how many fish we will have at that time, depending on the weather etc. The cost would be $49.50 per 100 Any further enquiries please ring the hatchery 0267759139
Regards, Helen Foster
Clerical Officer

Chrysanthemum Care

All Chrysanthemums were cut/pruned to 30cm in height. More news soon.

Lisarow HS Visit ARC (Excursion)

Planting Time- GIANT Pumpkins/SunFlowers

Mulberry time over. All Mulberries have either been eaten or are past their prime.

Yr9 planted GIANT Pumpkins and Sunflowers today. Fed worms to the fish, cut Chrysanthemums and repaired the Hot House. More herbs- Coriander etc. to be planted soon.
Some weeding started on the Chrysanthemum plots. Need watering and compost.

http://www.atlanticseeds.com.au/

Feed Worms and Fish

Feed Worms (thanks to our office staff for the luchtime leftovers and tea bags) and Fish (Australian Bass/Silver Perch and Yabbies- old peas). Fine tuned flow on recirculation system. Left roller door open to encourage flow of fresh air.

Clean & Maintenance

Drained/Dumped Tanks 1,2 & 5 total 7,600l to remove fowled water. Rinsed and cleaned Tanks 1,2 & 5.
To accomplish this turned off exit valves in Tanks 3-4 and open dump valve to outside to let Tanks 1, 2 & 5 to gravity drain... then Closed valves on Tanks 1,2 & 5 and reopened valves on Tanks 2-3.
Restarted filtration system.
Backwashed filter, topped up sump and added 100 gms of Bi-Carb Soda.
Hosed out ARC using bleach and disinfectant.
Topped up Tank 7 (Yabbies) and Aquarium 1 and 3.
Left roller door partly open to encourage flow of fresh air.

Time for action!!

Mulberry Jam time...
For every kilo of mulberries, the juice of 1 lemon and 500g of caster sugar... mmmmmmmm!

Time for action on our Chrysanthemums...
http://members.optusnet.com.au/nskeen/2.htm

Clean-Up

System turned off and Australian Bass tanks (3-4) isolated. All dead Trout removed. Tanks 1-2 drained to dump, scrubbed and rinsed. System backwashed and rinsed. Tanks 1-2 isolated and tanks 3-4 brought back online. Several Bass were lost the rest responded to clean and fresh water.

Trout Dead!

All Trout were found dead. Water recirculation had stopped- reducing air diffusion and fresh water circulation. Over 120 Trout including 100 fingerlings (25cm) and 20 brood stock (35cm). This was a very sad week!

Jobs and Maintenance

Thanks Frank for feeding fish.
The water temp. Continues to reflect the higher than normal air temp. It has risen again from 21.9C to 22.5C since Thursday 5/10/06. This is critical to cold water fish such as Trout. We are trying to hangon until school resumes (Monday 16/10/06) to begin harvest.
Recirculation system had stopped supply of water to Tank 1 and Tank 2... needed backwash. BIG backwash, rinse and clean (brushed Interior of Tanks), cleaned filter basket. Refilled sump 500l and added 100g of Bi-Carb Soda to balance/buffer new tank water. Topped up Tank 7 (Yabbies) and Aquarium 1/3. Dumped Oyster shells from trailer (needed trailer). Turned off Ultraviolet sterilised- unsure if it contributes to water temp? Fish oiled locks. Removed rubbish to school industrial bin. Moved 'hot house' and gardening gear to ARC.

Jobs NEEDED to be done.
Close monitoring of water quality- pH, Temp
Further backwash
Water Chrysanthemums

Further Trout deaths, 1 * Tank 1 and 1 * Tank 2 change harvest plans 8-(

Further Trout deaths, 1 * Tank 1 and 1 * Tank 2 change harvest plans!
The hot weather has forced us to rethink our planned harvest. Nundle trout appear to be LESS tolerant to temperature increases. We have always been dictated to by the magic 24C. Arc-En-Ciel suggested that the Tasmanian Trout have a lower threshold to temperatures above 20C and it is now being proved.
See- http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95770.shtml

'Deep' Clean of Entry (Foyer) Aquarium

Thanks to Corey, Scott, Cameron, Jarryd, Craig and ...
Although the Aquarium is cleaned and 1/3 of its water replaced each month the undergravel filter and sand had not been cleaned for over 12 months.
Fish (Silver Perch, Australian Bass and Yabbies) were transferred to the ARC and the aquarium drained. All filters and air stones were cleaned, sand/gravel rinsed and undergravel filter cleaned. The tank was wiped out and then all equipment replaced.
*We use ONLY rainwater tank water for all our aquaculture!
The tank will be given time to settle, allowing chemicals and bacteria to balance.
Fish will be restocked in Term 4. WHAT species would you like to see in this aquarium?

Trout Loss continues 8-(

A further 6 Trout died over night. 6 * Tank 1. We believe that stress from the hot weather has caused the continued deaths. This has accelerated our design and development of a 'cooling' system for the water.

Aquaculture Related Project

Concern!!! Some management teams will not complete the project (Assessment Task)... this will result in a FAILURE...

Update:

• WORMs! Doing great!!!
• Frog Tank 'stagnate'- NO Frogs... lots of promises?
• Marine/Salt Water Tank-NO Progress...lots of promises?
• Brine Shrimp/Artemia- NO Progress
• Cichlid Breeding -NO Progress... now working on Artemia Project?

** Most groups have started their PowerPoint' presentation to support their project.

Trout loss due to excessive temperatures 8-(

A total of 12 fish were lost today as a result of the excessive temperatures. 9 * Tank 1 3 * Tank 2.

Mulberry time... approaching

The tree has set a huge amount of fruit. Some worries about the drought? It seems that our students like the green ones. Another 3-5 weeks. Hopefully the fruit will remain on the tree until after the school spring break?