"Are you saying that I can build the boxes, put a few inches of gravel and then a few inches of sand?" Yes that is my suggestion. That composition of materials of sand over larger types of pebbles is very much what the spawn nests look like in the post earlier by ewest. A layer of sand covering gravel and or 1/4" to 1/2 crushed stone. Medium size BG will create nests a lot easier in sand compared to larger pebble sizes. As BG grow to the large 8"+ sizes they are able to mover larger bottom materials. Again, you can use a could different types of material for the individual boxes and then evaluate which type of materials the BG prefer.
"Increasing my forage substantially" is not primarily about adding spawning beds. Increasing forage has a lot to do with proper amount and density of habitat such as weed beds and dense cover that acts as refuge areas for the fry and 1"-2" fingerling BG. The habitat also acts as a feeding buffet to produce more BG to a larger forage size. Once hatched the fry have to find food for survival. A good bloom condition with ample zooplankton allows the fry to survive, feed and grow toward the fingerling sizes.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 03/02/22 08:10 PM.
