Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I really, really like this idea duff. I have a spare drum too, and lots of urea, and a lot of 13mm poly.

I had a 300mtr roll of 13mm poly in the back yard and the dog decided to make it a soaker hose out of it my with random bites.

What are you guys calling Urea? like synthetic Urea, you buy by the sack like fertilizer?

Yes. Will still be looking for a safer source of ammonia for the long run. Hummonia could also be used.

Would this bother the fish? Personally I'm all for cranking the tunes, but I'd worry the thump thump would scare the fish.

My little barrelponics system kinda like TCL's system is working better than ever on humonia which I was just going to use to start the system and switch to fish. Only problem is the kids won't eat the lettuce that has "daddy's pee in it, euw" I probably should have just told them afterward, like when they at their first thumper and bambi stew

You may have a point there. My fish tanks will be so far away from my grow ponds and the pump that it won't matter for me but it made me think- how do the fish react to those of you who have pumps inside the tanks or right next to them? I'm sure the fish would even be sensitive to the electrical fields around them as well.

Pump in the tank doesn't bother them at all so I guess the music shouldn't either. I think I'm mixing up my stuff. I've been reading about worms lately and I know they're supposed to be sensitive to vibrations.

Now, that will be an issue for me- I plan to have worms in my single gravel grow bed to assist with any sludge buildup that may occur. Even though I may never play music for them, my in-line pump will be next to this bed. If they multiply anyway, I guess I won't worry.

Another option I wanted to try over winter is heating the water that goes into the gb's. I have 300mtrs+ of 13mm black pipe on the roof that was used for heating the pool. If I put a filter on the pressure pumps inlet and f&d a couple of the gb's during the day with luke warm water instead of the 15degree water that they will be getting in the middle of winter. Either that or use it to heat up 200ltr drums of water that can be placed under plastic around fruit trees in the back yard.

"Was going to use the 13mm poly cut offs. Out of the 2 it seems to perform better. The bio balls can get a build up over time. The cut offs are churning all the time and seem to have a macerating effect on solids. The bacteria has a good surface on the inside of the poly."

Prefer a slightly positive bouyant media, but depends on design and preference
If you wish to try an addition to the biofilter besides the urea may I suggest a small amount of DAP and epsom salt.

I used THC (hydro fertiliser but only one part) as an additive before I cut over on the trough, the reasoning was to add phosphorus magnesium calcium and iron to benefit the plants. Cycling and especially the nitrite was very fast. It appears the bacteria which convert nitrite to nitrate require a small amount of phosphorous and magnesium.

Please note I have not tried the DAP and Epsom salt as I used the THC, its only a theory and based on the fact that the DAP should add ammonia and phosphorus and the epsom salt magnesium. If It works it may give a basis for finding safer additions for those that are having nitrite problems (with fish).

IMO... prolonged and recurring nitrite spikes... are a sign of imbalance within the nitrification cycle... and the AP system.... for a myriad of possible reasons... but an imbalance regardless...

I believe this is related to an interruption of the growth of the nitrifying bacteria.... and the flourishing of what would normally be a very temporary bacterial type...

I've set out some info in (hopefully) the forthcoming magazine...

In short... it challenges the conventional viewpoint that it's nitrobacter that converts nitrites...

And in fact suggest that not only is this wrong... but that a prolonged period of nitrites and presence of nitrobacter... may in fact represent an imbalnce and interruption to aerobic nirtification...

The air seems to move it around the container evenly. Thiner cuts stay near the surface and thicker cuts closer to the bottom. Will try later and see how many bits I can keep moving. Just takes time to cut them.