Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've just found a gaping hole in my aquaponic's plan.

Because i work away for 8 days at a time, i won't be there at that critical time where i need to monitor water quality when i'm initally cycling my system.

I need a way to save my fish automagicly should things go bad

Cycle without fish Tim. Urine will do the trick.

if your not there when its cycling, it will be impossible to be tempted to feed them too much then...

8 days, hmmm, any chance of getting it cycled before you head out?

wait, that's your regular schedule? 8 days on and then how many off? When you're working, you're gone for the full 8 days? Anyone else you could get to check in on things part way through? Maybe feed a couple of days towards the end? Any chance of getting everything up and running while you are around to test for leaks or other problems?

Timmy, start off with a small number of fish and some gravel and gunk from another system. get someone to feed tiny amounts and when you come back you be ready to add more fish.

Emir just put 5 goldied in a 180L aquarium as his tank, fed a pinch of food every day and put a zip-lock bag of my gravel and muck into his system, its been about a week and his ammonia and nitrite are all zero. He should post in his thread soon. I've advised to start feeding 3x as much, and if the readings are still zero then to add his eating fish and feed sparingly.

Even a small culture of established bacteria willadapt to a larger fish load heaps quicker than starting from a sterile system.

Ok here's the plan.

i work 8 on 6 off.

i'll build the system in the first 6 days and cycle it without fish to test for leaks/building screwups.

when i get home on my next 6 days off, i'll grab some gunky gravel from someone in perth (if anyone is willing) and mix it with a small amount of virgin gravel. i'll get maybe 6 fish and give them a pinch of food the morning i leave and a bit more the night i get home, which will make only 6 whole days between feeding.

Wouldn't it make that 8 days between feeding?

If it is fully cycled then there is no reason why you can't just get an auto fish feeder and feed them on a more regular basis eg Once a day.

if i keep feeding them while i'm away don't i have a much higher risk of toxic ammonia build up?

Not if the system is COMPLETELY cycled. Ie. When the ammonia and nitrite hit zero and the nitrates start to build up.

If you are worried, once a day would be ok. How long where you thinking. Like 2 weeks of fish less cycling then add 5 fish, feed maybe twice a week for a couple of weeks, then increase gradually. Don't forget that fish produce ammonia through their gills as well. So by not feeding them you're not completely safe.

Did you decide what fish you are going with?

the problem is i don't think i'll have time to know if it's stable or not. only 6 days between getting the fish and having to leave them to their own devices.

I was going to get what ever's cheapest initally(comets maybe), and if they survive, silver or jade perch.

Comets or gold fish will survive that long quite happily. Give them a good feed before you go, it will be ok. You can also get some feeding blocks for goldfish. I don't know what they are made of so you may want to clarify what it might do to the system.

I just re read your system thread. I thought you've been running it for a while already...

heh not with how busy i've been. The plan is to put it together this weekend. I have some tomato seedlings ready to go for the following week.
I've been lurking for a while gathering information and idea's. basic and cheap is my goal. i'll post pictures when i'm done

What about setting the system up for one week as a test of the plumbing.

Then start the system cycling without fish for two weeks. Then on the first day home, get the fish in the system. That gives you 6 days to monitor the fish and system together. Feed them the third and sixth days, or in the morning before you leave. And then they are on their own for 6 full days.

That would be my 2cents worth.