Well since last writing I have decided to upgrade my system (that I've built for a friend, who by now thinks I don't what I'm doing, I'm sure) since Iv'e had lots of problems.
Firstly I had a nightmarish time trying to get the siphon to break its cycle. And I hope this may help others, i'll explain what the problem was.
The siphon would start and then just keep running, off course I thought it was a flow thing that I just had to manipulate,turns out it was that underneath the IBC attached to the stand pipe which was secured by way of bulk head fittings I had a threaded elbow both ends and connected to that I had a bout a 7 inch length of 25mm pipe with no elbow. When I removed the extension and cut it down to about an inch and attached a elbow at that end, hey presto the siphon worked. It now empties every 14 minutes and takes 6 minutes to drain so three cycles an hour or there abouts. I think this is good?
I have a 3900 LPH pump so I have two taps, 1 going to the siphon and the other simply returning to the tank to dissolve oxygen and aerate the water.
I added the water from the old system and the 25 KG clay pebbles to boost the nitrogen cycle along and have added some worm casting juice.
Tested the levels yesterday (after say 1 week of running) and they were as follows
PH = 7.4 Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 5
So the issues I have as will be seen in pics are what I need assistance with if possible please
1 see the gunk on the bottom of the tank. Well how do I siphon that out? I dont want at this stage to build a SLO or similar, can I vacuum it some how. If I filed a hose and run it across the bottom of the tank, my thinking was that I'd waste water and that the hose would have to be lower that the bottom of the IBC
2 Plants look a bit unhealthy. Is this is lack of iron, Or some pest problem? The setup is one street back from the ocean so could salt air be playing a part in any of this?
3 The white build up on the expanded clay pebbles? Again is this a salt build up or something else?
4 If the salt is affecting water and or plants what action can I take?
Maybe my friend is right, I don't know what I'm doing. LOL
Its all a good learning curve
Thanks in advance
Ozy Rod
| Attachments: |
|
aqua1.jpg [ 108.91 KiB | Viewed 3649 times ] |
|
Aqua2.jpg [ 61.05 KiB | Viewed 3649 times ] |
|
Aqua3.jpg [ 40.12 KiB | Viewed 3649 times ] |
|
Aqua4.jpg [ 77.12 KiB | Viewed 3649 times ] |
|
Aqua5.jpg [ 89.68 KiB | Viewed 3649 times ] |
|
Aqua6.jpg [ 80.15 KiB | Viewed 3649 times ] |