Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi
I was looking at the photo's of the hydro set up and having a bit of a day dream and I started wondering about out door systems and nitrate/amonia etc levels...
We had a down pour earlier that filled the ducks bath tub in about 10 minutes so a fish tank of 2000 or so litres would probably have a fair catchment size here - does it mess with the nutrients? Or do people just cover their tanks?

Thanks,
Andi

i have a pond, and although the rainwater probably dilutes the nutes, i dont mind as it replaces water lost due to evaporation, transpiration, etc

*am covering it in winter though to keep the warmth in

Don't forget that if its surface is even only slightly above ground then the only catchment is its surface area + the surface area of your bed. I'd need to get 50mm of rain to add 100ltrs to my 1000lt tank

SG, I have my small tank and beds under cover and will be doing the same with a green house over my larger system - apart from keeping rain out, this will also regulate the temperature a little

We're building a carport-style greenhouse (slightly sloping roof) to keep out the gum leaves and the torrential rain that we get here in summer.

M would be VERY dark with me if the fish got a carport before she did

I think i remember reading a post a couple of months ago by someone legally needing to cover their tanks so there was no chance of it overflowing and the species of fish escaping...

or constructing a bung wall..............don't open this can-o-worms again

Nah, you can if you want

It's probably not such an essential thing Andi. Adding the extra watrer to the system will mean that it dilutes things a little, but unless you live in a very heavy rainfall area then it won;t make a huge difference..

Keep in mind that it will flood out of the system somewhere though..

Hi
Thanks to everyone who answered I had a horrible feeling it would be like a watery melt down and you'd have to cycle the system again...
I'm having trouble getting my head around some of the techie stuff, so I really appreciate that everyone's so generous with their knowledge here

Cheers
Andi

You'll have no shortage of techie help. Just watch out for les, he'll quote you lengths in furlongs and chains and stuff LOL

LOL - Mark Twain

Les

Big thunder storms tonight after a very warm day. Cool, my system needed a little topping up anyway

Yeah, we had a good rain last night, refilled one water tank and put about 2000 litres in another, and forecast is for more rain at midnight tonight too

so YOU sent it over! Another project is to pipe garage roof up to a IBC