Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

NDL

You will probably be ok but you could test the water and media by dumping in
some peeponic solution and watch the ammonia being cycled by the bacteria through the system.

If it is aged peeponic solution you will see it be changed from ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate and you will
then be certain that the bacteria in the water and media are alive and viable.

I think 500ml of peeponic solution per 1000 liters should do the trick.

If you don't want to test you should stock and feed lightly and be prepared to do some water changes and salting to get the fish through an unexpected cycling process.

There are threads about "peeponics" on this board as well as adding salt and cycling up systems with fish on board.

Good luck on restarting your system.

Hi again!
Did the peeponic thing and ammonia rose to 2.4 is now coming back down and currently at 0.6,
ph slowly dropping currently about 7.9
nitrate climbing - currently 40
nitrite has risen from 0 to 1.4 today.

Do I wait now for the nitrites to come down to 0 and then add my fish? and then watch for rise in ammonia and nitrites?

We do have some growth - not much but some!! The plants are looking a little yellow, but standing strong.

Thanks for your replies.
Sarah

Hi Sarah,

Once both your Ammonia and Nitrite have dropped to 0.0 you can add your fish.

If your fish are only fingerlings and you stock sensibly then you shouldn't see much of an Ammonia or Nitrite spike, if any, but test just in case.

If you do get an Amm spike after adding the fish, then search "Ecofilms Ammonia Toxicity Chart" in Google Images and cross reference your water temp against your water pH to see at what level the Amm will become an issue... and carry out daily 1/3 water changes with aged water if it approaches the limit.

If your Nitrites spike, then at 1.0ppm add sea salt at 1gm per litre. If it approaches 2.0ppm then daily water changes may be required.

Cheers!

Thank-you very much.

We have growth!!!!! Moved the fish to the new set up over a week ago and so far they have all survived. We
actually had seven and most would be about 20cm long.

I have planted beans x 4, eggplant x 3, spring onions x 5, the silverbeat that was literally on it's last legs x 3, and of course a basil plant. So far, everything has grown a little which is great. The top growth of the beans is very 'cream'? in colour, certainly not green. I put some seasol in there yesterday. Is this enough?

Water tests this morning were:
Ammonia - 0.2
Ph - 7.4
Nitrate - 40
Nitrite - 0.3

Didn't feed this morning.

Thanks for all your advice - hopefully we are on the way forward now.

Great work. I think it is time to close this "negatively worded" thread title and start a more uplifting one of your system.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

ok ok!! Will leave this thread alone ivansng and start another with a positive thread title!! Look out for us. Have really appreciated everyone's help and support. It is an awesome forum.

LOL I agree with Ivan, dark times are over mate, looks like the system is just about cycled, ammonia and nitrite should also settle down soon.

good job man that looks nice!

Things are looking real nice. Good luck with the system hope you're enjoying it.