Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello all,

I have a question about my barramundi. My system is 2 months old and has cycled I'm sure. Nitrate the past couple of days has been .25 and a bit higher. Am 0, Nitrate 0 and Ph 6.5. So all that seems fine. Plants are doing very well. Fish are eating well, but...today some of them are hanging around the top of the water and seem sluggish. Not swimming away very fast and a couple even letting me touch them before they swim away.

Water temp was 22 this morning an now in the afternoon 28. Is this a worry that they are staying at the top of the water level?

Thanks,

Linda

do you have plenty of aeration Linda?

Yes, I have an aeration machine with two lines and that is working well.
Thanks,

Linda

The test results you mentioned, when were they taken?

I would personally re-test immediately to see if there has been a spike.


Wazza

How big is your tank? How many fish do you have? How big is your air pump?

I suggest that your water temperature is the issue. Appears to be a swing of temperature of 6degC. Firstly, barra likes the water warm... I think about 24degC at least... From reading some posts from members during the last transitional phase (spring/summer), questions were raised about whether the barras "were sleeping"?? I believe the corrective action there was to provide heating...

It is an issue keeping seasonal fishes during the transitional phase. I have an electric heater in the tank set at 24degC...

Also the swing in the temperature stresses the fish out as well.. I would suggest salting to 1ppt if you have not already done so...

Keep an eye on them Linda, I have noticed this week the barramundi have slowed a little and just hang on the sides of the tank, though they still feed.
I remember I got up at 3am one morning to check on the barras and their water themp was 13 degrees, so they will go to that level with out dying, it does certainly not make for optimum conditions but they do survive short term. If they are big enough, start to enjoy harvesting them, they should be easy to catch.
The good news is that as the water temperatures drop it gets closer to trout time woohoo

Thanks to all. These suggestions help. My tank is 1000 and I have 18 fish. One grow bed and the plants are doing very well.

It sounds like its the swing in temps. I'll keep an eye on them, and we are having a few hot days so that should warm the water.

I have been checking the water every day and it's been pretty stable except for a small spike in Nitrite. I cleaned the bottom of the tank a bit and put some fresh water in. That took the Nitrite back to 0.

I'll check again in the morning.

Linda