Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks J.B. Is ammonia the biggest issue for cycling with fish?

In your high PH water and warmer temps, free ammonia can become an issue [ref mattyoga]. Nitrification will bring the PH down. We test [API] for total ammonia... free ammonia is a product of PH and Temp. As an example, My tilapia tank is 84F, PH of 7.4 and reading .5ppm total ammonia... the free ammonia is .009ppm... not ideal, 0.000 is ideal, but more than bearable by tilapia as my bio-filter populates. I still recommend the fish-less cycle. But, I await what other have to say as well.

http://www.cnykoi.com/calculators/calcnh3c.asp
Though it is an ornamental fish site, a lot can be had from koiphen and monster fish keepers [If you haven't been there yet].

No. What you need are the two Ps.

Persistence and Patience?

Pee Ponics?

Perseverance and panache?

My apologies, get to talking about PP and I get all giddy.

Thank you for more good info J.B. I give up Stuart, what are the 2 P's? And, could the culture hurt anything?