Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

No idea on why the tank cracked - pain in the bum but what can you do.....

I HAVE FISH - TROUT to be exact!!!!

Big thank you to Erina George and Rupe for helping me to organise.

Readings from today

PH - 6.0
AM - .25
Nitrite - .25
Nitrate - 5.0

Fish are swimming nicely, but won't eat. Any ideas???

They may want to settle in first Rosie. Is it dark where you are now? Mine go crazy on sunset but are not interested in food after the sun sets.

Gets dark after 5ish at the moment

Thought it might take a couple of days though for them to settle in.

If they don't eat the food am I best to take the uneaten food out and then try again on the next feed. I am assuming that morning and evening is the best times to feed??

The best way to feed is to stand back and throw just a very few pellets at the surface of the water to get their attention When they have taken the bait, you will be a little wet at this stage, all going to plan. Throw a few more, continue until they slow. We only use floating pellets and if they are still there in 1/2 an hour, scoop them out, rather than leaving them to settle on the floor of this fish tank. Minimal feeding in a new system.

Thanks Faye. I will give that a try in the morning.

Not unusual for the fish not to eat for the first day or so Rosey... in fact I always advise not to feed them at all for a day...

Could be that your pH might be a bit different than George's tank... and at 6.0 is a bit low...

Get some slaked lime (brickies lime)... or some EcoRose... (preferably as you get a Potassium boost as well as a pH buffer)....

In your system... only add a good pinch of the slaked lime... or use a (supplied) spoonful of the EcoRose...

Wait several hours... test and report back...

Hey rosie if they are off the feed then maybe leave them for a day or so to develop a appetite and get comfortable, I find skipping a meal will usually get the trout back feeding like wild tigers

Readings from yesterday
PH 6.0
AM .25
Nitrite .25
Nitrate 5.0

Readings from today
PH 6.4
AM .5
Nitrite 2.0
Nitrate 10

Is that usual for the PH to go up?????

pH is better Rosey.... Don't feed the trout though... your ammonia has risen... and nitrites are a bit high....

Salt to 1ppt to combat the nitrites... which effect the blood osmosis of fish...

That's 1kg of salt... in 1000L.... go to Bunnings and buy a 20kg of Sunray Pool Salt ($6-10)...

Not surprising that your ammonia has spiked after adding the fish... your system is still basically cycling...

Don't add any more Seasol or other things for a while... and watch your pH, especially when the ammonia and nitrite fall to zero... the nitrification kicking in might lower your pH rapidly....

Did you use EcoRose or Slaked Lime to bring the pH back Rosey??

Hi Rose
Maybe I am just a bit gun ho but if it was up to me I would of just thrown the fish in. I have been playing with different systems for about 3 years now and I always just throw them all in straight away. I find as long as the water is rain water and I always introduce the fish to the new water over a 30 minut period so there is no sudden shock to there systems. I know I will get shot down with this comment but that is just what I do.
Good luck Rose
Regards
Dude

Readings today
PH 6.4
AM .5
Nitrite 5
Nitrate 40

Just about to salt again!

Any other suggestions??????

Don't feed the fish...

I haven't. Poor buggers must be starving!!

If the nitrite hasn't dropped by the weekend... you might have to do a 30% water change....

Give the fish a "small" feed tomorrow night... then nothing until the weekend...

Naaaa, I do that as well Dude.... Chuck em straight in and feed minimally for the first few weeks..