Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Awesome! This is shaping up to be one of those projects where if someone says they want their system to look neat, we'll say "Go look at Jon's"

Thank you, really means a lot.
I'm really enjoying this project and have loads of ideas on expanding but just want to get the basics right.

We're currently having a fairly large renovation project on our own garden so this system is at my mothers house. She was a little perturbed when the IBC crate turned up so I promised to make it look "more garden like".

Who knows what I'll get up to when my own garden is ready.

Quick update, just going through the cycling of the system regularly testing.

As Mel suggested the water has gone a slightly murky green colour, I'm still working on finishing the surround so not much UV blocking going on at the minute, I'm hoping to finish this weekend.

Ammonia levels are up in the water from previous tests, nothing too high but a definite presence. No sign on nitrites or nitrates yet though, guess that will just take time.

I did test the pH high but that didn't highlight any pH issues.

Had a few days away last weekend and came back to find that the pump had clogged up a little, still not 100% convinced with the pump I bought but I'll persevere for now.

Done a few changes to the system over the last week, I was finding that I had to de-clog the pump almost daily and that the water flow around the pipe system wasn't optimal.

I've now removed the pipe with holes around the growbed and just let the t piece empty straight in. Since I've done this water flows constantly and I haven't had to clean up the pump once. Obviously some kind of back pressure or something.

System seems to be running well, I'm due to test the water again just haven't had an opportunity, but the plants seem to be growing well - especially the lettuce.

I've also got the wooden surround all painted up, really pleased with the look of it all now.

Very nice!

Lettuce really seems to love aquaponics. (Basil is the only thing that out-grew the lettuce in my teeny test system - well, maybe the marigolds - and the lettuce won once and for all when it survived the frost and the basil didn't.)

Hi Jon - as per your other thread with nitrates question viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27455

If that tube second from left (mid-dark green) is ammonia and it is still at those sort of levels then you have some serious issues. You should never have let your ammonia levels get that high, it is toxic to your fish and your plants.

I suspect you are over stocked, 40 goldfish in an cut down IBC is not very realistic.

you need to get on top of the chemistry and appropriate fish stocking - there is lots of discussion on the forum.

I did test the pH high but that didn't highlight any pH issues....
it went up and you didn't question why ? Ammonia is a base (increase in pH = symptom)

Introduced another 20 fish today. All seem happy in there so really pleased with that.Levels are starting to increase when tested the water yesterday for ammonia and nitrates. Looking like decent progress so far.

nope - increasing ammonia is never good, and it can cause your system to crash.
It means your system was not ready for the fish you added and cannot handle the load.
ie. you are overstocked and/or poorly cycled.

Ammonia levels are up in the water from previous tests, nothing too high but a definite presence.
It was mid-green and basically at the top of the readable level when 0-0.25 is the objective (as appears all over the forum). At your pH 1 ppm is too much. That level should have rung alarm bells...

Hi all, brand new member and newbie to aquaponics. I look forward to learning lots on this forum.

Hey Jon, I'm starting to setup my first aquaponics system using an IBC just like yours. I really dig the wood veneer you put around yours.
Currently I'm trying to determine the pump size I need to get. Can you provide some specifics on your pump? LPH/GPH? Lift height? Make/model? What size plumbing are you using?
Earlier you mentioned you weren't that happy with the fill rate on how your pump filled your grow bed. Did you get that worked out?

I got so much out of your posts, Jon. I am just learning about aquaponics and was struggling to find a simple system that I could do myself. I'm only sorry that you stopped posting updates almost a year ago. I hope it wasn't because Darren (dlf_perth ) was a bit harsh and tactless with his critique of your efforts. I'm sure he meant well...

I would love to know how you got on in the end.

Sincerely,

DeeMac