Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been promising pictures for a while so here they go.

The IBC FT is installed and up and running and busy cycling, although I have been experiencing some troubles with my Ammonia, Nitrates that are through the roof and some random leaks that seem to spring from nowhere.

Running it CF for now to speed up the cycling, hoping it will help.

The pictures below are captioned and include the latest test results as well as a Sketchup picture I made of the system.

Some more pictures

Here is the Sketchup model of the whole system.

Nice work Oosie. Impressive diagram from Sketchup. Do you find Sketchup difficult, I tried it once for something and really struggled.

I watched one or two tutorial videos on youtube and then got the hang of it. If you have the basics it is quite a simple program to use with a lot of power.

And a lot of models is already available online to download so its just fitting it in then.

Thanks Oosie. I will give it a bash.

Woooohhhooooo!!! Cycled at last!

Ammonia @ 0
Nitrites @ 0
Nitrates @ 40
pH @ 7.8

Plants growing like crazy, especially the spinach. Tomatoes have about 100 little fruits developing.

This is so damn exciting!

Nice work

Welcome to stage 2, oosie

Nice work Oosie, very exciting.

Very impressive system you have there Oosie! Tell me, where did you get your test kit for your water? I've been searching around and so far I could only get the dipstick type test kit which doesn't show the ammonia levels.

I bought it from Animal Kingdom in Pretoria. Only place close to me that I found carried the API test kits. I could only find the Saltwater kit from them, but as far as my research has shown, the Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate test is the same, only the pH is the high-range and not high and low. But I have another test for the low pH.

If I remember correctly I paid R575 for the kit.

You can also buy from Amazon and have the kit delivered to your post office or house, I think it works out all included to the same price.

Thanks Oosie. I'm planning a trip to Fisheries Hartbeespoort this Sunday to get some Banded Tilapias for my boss so maybe I can then pass them by and get myself a kit.

Maybe try and give them a ring before you go by, think I only saw 1 other Saltwater kit and many other Reef kits which will definetely not work. Maybe save you a trip if they are out of stock. They did however tell me they are waiting for a container full of stock from the USA.

You'll find their contact info on the web with a quick Google search.

Thanks for the tip. I gave them a call and they still have stock.