Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok Rupe - will reduce feeding to 200 grams per day once the nitrite is back to 0.

The broccoli is now of a size I can get a picture of (although not that good - think I need a new camera operator).



Cauliflower is still too small to get a decent pic of.

Picked some tomatoes the other day and have been letting them ripen off the vine.

Just got home and tested my water. Not quiet 0 but not 0.25 so I thru in 200 grams of feed. I think it was gone before it hit the water.

Will test again in the morning to make sure all is ok.

Hey Arbe

You are using a Kodak LS753, one of the auto modes on there is "close up mode" generally known as macro, but Kodak like to reinvent the wheel
Put the camera in close up mode and retry taking the shot of your broccoli. Or any future photo op.
It should be able to focus from a distance of ~6cm.
The photo you took is focused quite a distance away.

The other trick with point and shoot cameras is to half press the shutter button until the camera finds a focus point, then move yourself closer or further away to get the correct object in focus, then take your shot.

Good luck with the nitrite cycling, mine took about 5 days of 2-5ppm before dropping.

Andrew

Andrew,

I knew about half pressing the button but thanks for the other tip. Will give it a go when the weather improves.

I wouldn;t have a clue how much feed our fish get, do you measure it out every day when you feed Arbe? It sounds like quite a lot of feed..

I measure out once a week and place into resealable bags.

I wouldn't have thought 300 grams a day was a lot of food for 100 trout of which most are over 100 grams (still some runts) specially after reading what some are feeding in the 2011 Trout Competition.

yeah its a bit of a problem this. I was definately over feeding mine. Going by % they should be able to eat more but I have a huge problem with solids and have had to cut the feeding right back. and put socks over my GB outlets. My system tests are all fine, so the system is able to cope with the load its just the solids that are a problem for me. There are people mentioning that they are feeding a huge amount and then others are trying to match it. I find I can feed mine up to about 250gms to 70 fish but only sparingly over a number of feeds over the length of the day, that way i know they are eating it all instead of it settling to the bottom. Its when I try and feed the same ammount over 1 or 2 feeds that it becomes a problem.

Hi Arbe

If your nitrate and nitrite readings are still high, instead of putting in more salt, you should consider partial water changes until things settle down. Some of the plants might not like the higher salt content as well and may suffer in time. The trout will be stressed from the nitrate/nitrite values indicated, and will be susceptible to many problems, like dying.

It also could explain why your water is susceptible to turning green, even with subdued lighting. I have used duckweed in the past to help regulate the trites&trates when feeding is higher than the plants can handle. I don't know how easily you can tap in another growbed (even a barrel cut half lengthways would help a bit, and no media required), but it can help smooth things out, and can be retired easily when no longer required. You can even set it up with quick disconnects. It doesn't hurt to have another growbed on tap anyway. Increasing the aeration in the fish tank could only help as well.

I have read several times that if you look after the fish, the plants take care of themselves. Maybe an oversimplification, but if the fish expire, it is back to square one definitely.

Good luck.

Partial water change on a system around 7000 litres total?

Don't fancy doing that.

I don't think it's going to be a problem any way. It is raining which will be (slightly) diluting the nitrite, besides the water is no longer green and can clearly see the bottom of the tank.

I was just advising based on my reference books and experience. In my experience, the fish will be very stressed at the moment, and if the water is not brought down to lower levels of waste products, fish loss will result (been there, done that). At those tested levels with an aquarium, an immediate 25% conditioned/ammended water change is prescribed (unless there are sensitive varieties of fish, in which case 10% a day is recommended). Clear water is not necessarily indicative of water values, but sudden changes in colour or clarity could be.

Using some of the water for the rest of the yard (as not to totally waste it), and topping up the tank with fresh water could only help by further diluting the waste products. Water is cheaper than fish (so far at least). A 10% water change is only 700 litres, and the fish would be grateful.

Hey arbe,

My nitrites/nitrate has been all over the place too. This morning after 1 day of non feeding it went from 5 to 0.25, so hopefully should be back to normal soon mate

Thanks Zman.

As mentioned above, I feed about 200 grams yesterday - even though the nitrite level wasn't 0 (almost).

Tested again this morning and it was closer to 0 than yesterday. I think things are heading in the right direction.

my 75 trout have no problems knocking of 200+ grams of feed a day but only if I can spread it over 2 - 3 feeds per day.
I feed my fish till they stop feeding, If they don't feed or a very hesitant to hit the feed that's when some alarm bell would go off and I'll check for a floater and then check conditions.

good to see the harvest coming along, have you had any trout for dinner yet?

matt

It was their slow feeding that made me get a test kit. Glad i have it.

No trout for dinner yet. I would have thought at around 100 grams they wouldn't be big enough for a feed.

200 grams lasted about 2 minutes yesterday in one sitting.

There is heaps of time to get them up to size though Arbe.... they will eat more and as it warms up a bit your system may process nutes quicker.
My trout seem to like about 50-75 grams per day - 45 trout. THey should be ok to eat soon - I have 100-150 grams. I find if i try to max out the feed i end up scooping food off the top and having to wait a day. Id prefer slow and stead and know the system is working away well. Less stressful.