Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I added a jalapeno plant and oregano to the existing herbs.
I got the raft started. It has celery and mixed lettuces.

Looks fantastic.

Thank you. It is kind of scary, but I think the oregano has already grown some since I planted it this morning.

Wait until you have a bagillion jalapenos!
Hopefully, your tomatoes will do better than mine. I hear they need lots of nutrients and sometimes a new system doesn't get them emough feed. Mine have certainly been slow to take off. I need more fish poo.
But, back to you...you've got fish and plants. Woo-hoo for AP!

Been watching this thread from the beginning. That is a load of work but what a payoff. Really great job on the setup.

Thinking a month or so in the future, that tomato and cucumber might overgrow the net and fence. Might want to give a thought to extending their growing path sideways and training them along. Otherwise you might be feeding the neighbors!

Does that raft have any support underneath? How thick is it?

Thanks iammr.bill, I think I will. The raft is 1 1/2" thick. I did not add supports, because I thought that rafts were supposed to be self supporting. Then again, when I was three I thought that God was made of banana! The point of thae raft is that it is easy to pick up, do if I find it needs supports, I can add them. I will be adding net pots as more yogurt cups become available.

You am Mr Bill? I thought I was Mr Bill.

Dunno, never had a raft, so I wouldn't know. Yet. Just wondered. Yogurt anyone?

Haha. Dannon pissed me off a couple of weeks ago after i saved up about a dozen yogurt cups. They changed the shape! Now they're rectangular instead of round! Arrgh! So, now I'm eating generic yogurt because they still use a round cup that is almost the exact size of what i have saved up already.

What about just using the core you cut out of the foam like Francois does...?



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Thats what I am planning on doing for mine when they come online.

Brian

Dude! That is awesome! Why haven't I seen that yet?
Numbers for today
ph 8.2
Ammo .25
Nitrite 5+
Nitrate 5
It looks like the new plants sucked out a bit do the nitrates!

wow... killer nitrite

I have been focusing on ammonia levels, I suppose that is a bit high for nitrites. I think my water level is getting low as it is, so I will do a top up, that should dilute it. My big scare today, however, was aphids. Turns out they hitched a ride in the dill, and I didn't notice until today. I pulled it and the parsley out and gave them a good rinse. Tomorrow I will pick up some ladybugs.

Might be worth salting to 1ppt too Ron if you havnt already.

Well, I added a bit more water, and added about 1 1/2 liters of solar salt. I am letting it run a bit before I measure the nutrients. No fish death lately though. The net has kept them out of the pipe work, though the water level is higher because of the flow restriction it has created. I picked up some ladybugs to take care of an aphid infestation, though they just crawl over the aphids right now... While I was at the nursery, I picked up another bell pepper.

Today's numbers
Ph 8.2
Ammo .25
Nitrite 5.0 still... Grrrr
Nitrate 10
I'm observing the fish. They aren't showing any outwards signs of stress. I did salt up yesterday, just in case. They're happily chomping away at biofilm. I've fed them three times total, and they are still getting bigger.
Anyone else notice that there is no discernible difference between 2.0 and 5.0 for nitrites on the API freshwater master test kit card, also on the 10 ppm and 20 ppm for nitrites?