Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

looks like it died of assault and battery.

Interesting that you've name your fish Shez, and it's involved in year 8 house sports and other stuff...

Can't help you much with a diagnosis though I'm afraid..

Meanwhile back at the ranch.....................

2 variables prior to fish carking it: upped food supply preceding day or 2, and 2 large centipedes were added to the diet (and promptly gobbled,) the night before. My gut feel is low DO and the weakest fish died.

On the back of that, I completely changed my pump cycle routine. Previously it kicked in at 4pm for 10 minutes, then same hourly til 5am, with a bubbler running 24/7. (Pump timer only has 14 presets.) Now we run 13min on, 90min off over the 24 hour period.

The difference in plant growth and fish appetite has been immediate! The water now boils at feeding time. With the plants, bc they are getting water during the day they are going bananas. Previously they were only getting water 4pm thru 5am. Now it is thru the day as well and for slightly longer periods each time than b4, (13min not 10.) I guess beneficial bacteria is not drying out and there is a regular water supply coming thru over 24hrs, rather than on for 14 off for 10.

Did a few tests tonight just to check things haven't gone pear shaped.
Ammo 1
Nitrite .2
Nitrate 10
pH 6.3

Nitrite and nitrate were higher than the wknd (new higher feeding regime.) Ammo about the same and pH a pinch lower. Added couple kilos shell grit, see if we can get it somewhere near 7.

I am amazed at the difference in fish appetite and plant growth, with more balanced pumping over 24 hours. It seems DO is def a primary limiting factor on growth and appetite. I know it is a given in the industry, but it is nice to verify it myself, without killing a million fish! (only one, poor sucker)

Thanks EB, Shez is my 13yo and the fish photo was indeed on the end of the house sports photo shoot! You guys don't miss much.

Mon, i could certainly be swayed to your line of thinking. As i only have 20 fish in 1000lts, they are not crowded enough to 'school' but don't get much individual space away from pesky other fish. Bullying is all the rage in this tank and this one at 21cm is one of the smaller ones.

With a higher feed regime and more balanced pump (hence more DO) cycle, i will be interested to see if this behaviour changes. At worst i could add fish (and extra GBs) to cut down on some of the (presumably) territorial aggro.

Better to kill one fish in 21 rather than 100,000 in 2.1million! Ratio the same, consequences much less, lesson learnt, invaluable.

The fish definately looks battered, but that could have been because he was more lethargic than his friends. Many fish have little tolerance for others that can't fight back.

battered fish it is then, although i prefer mine baked or grilled!

Hi all.
Week 5 with fish and seedlings: Ammo is stable around the 1 mark, got a bit of a nitrite spike due to heavy feeding, nitrate is slowly increasing due to the extra tucker but only b/n 10 and 20. pH is up to 6.9 cause i added more shellgrit.

Had some shocking wind these past few days and several cauli leaves have snapped. Lettuce blowing over too. Anywho,concerned but not despondent as the system proves itself to me every day.

Got into the habit of running the spa on satdy's for an hour after sweeping the spa to get the fish shit off walls and floor. Clears it nicely and the fish enjoy the workout against the current.

Funny story, found a dead mouse in the spa last night. Poor bugger could smell the food and fell in. Wear floaties next time sucka!

Dasall.

ps, Worms, my missus reckons i am nuts organising bathtubs from you for 5 bucks! Whilst i see her point, ie, the travel thing, i feel a road trip coming on. Anyone wanna ride to Newcastle and back, stopping all stations?

TT, 10 - 20 ppm NO3 is a nice level, try and balance it there..............

Ph is also good. nudge it a little over 7 for increased NO2 processing

tt, why dont ya head up my way this weekend, i've got 7tonne of gravel in the backyard ready to be washed whats that?...you be glad to help....thanks mate...see ya at 7am sharp

cough, i feel a truck service cough coming on cough. gotta get the gh up first worms, but don't worry, you are on the radar! anyone got a gh they wanna sell me for 5 bucks? Anywhere bn geelong and newcastle is fine, need to fill in the miles with a few stops somewhere.

Finally, 75 days later:
Ammo-zero
Nitrite-o.1
Nitrate- b/n 5 and 10ppm
pH-7.0
Fish dead- 1 so far

It took 2.5kgs of shell grit to get the pH from 6 to 7 in a 1000lt tank. I have added another kilo just to sweeten it up a bit.
Morning tank temp 15C, afternoon, 20C. Fish are feeding less due to cooler temps, but still feeding!

I picked up 3- 205lt Fuchs industry lubricant barrels yesterday for 10 bucks each. Have 2 black 225lt drums that have been rinsed, so 1000lt all up. Will cut them long ways and use bitumen paint on the steel barrels. Got offered 2-500lt oval plastic tubs for nothing this morning, so will get them shortly. Guy apologized bc they had 90mm outlets and piping already connected. I said that was ok, i would struggle on,, lmfao.

Gunna model my GH on Les's , yet to decide on circular or rectangle gal pipe. Is one better or more functional?

This system i will run around 60 fish in total, as my GB/Fish ratio will only be 1:1 til i get more GB's. By the time i get it done will be too late in the season for rainbows probably. I will keep the jades and silvers in sep tanks, feed them identically and report on comparative grow rates. All in all a happy chappy, just wish this wind would pi$$ off.

Round pipe is heaps cheaper than RHS tt. The fittings used by Les are made for fencing and stuff like that and you will not get things like that for RHS (I don't think). Also, if you are so inclined - it is easier (and cheaper) to get a bender that can bend round pipe. I have one that I bought a while back on ebay. Like most of the stuff I have bought on ebay it has not been used (as yet)

Cheers vb, i really like the simplicity of Les's design and round pipe seems the way to go. Had a look at a mates GH in Daylesford yesterday. It is a nice setup but structurally made from untreated timber. It is only 3yo and all the framework is starting to rot. Another tick for the piping. Funnily enough, the thing that looks like it will last the longest is the duratough plastic sheeting from redpaths. Couldn't find a tear in it anywhere.

Yep TT, that duratough is really good stuff - I tried talking to the sales rep about how to fasten onto round pipe but he never got back to me (left 3 messages). In frustration I cut 100mm lengths of 40mm DWV pipe, split them lengthwise and wrapped that around the pipe and the film to hold it in place.

Bloody hard on the fingers prising the split pipe apart but holds the film very snugly - so if you have difficulties in obtaining a fixing devise, try 40mm dwv pipe on 32mm gal

Tip if you use pvc pipe, round the edges so that it doesn't dig into the duratough and cause holes - if you want more info on it just let me know

Hi Twintragics,

I'm in Colac, would love to see an operating system, would you like a visitor sometime?

My other half thinks I'm a little mad, I'd like him to see it does work! I have a few plans, but nothing concreat.

Can't wait to set up a system, just need the $$$. Scrounging is the way to go I think!!!