Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

G'day Timbo,

Have a similar setup to yourself down at Victor, albeit not quite as pretty. I started cycling 13.04.13. (Members systems if ur interested)

Started the system with 5 rainbow trout fingerlings (100mm). And 2 x 100ltr grow beds with some herbs and veg.

In the 3 weeks since, the ammonia has slowly risen from 0.25ppm in the first week to 1.0ppm for the last few days.

No change in nitrites or nitrates, both still remain at zero.

Have tried adding aquarium water & also stress Zyme, but after advice from the great people here on the forum have decided to just let it do its "thang" naturally.

Both plants & fish have grown, however some of the plants look a little stressed.... Nutrient deficiency I guess.

Will be interested to see how you go..... Good luck !!

First one to cycle ... Wins ... Haha !!!

Cheers
SD2

Cool thanks Bullwinklell and Super D2.

SD2 - i accept the challenge . Will head over and check out your thread :-)

Nice I like barrels:grin: can i make one suggestion the barrels like the support to be some where more in the middle third to bottom half

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2

Thanks Nat. The barrels are also supported from the bottom with two cross beams (45x90 timber), the aluminum bar is more there to make it look pretty

Had an spike in my ammonia levels after the last few warm days we have been having. They have jumped from 0.5 to 2.0 in three days with still no sign of nitrites or nitrates. PH still seems pretty constant at 8.0 despite acid boosts.

1 fish and 1 red-claw crayfish down so far due to being sucked into pump inlet (now covered with poly fly screen mesh) :/

The nitrites for me came all of a sudden.

Thanks Jayendra. Good to know.

Woot. First sign of Nitrites today. Ammonia still up, PH still 8.0 and nothing on the nitrates.

Where is the best place to stick acid to boost PH? I have just been sticking it in the sump tank (40ml of Hydrochloric) but it only seems to drop my PH for about a day. Any ideas what would be causing my system to be so alkaline?

Your high carbonate hardness source water...

Congrats on the nitrites !

Be interested to see how long before your nitrates kick in ... Still waiting on a positive reading after 6 days of nitrites.

I'm sure I can see an orange hue.... Right honey (wife)???

RupertofOZ:

So if i soften my water then it should be OK? So far i haven't added any new water into the system if that makes a difference?



SuperD2:

Wow. 6 days... will let you know if i see mine anytime soon. Sure you were taking to the wife...

Essentially ... yes.... but treating your tank, especially with fish in it... is fraught with danger....

And ultimately... adding untreated carbonate rich source top up water... negates the approach....

If you're fishless cycling... then your initial nitrification.. both prefers, and to some extent raises... pH levels anyway...

Best approach... is to treat/soften.... any top up water....

Cool. Thanks RupertofOZ

Woot Woot... I have Nitrates Ammonia has dropped to 0.25, nitrites 1.0 and nitrates at 10.0

I remember seeing somewhere that there is a good place to buy fish food, fingerlings from in West Beach, South Australia. Anyone out there know what it is called and where it is. I have been trolling the net for a couple of days now and have only found a science hatchery center (or maybe this is it - gates were locked when i drove past).