Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks for the advice it is so nice that people here that have been there done that can give great advice.
I will change it.

I added then Nitrifying Bacteria and some Maxicrop 2002 Liquid Seaweed Plus Iron Fertilizer.
My PH 6.8 and the ammonia is 3 ppm now I wait.

We are here to help

By the way. For future use. When attaching a bulkhead to a liner, use a backing plate so the nut doesn't twist the liner upon tightening. I have even had good success with using the sidewall of a 1 gallon water jug.

My water was nice and clear until I added Maxicrop 2002 Liquid Seaweed Plus Iron.
This is want it looks like now. Will it clear back up?



This is a good shot showing the water being pumped from the sump tank.

Yes it will clear back up. Until you add more iron.

We planted some plants. I am not sure how they will do since we are not cycled yet.

I painted the top of my sump tank so light can’t get in. I hinged the hole I cut into the sump tank. I finished up all the connections going into the sump tank.
Now I don't have to tarp that section.

Here are the test after one week cycling.
PH it is about 7
Ammonia is about 3 ppm
Nitrite it is just starting to show up.
Tomorrow I will have to add Nitrate testing.

I made a couple changes to the bell siphon over the weekend.

I timed it tonight it took about 6 minutes and 30 seconds to drain the bed. It took 7 minutes and 15 seconds to refill it total time was 13.45. This bed is 3’ X 20’ or 1M X 5M.

This seems like a pretty good time for a bed this size but I really don’t have much to compare it to.

This is after 8 days cycling
PH it is about 7
Ammonia is about 2 ppm
Nitrite is up to .25 ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 10 ppm
This is my first system but this looks like good news to me.

Impressive set up

Thanks.
I have been following your build I love your tanks.

Yeah that is a legit build... Whereabouts are you located, and what kind of budget are you working with? I would love to get 2 tons of expanded shale in bulk like that, that would solve a lot of my media issues

I am just outside Greenville South Carolina.
I looked at river rock but I would have needed 4 tons and there are no air pockets for the bacteria to get in. The shale does not have sharp edges and it is not too bad to shovel around.

Cost I have been trying to reuse as many things as I can and repurpose things to save money. I have been buying some things off craigslist. I have been keeping track of the cost but I don’t necessarily have a set budget.

I will be building my greenhouse myself. I have the exhaust fan and the louvers for the air intake.

that's awesome! well can i ask, how or where did you find bulk expanded shale? I'm in oklahoma, so i'm sure i can't use the same seller, but when i look it up i find 40L boxes for $22, but $70 to ship... i could use one of those bulk bags worth, even split it with someone else in my area