Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I thought Charlie Carp was just a fertiliser.

Or does it contain ammonia as well?

Your aquarium water will not contain much ammonia or nitrite. It'll have nitrate, because your fish tank filter is donig the ammonia break down already. And your plants in the system will like that nitrate and the fertiliser.

I thought to do a fishless cycle you needed a source of ammonia... such a pee/urine or bottled pure ammonia. That way you will get a build up beneficial bacteria in the gravel already for your fish when you add them. If Charlie Carp is just a fertiliser, and your aquarium water is just from a water change, then there will only be small amounts of ammonia in the system for the bacteria to feed from. So the bacteria numbers will be low and probably not sufficient for 30-40 trout fingerlings and the high feeding that they require.

My understanding (based on research) is that charlie carp does contain ammonia, and makes a good source for fish-less cycling. But i'm happy to be corrected on that.

The only reason I was using the aquarium water was to help 'kick start' the bacteria colony. It was not for an ammonia source (in fact, if I have ammonia in my aquarium water, then my aquarium is potentially in trouble).

Charlie Carp will do the job of fishless cycling as it contains ammonia, after all its just minced up carp! Works fine to introduce the ammonia you need to cycle.

Thanks Madcap. I thought that was the case, but it's always good to get some confirmation.

Urea is cheaper... and a more effective ammonia source... and you don't need bugger all...

Or you can just pee in your tank...

I already had the charlie carp on hand. Plus its beneficial to the plants in its own right.



While that was fine by me, the wife acceptance factor was very low for that particular suggestion.....

looks like your in for problems in the future, dont let the wife read the book "everybody poops". she might find out that even fish poop. lol

As long as I don't remind her of that, i'm ok. After all, she enjoys swimming at the beach (and lets not think about what happens at public pools....)

So I have just retested the water with the following results:
Ph - 7.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 1.0ppm
Nitrates - 40ppm

I can understand why the nitrates might be high (low plant load), but i'm not sure why the nitrites are high(ish).

It will convert Sam, get a heap of plants in there mate and be patient, the first few months are pretty slow. You will be ready for your trout very soon.

My recommendation: Keep a record of all things you do to your system and your water tests; this will help you to establish what is "normal" in your system so you can better identify "high" and "low" readings.

For my system during charlie-carped, fishless cycling, nitrite levels of 1.0 became "normal".





Scott

So I managed to make a bit more progress on the system this weekend.

I got the SLO built and fitted.


I ended up using my angle grinder with a thin metal disc on it to cut the slots in the pipe. Seemed to work ok, and a lot faster than doing it with a hand saw.

Secondly I got the air pump and stones fitted as well. As I don't have permanent power near the AP system, I put together a bit of an enclosure, to (hopefully) keep it all dry.

I also tested the water again.

Ph - 7.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0ppm
Nitrates - 40ppm

So I'm a bit happier about that.

No I just need to wait for the trout to arrive :-)

Managed to fit the automatic water top-up valve to the sump tank yesterday. Used a replacement float valve from a toilet and put a hose fitting on the end.

That should at least stop me from walking into the backyard and hearing the pump spinning dry.... (which has already happened a couple of times).


The view from the top of the tank. Although the water is looking a little green, it has in fact cleared a lot from where it started.


My temporary power solution (until I can get some permanent power out there).

I dont think the brass fittings are going to help at all, can you swap the to PVC fittings?

I missed the pics of the green house..... Well done

Lyndon

Can you elaborate on why the brass fittings are not going to help at all?? Help what??