Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well that answers all my questions I really want to let my poor ducks into my system, they just sit there looking at the pond quacking at me to let them in!

I've put up some temp chicken wire to keep them off! As you can see from the photos, even with the cover on they still wouldn't bugger off, so chicken wire solved the problem. I've only got 3 left after the last fox attack (down from 13), so I've moved the survivors up to the back yard as it's further away from the creek!

My growbeds arrived today (http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... 7&start=59) so I'll get them setup and let the water cycle for a bit before I let the little buggers in

Cheers,

Kenny.

Poor duckies! Let them in! Let them in!

let them in, they will add soo much nuts to your system the plants will explode

Is that what you call them Duckpond..... duck nuts??? ...

Another forum I used to be on had the same substitution thing. Took me ages to figure it out!

Duckpond and anyone else who has tried duckaponix...
What is the latest news on your duckie system?
I am particularly interested in water quality issues and veggie growth.
Any new mods that we may be interested in??

I used to have some ducks, they swam in a small plastic kiddie pool, the water from that pool was used to water some plants i had, and it worked great.

i have had some issues, and am planning some mods.

I had a pipe blockage, and had to rerun the pond to tank pipe.

I got a wing feather in the pump impeller and had to clean it out.

I was using a 60lt screw top barrel as my sump, but the soft plastic screw top leaked, so i replaced it with a slip on lidded barrel, and a snap ring to seal the lid on.

I intend to install Joel Malcom's Standpipes (tm) to deal with the drain

THe water is very clean, no algae and no smell. The plants grow well, but it is in full sun so the seedlings have been getting cooked lately

I think as a concept is works well, and all the issues i have had are because i did not know this forum before i built it. If i had i would have done it better fiorst time

I tested my water today, and got:
0.25 ammonia
0 Nitrite
0 nitrate
8.2 pH

Is the 8.2 pH a problem? the ducks dont seem mind it, but how about the plants?
If i had that higher pH in a fish system would it be a problem for the fish?
What can i do to adjust it?


THe standpipe conversion is underway, i am doing one tank at a time to avoid disrupting the plants too much. as one tank is cleared out for replanting i install a standpipe. 3 done so far.

You will get some nutrient lockout at that level of pH. Be interested to see if it drifts down over time like with fish.

I agree TT,
We are on limestone soil so it is naturally pH 9 i wonder if the ducks eating the soil causes their poo to be alkaline? I will get some neutral liquid and make a duck poo solution and test it.

Isnt a pH level of 9 rather corrosive. Hmm, put a few lemons into it.. may be that will help... lol. I am rather impress with the duckponic system. If I ever set one up I wont use it to grow vegies but more for tomatoes or beans. Ducks are beautiful birds, their presence will no doubt attract other wild ducks. I had wild ducks in the pool the other day. I noticed that someone had a fox problem the other day. Why not get a dog or a bengal cat. My friend has a bengal cat and it is very territorial towards other cats and dogs. However, it is fine with the birds and other animals that are already there. (make sure you get a kitten... )

The nitrogen cycle will naturally pull the pH down over time, whether the organics in the system comes from fish, ducks, or other sources. Decomposition naturally lowers pH.

A 9 pH is not generally corrosive. The biggest problem would be locking of nutrients. Solutions with pH less than 2 or greater than 12 would be extreme enough to damage your skin. Of course, depending on the nature of what you are trying to corrode, I suppose a pH of 9 could do it, but I can't think of something that would be affected by a pH that close to neutral.

the plants are not showing any signs of nutrient deficiency, and grow quite fast. As for corrosive at that pH, if it is everything here is gonna dissappear, because the natural ground is limestone and the ambient soil pH is about 8-9

Your plants must be chosen wisely or they wouldn't be happy,.....,PH 8-9 is very high ,,any blueberry bushes growing?
Cheers for succeeding when challenged with those PH numbers.