Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi there Toddscat, Would love to see how the plants are doing in the trout system. I know what trout are capable of and it is generally reflected in autumn/ winter plant growth.

You are right Faye the growth between the two systems has been like chalk & cheese, will take some photos tomorrow.

Changed things around a little today, moved the trout into the round tank the silvers were in & put the silvers into the sump of the trout system. So am now expecting the plants in the original grow bed to show some better growth.

Where did you actually get the Blue roto moulded tubs from?

The tanks came from my Brother in law & sorry there are no more Zman

todays test results

pH 8
Ammonia 1 ppm
Nitrite 5 ppm
Nitrate 80 ppm

Fish seem fine. Haven't fed for 3 days. There is no waste or dead fish sitting in the tank. Turned the system onto constant flood this morning
Could this just be a spike as the bacteria catches up with the increased load from the trout.
This system had 30 small (read tiny) SP's until last weekend when they were removed & the larger trout added.
Do i need to take further action.

yep id say your inrease in bioload is spiking the system, i would maybe swap out 30% water, esp. with the nitrite and ammo readings with that ph. then salt to 1ppt, and sit on your hands

why has your PH gone back up to 8 from 6.4? have you added anything to the water or tried buffering it? if there is limestone/gravel i would get it out so the ph can drop again

FB the low pH reading was in the other system. My BYAP system which the trout are in now has always had a pH around 8

I salted yesterday

Will do the 30% water change & "sit on my hands"

Thanks for the advice.

no more feed till ammonia and nitrites head southwards,
salt is a good tonic for the fish, 1-3 ppm is the acceptable figure.

regards
Matt

Ammonia levels back to 0
Nitrite still 5 ppm

Can i feed a little or still "sit on my hands"

How long can it take for the bacteria to catch up with an increased bio load

Nothing till the nitrites are gone.

As far as I understand Nitrites are more deadly than Ammonia.

the bacteria that converts the nitrites to nitrates are a lot slower to get going especially when it is cold.
fish are very efficient and can go with out feed for a week or 2.
keep and eye on the system and resist the feed.(even if they are begging for it)

regards
Matt

Keep sitting toddacat until it goes down

Thanks. Still sitting on hands

Nitrite 5 ppm this morning

Hooray

Nitrites 0 this morning
Trout fed like hungry lions