Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Tony, use the EDIT button at the top right of the post, you can continue adding to the post each time.

jaymie, i don't think users have edit right anymore..................i will check on this.

I can edit my posts

Yep - just did it

I was aware of the edit functions, but as replies get added, the table will need to be moved frequently, just to keep the data together in one place (at least between water changes - the way System 1 is going ). At least on the same page.
Here are the results with today's added at the end.
Nutrient results:
Date - - pH - - NH3 - - NO2 - - NO3 - - °C
14/10 - 8.2 - - 0.25 - - 0.25 - - 5 - - - 22.5 Added a lemon (juiced plus skins)
15/10 - 7.4 - - 0.25 - - 1.0 - - 10 - - - 21.4 Stopped feed & P, until NO2 drops
16/10 - 8.0 - <0.25 - - 1.0 - - 10 - - - 21.6
17/10 - 8.0 - - - 0 - - - 1.0 - - 10 - - - 16.8
18/10 - 8.2 - - - 0 - - - 0.5 - - 10 - - - 17.0
The nitrite seems to be going in the right direction. Should I start feeding the fish again?
19/10 - 8.2 - - - 0 - - - 0.5 - - 5 - - - - 20.5
20/10 - 8.0 - - - 0 - - - 0 - - - 0 - - - - Fed fish
21/10 - 7.4 - - 0.25 - <0.25 - 10 - - - - 19.1 pH dropping, is this a problem?? No feed again, until NO2 drops again.

22/10 - 8.0 - - - 0 - - <0.25 - - 10 - - NA
23/10 - no readings - worked late.

Hold off for another day

Date - - pH - - NH3 - - NO2 - - NO3 - - °C
14/10 - 8.2 - - 0.25 - - 0.25 - - 5 - - - 22.5 Added a lemon (juiced plus skins)
15/10 - 7.4 - - 0.25 - - 1.0 - - 10 - - - 21.4 Stopped feed & P, until NO2 drops
16/10 - 8.0 - <0.25 - - 1.0 - - 10 - - - 21.6
17/10 - 8.0 - - - 0 - - - 1.0 - - 10 - - - 16.8
18/10 - 8.2 - - - 0 - - - 0.5 - - 10 - - - 17.0
The nitrite seems to be going in the right direction. Should I start feeding the fish again?
19/10 - 8.2 - - - 0 - - - 0.5 - - 5 - - - - 20.5
20/10 - 8.0 - - - 0 - - - 0 - - - 0 - - - - Fed fish
21/10 - 7.4 - - 0.25 - <0.25 - 10 - - - - 19.1 pH dropping, is this a problem?? No feed again, until NO2 drops again.

22/10 - 8.0 - - - 0 - - <0.25 - - 10 - - NA
23/10 - no readings - worked late.
24/10 - 8.0 - - <0.25 - - 0 - - - 5 - - - 20.5°C
26/10 - 8.4 - - - 0.25 - - 1.0 - - 20 - - Darn electronic thermometer on the blink! No readings of °C. Humonia added, resulting in NO2/NO3 spikes
27/10 - 8.2 - - - <0.25 - 2.0 - - 10 (bit much Humonia, but GB pulling the NO3 out well)
28/10 - 8.2 - - - 0 - - - <0.25 - 0
29/10 - 8.2 - - - 0 - - - <0.25 - 0 I have difficulty in differentiating between the 0 and 0.25 colours, but it is definitely between the 2.
30/10 - 8.0 - - - 0 - - - 0.25 - - 5.0 - - N/A
31/10 - 7.4 - - - 0.25 - - 1.0 - - 10 - - N/A
01/11 - 7.4 - - - 0.25 - - 0.25 - 5.0 - - 18°C

03/11 - 8.0 - - - <0.25 - 0 - - - - 0 - - N/A
04/11 - 7.4 - - - 0.5 - - - 1.0 - - N/A - 18°C

Updated Nutrient readings

Bump

Latest nutrient readings:
Date - - pH - - -NH3 - - NO2 - - NO3 - - Temp
06/11 - 7.6 - - - 0.25 - 0.25 - - - 5.0 - - 18°C
07/11 - 8.4 - - - 0.25 - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - 19°C Humonia added.
08/11 - 8.0 - - <0.25 - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - 20°C No perceptible increase in nutrient levels from humonia last night.

Looking good, now for some more fish.

lurve the new term Humonia.
Better than yellow liquid gold!

OK, no new readings to add, but added a couple of coils of 19mm polythene pipe on top of the new patio roof to assist in the heating of the fish pond (aka sump).
Water temp this afternoon is 26°C.

Now to get the tilapia to breed.

Do they make fish blue movies?
What aphrodisiacs would be most effective?
Should I turn off the sub gravel filter to prevent the eggs being sent thru the filter, and only rely on the pumped bio-filter with it's 15:45 min on:off timing?

Tony, Janet would probably be the resident Talapia expert ...

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=735

and some very similar questions were posted very recently...

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... 7099#87099

Thanks Rupe! If those threads don't answer your questions, let me know, Tony.

The Under Grave l Filter is off, my airpump is keeping the DO high and the new GB is running well.

Tilapia are reproducing in my aquarium. One female spat out her fry and we managed to collect 18 of them. Is this a normal sized hatching?
4 males are shifting gravel to make their love shacks.

No other females look to be holding eggs or fry at this stage.

Will keep the forum advised of upgrades.

I added water to my 1Kl fish pond (soon to be sump) from the garden hose a couple of days ago and the pH has shot to 8.8 This tells me that my high pH issues are due to the bore water. I will use rainwater from now on.

I am hoping my 5KL fish pond water temp rises to above 24°C soon, so that I can shift some of my larger tilapia males out of the aquarium.

Glad to hear it's all happening for you Tony