Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

This is my second system, couldn't find pics of first.

It is a 4ft tank with murray cod fingerlings, it was a continuious flow system using clay pellets as medium. There was one tomato plant in grow bed and a couple of bits and pieces in the floating bed that i was starting off. i was using a fluro light on a 18 hour cycle(from memory). The tomato started to flower when i had to move and dismantle everything (the problem with renting).

Well done Pah.... that's a different (and obviously successful) approach to what most others have done....

When you say continuous flow... is the top grow bed feed by drippers and just drips through back to tank??

The floating growbed I assume just sucks up water... correct???

no drippers, just a couple of holes punched into the tubing, caused a little bit of splash back which killed off a few leaves here and there. And yes the water drained out of a hole drilled into tub. if you look closely you will see the roots coming out of it at the back right corner. It was pretty simple stuff.

Yes the float bed just sucked it up.

The tomatoes look like they are happy Pah..

yes, it was a shame i had to move, it would of been the first fruit for my labour. Labour lol, nothing better than being in the back shed with a project and a beer in hand!

I sense we have a true AP'er here ..... LOL

nothing like the peace and quiet of trickling flow of water back to the sump.

this was my next effect at the new house. didnt let the bacteria build up before putting in plants. has since been dismantled and i am now collecting bath tubs.

dam was to slow and missed the bath tub, tally so far 1, if anybody wants to get rid of any let me know.

a question, i want to get a nitrate test, what is a good one? is one from a aquarium shop suitable? and what level of nitrate am i aiming for?

aquarium pharmaceuticals seems to be the one of choice.

Its VERY important that you follow the shaking directions for the nitrate test.

acceptable nitrate levels seem to be anywhere from 5ppm to 100+ppm.

Personally i now think we should be aiming LOWER due to possible nitrate storage in leaves, esp. during winter.

Keep in mind any given system that is IN BALACE can have whatever nitrate you want just by reducing or increasing feed until you're at your level, then resuming the amount of feed that is balanced with the amount the plants remove.

Steve

PS buy the testkits online someone will put up a link for you CHEAPER

thanks steve, will do.

been busy setting up the above system again today, just have to let it cycle for a few weeks because i filled it with tap water about a week a go when i moved it. it was in the house with tropical fish, all show no go if you know what i mean. does anyone know if canberra uses chlorine or chloramine?

you can always use water conditioned to neut the chlorine.

yeah, but dont like to add stuff like that if i can help it. there would of been heaps of bacteria in the gravel and canister filter, just thinking the chlorine or chloamine would of killed it off.

g'day Pah,
this is a master kit that most of us use: Master Test Kit
Hmmm....new packaging

sweet, just what i am looking for, the kits i have seen at the LFS (yes i know i know) do everything but the nitrate.

still the question remains, with the water change from the tap in canberra, would i of killed all the bacteria?