Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone,
Have just finished stage 1 of my new system consisting of 6K Litre tank, and 3x2K Litre GB's. I have planted my plants, and cycled for a week.

Yesterday, I carried out the water tests and would really love some advice to get it ready for some fish.

My PH is in excess of 7.6 (I just did the standard PH - not high range)

My Ammonia, N02 and N03 all recorded 0 ppm.

My plants were all looking a little sickly through the week, so I added some seasol (1 litre, for 5000 litres of water). I hope that wasn't too much. After the testing, I have also added the egg whites of a dozen eggs to help the water clear up. Am I on the right track? Any suggestions gratefully accepted Please?

Kind regards,
Todd

Do you have any amonia in there if not a few stubbies will give you a good start
seasol wont give amonia

ARGH! My beer ration Okay .. I'll throw a couple of beers in the tank.. would anything else work? So Ammonia will then get converted to no2, then no3 correct?

Thanks!!
t

Just make sure you filter the beer through your kidneys first!

He is right i am to much of a gentleman to suggest to pee in the tank

And if you dont like that idea, put 1 standard cup of granulated urea in your tank, and test it daily to follow the ammonia spike through to nitrite, then nitrate.

When reading reach zero, add another cup.

You also will probably need to upgrade you pipework from the poly to 32 or 40mm pvc, and you need to make sure the water is not splashing into the growbeds or you will get a horrible green slime covering everything. You want the water to enter at gravel level.

Those little green taps will need to have the mesh inside them removed (screwdriver) or they will get blocked up within weeks.

What pump are you using?

Your seasol amount is fine, and until you get some ammonia happening, your plants wont do much at all, and your pH is not a problem either, it will naturally lower over time.

What fish you going to run?

Hi Outbackozzie

Appreciate your advice. I will fix up the taps, and make the pipes go into the medium so it doesnt splash. I have just put some cotton mesh underneath (the sort you find in cushions) to help filter it for a couple of days.

I'm at work - can't remember the pump type but I think it's just sufficient (ie - if I want to run another gb - i'd need to upgrade). My rate is approximately 16 minute fill and 6 minute drain for each bed.

Because im in Tassie, the only fish I can run are triploid rainbow trout. Really strict fishery laws unfortunately. Pretty ironic as trout can be found in every dam river in the state, and there is a restocking program - and yet I still need license for trout.

Thanks again!
t

Hi Todd,
great photo of your system about to kick off. exciting.

I live in hobart and am planning my system. Be lovely to catch up if you are intertested.


cheers ian