Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I got the ammonia too high on my first batch of silvers. When I did a big water change, they went from lifeless in the corner (99% dead) to fine within the hour. Need to use neutraliser though if using tap water.

Be aware however that their gills may be damaged from the ammonmia exposure and this may mean their growth will be stunted.

approx 4

Jesus. How's the water change gone. Helped a lot? How many fish in total and are they all looking bad?

could this be what happened to the catties?

HSM ensuing. Went to M10, bought more pipe, pumped out fast, now filling slowly. Am using rain water as it turns out it's ph is around 7.

Ammonia caught up on me FAST. Really took me by surprise.

Still only 2 deaths, I have everything crossed. Everything.

Nice you have found the culprit, sit tight, the water change will relieve things for you. Going to have to be firm about not letting others feed your fish.

Got my fingers crossed too.

Catties doing well, in a different tank. No more deaths touch wood.


Thanks all for your help. Will report back when the water has finished topping up and see how they are.

HSM = Pretty sure it's 'Holy Shit Mode', might need confirmation.

Sorry to hear about your difficulties Monya, hopefully your remedial work does the trick

Sorry to here of your problems but i aint in a possion to give advice

stu, why not just buffer the tank water up?

do it in a 200lt barrel, use lime.

Hi Stu,

I think Adelaide's water authority (is it still SA Water) uses chlorine to disinfect the urban water supply.....or at least they did when I worked for the E&WS Department. Chlorine will flash off if you just leave the water to stand for a while. It will disappear even faster if you put a bubbler in the container. It might pay to check to see if that's still the case.

Chloramine (a blend of chlorine and ammonia) is the stuff that they use up here in Queensland and you have to use a Water Ager to get rid of it.

I must confess I'm surprised at your pH readings.......mains water of 6.5 and rainwater of 7. I'd have thought it the other way round since most of SA is limestone rock of one sort or another, the mains water should be slightly alkaline......and rainwater is generally slightly acid.

Anyway, I'd be far more concerned about getting rid of the ammonia than dropping the pH to 6.5. The pH won't kill the fish but the ammonia will.

Don't be concerned about using water with high levels of nitrates (unless they are really high) because nitrates are not generally toxic to fish. You could always cut some of your Barra water with some rainwater.

Good luck, mate.

Gary

GD, the ph thing here has confused the hell out of me. Normally ph tap water in the 7's, rainwater mid 6's. Today, swapped. Will test again tomorrow to make sure I haven't cocked it up.
And you are right, the ammonia is deadly, and the fix up is underway.

fingers crossed stu, sounds like we both had the same prob lol.

I forgot to mention that I did me 90% waterchange coz my ammonia was over 4 ......it happened so quick too. I added some bacteria from my GB and I am watching my levels and not feeding for a few days lol..... the water has stayed alot clearer and doesnt smell.

basically I forgot to cycle my aquarium (the same way we have done our AP systems)

My water didn't smell at all, I have been trying to do the smell test instead of the other tests, until I saw them looking crook. Water is crystal clear too.
Suppose it shows that the fish will let you know if there is a problem, just for some fishies, it's too late (ie the one that became barra food)

BK,
HSM - Holy Shit Mode

My SP were doing fine until I moved them, they came in a batch from Childers (not Ausyfish) Murray, Roskar, Andy White and myself shared