Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

We've added a lot more water now.

maybe put a piece of shadecloth or something similar over the top so they can't jump out

no worries, forrest, hope we didn't freak you too much, just didn't want some one beating muzza'a fish kill record!

the thing with ammonia is, you're in HSM but don't realise it until its too late.

If you've got some spare time i would REALLY suggest reading the threads on;

The nitrogen cycle
Ammonia
Nitrite

They are located here -->> http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=11

Can't wait to see them in their big home. Good idea on the second tank you'll do great.

ok, we've regrouped.

There are fish in both tanks now. Both tanks have been filled up. There is an aerater in each tank. Jaymie, I've covered them with shade cloth. Thanks.

We can see now that the water in tank 1 is very dirty. Is this an indication of high ammonia and nitrite levels? I'll do another test for ammonia when the water settles down a bit. Tank 2 is pristine.

just so I know what not to aim for, what is muzza's fish kill record?

about 250

ROFL

forest, you can have the youckiest looking water with zero ammonia, or the most pristine water with killer ammonia, thats why 70% of first time fish tank woners kill their fish

gotcha steve.

I've poured a bucket full of water from our healthy goldfish tank out front into both tanks and added some sludge from the side of the goldfish tank to the holding tanks. I hope that by adding some bacteria it might help our situation.

I refuse to kill the fish. I will be a 30 percenter.

This is the pump we bought for the fish tank. It is 80W and pumps 4900 L an hour. It's american. Does anyone know anything about this brand?

Rhonda,
SP are very tough fish, (I haven't been able to kill any yet) so they should get through this ordeal okay - more than I can say for a few of the APers that had heart palpitations tho

HSM is a wonderful thing

so is gravel washing

if you want somewhere to "temporarily" re-locate your fish, I have a 300l tank with only duckweed in it and connected to grow beds, you're welcome to store your fish in it

Don't know about that brand myself... Being made in the US hopefully it should be fairly reliable..

It's a bit hard to figure it's physical size from the pic. I see it has a foam filter on the inside, this will block very quickly with fine particles, so I'd look at removing it, or you'll be cleaning it out every couple of days. The grill will protect it from larger solids going into the pump, and anything that will fit through those grills should go through the pump without any problems.. After removing the internal foam filter, to be sure you don't get any long stringy things going through the grill into the pump causing troubles, you can fit the pump inside a bucket..

I did the same thing with one of my systems, removed the foam filter, then went and bought one of those white "foodstuff" plastic buckets with a fitted lid. If you get one that your pump fits into, then drill all over the bucket with hundreds of holes. Cut a hole just big enough for your outlet hose and power cord, push the power plug through the hole, then your outlet pipe as well, putting your pump inside the bucket, hooking up the pipe, and sealing the lid on..

Now you have a double layer of coarse filter, first the bucket with all of it's small holes, then the grill on the pump case inside..

I was having to clean pump filter grill on one system, about once a week from leaves and other rubbish. Since I've installed the "pump in bucket" theory, I've not cleaned it once in in 3-4 months...

LOL ellkaybee

The fish look ok at the moment, I'll test the water later today and tomorrow morning to see how we're travelling. Many thansk for your kind offer. If we have trouble with the nitrite/ammonia levels, I might take you up on it. We're at Landsborough so not too far away from Caboulture.

My husband just drove in with a trailer full of gravel. looks like we'll be washing it over the weekend.

what fun for you

joel, I have no idea about the pump. I'll get H to read your post when he comes inside. I just saw him heading off with two shovels in his hand. Gravel is being washed.

Thanks love.