Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ive got a 10 gallon system setup in my apartment.

Been doing a fish cycle for about 2 weeks now.

Ive lost a few of the smaller fish and I though it was due to high ammonia levels.

The past few days ive been getting nitrate and nitrite readings so it look like the system is establishing.

In the past few days ive also lost 2 fish and the last one is not looking to hot. He keeps kinda bobbing around.

heres my water levels.

@74 F
7.9 Ph
.5 Ammonia
.20 Nitrite
3 Nitrate

Do these reading trigger any red flags?

I did get a few of the fish from walmart and they did not look too good. Perhaps they were diseased? Im using a plastic tote for both the grow bed and fish tank. Perhaps its leaching out some toxic chemicals and killing the fish?

And maybe this is completely normal. Im a newb and honestly have no idea.

Any advice is appreciated. Please let me know if you need any more info.

Many appreciations

Sudo

Correction - 7.8 Ph

How many fish do you have?

I also have a small system that's about 13 gallon (50 liter), but I've found it to be really unstable when it comes to pH and nitrite readings. So I just do "peeponics" right now and building a 100gal/375l- fishtank to have fish in instead.

Not saying you can't do it, but be weary.

How long did you cycle your system before putting in the fish?

Yes, how long did you cycle before adding fish?

It ran for a few days before I added fish.

I added 5 gold fish. 3 small feeders about an inch long and two whoppers about 2.5 - 3 inches.

Im down to just one whopper.

Thanks for the input so far. Any more suggestions?

Sorry to be blunt, but you have to cycle your system properly before adding fish, otherwise they will die. Like they have in your case.
And that seems to have been to many fish in such a small space anyway. And you can't have had that much plant to take up the nitrate judging by the numbers you posted...

Didn't you read any guide's before starting with aquaponics?

Im doing a fish cycle, not a fishless cycle. Thats why I added the fish so soon

Is this not the way to run a fish cycle? I have done some research and it indicates as much.

There are many plants (seedlings) to take the nitrates.

I encourage any criticism. As I stated, this is my first go round and you wont hurt my feelings.

Update -

New water readings are the same except the temp is 76 F.

The fish is looking better but im still not sure about him.

Obviously this forum is a wealth of info, but if anyone can shoot me a link or a reference to some material, I would be eternally grateful.

Thanks in advance!

Sudo

Not true at all... I've never cycled without fish... in my own systems.. or clients... and have hardly ever lost a fish...

Certainly the OP seems to have had a lot of fish to start with... and perhaps the readings were more elevated previously...

But there's certainly nothing in the current/last set of readings posted... that represents any great problem...

I'm going to suggest that the fish deaths were probably a combination of dodgy fish from the supplier... and quite probably, due to the number of fish... likely to be due to lack of oxygenation...

P.S.. most of "fishless cycling" methods promoted on the aquaponics forums, or in various books... are actually often wrong...

In looking around online, it seems as though high nitrites are as hard on fish as high ammonia. Perhaps this is just the second leg of the system establishing?

I have some aquarium salt. Wonder if that would help the fish cope.

Per http://www.goldfish-emergency.com/viewp ... page_id=20 :

"Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are more dangerous in warmer water that has a high pH, and is heavily oxygenated. This is because these are the conditions that increase their blood flow."

Maybe it is the nitrite's. Ive got a big ol' air stone in there and the temp and pH are relatively high.

Guess ill just have to tough it out until the system gets fully established.

Anyone have a similar experience? Am I barking up the wrong tree?

This chart will show you the interrelationship of pH/temp.. and ammonia toxicity...



Nitrite toxicity... brown blood disease... can be combated by salting to 1ppt... 1kg of salt per 1000L....

None of your values suggest they would be lethal to your fish...

If you are sufficiently oxygenated.. then the deaths are almost certainly related to the fish supply...

Although I'm still inclined to temperature and corresponding oxygen fluctuations...

Thanks for sharing your wisdom RupertofOZ.

Fish was alive and kicking this morning. Ill keep posting updates.

I know this question may be impossible to answer but here it goes...

Any reputable fish dealers that someone can recommend? Any thing I should check for when at the pet store?

I got these 5 fish from 3 different dealers and its hard to believe that they were all sick. But stranger things have happened.

I dont see myself getting any 'eating' fish and will probably keep getting these gold fish due to the small size of the system.

Suggestions?

Hiya sudo, perhaps you can give the fish a saline bath before putting them into your set up to kill parasites or if you have space add a quarantine tank.
Any excuse for expansion.