Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Have I got some major issues with my fish. I pulled out my Barrumundi on mothers day, they we were going great, I put in some trout, they were going great for one week, it rained, the next day all trout were dead. I had the water tested (PH, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia) all good. I waited a week and got some more, they died in 24 hours. I completely dumped all the water out of the tank, and re-filled. waited a week for the chlorine to disipate, and the airator running flat out. I then tried some silver perch. Three hours they were dead. I then completely pulled out all plants, washed all the media in the grow beds, and dumped the water in the tank again. Basically starting from scratch. I put in some more trout, a few jumped out, but the remaining ones lasted a week and they have died, (it did rain during the week). The grow beds are out in the open, and there is no water collected from roofs, or trees, I test the water myself and it seems perfect, the airator is running flat out. The fish only die after it rains, even though I have washed the media, and started with new seedlings. I am running out of things to try, I need help, I am about to give up.

how long did you leave it between the barra and the trout?

perhaps the system is no longer cycled? certainly after dumping all the water and washing the gravel, the system will need to be cycled again.

I second the idea about not being cycled. Was the system running (pumping, etc) over the media while you waited for the Cl to dissipate? You could have killed all the beneficial stuff. I would suggest measuring the levels and use some humonia.

I pulled out the Barramundi, and the trout went in the next day.
The system probably hasn't cycled, but the nitrates ect are still fine as the fish don't last long enough the contaminate the water.the system was running as per normal while waiting for the cl to disipate. (pump and airator)

sorry to hear your drama, can't offer a solution just good wishes.
Dale

The theory is that the chlorine in the water killed off the bacteria in the growbeds.

What are you measurements now?

Is there something that overhangs the growbeds/fishtanks/sumps which could leach into the water during rain? This could be a gumtree, tin roof, structure...etc

Normally you would be testing for Ammonia, PH, Nitrite and Nitrate. There may be other substances being leached into the water.

What are your growbeds made of?

Many questions, the more information you can provide the better for the people here to help.

Photos?

Thats the thing. I don't have a good idea for what killed them the first time. Maybe someone with more fish experience can chime in (stress?) Where you feeding them yet?

I had a similar thing happen to me when I changed out more than 80% of the water. I had also introduced some new water plants that must have carried some virus/bacteria/something! I killed all the ammonia->nitrite and nitrite->nitrate bacteria in the grow bed. Same for you if you cleaned all the media as well. If you get fish, make sure you do not feed them too soon. I bet the system needs to cycle again.

How bout some pictures of the system.

A bit of a mystery what killed the first batch of fish at the moment.

I kinda agree that after the complete system dump and putting in new tap water, that likely did affect the bacteria and chances are, if you had fish in there for a week, there probably would be some spiking of levels (it doesn't take long for a new batch of fish to provide enough waste to cause water quality spikes.)

However, we don't know anything about this system or the numbers of fish.

How big is the system, what's the media, what are the grow beds/tanks made out of?
Also, how many fish are we talking about. If it was like two fish in a huge system, then yea, probably no ammonia or nitrite spiking but if we are talking about 100 trout in a 1000 liter fish tank, well that would be a different story.

One more thing to check, what does your city use to treat the water. If it is just chlorine, then letting the system run with aeration for a few days could take care of it but if your water is treated with chloramine, it takes weeks to neutralize that stuff.

When I test the water, I am actually getting no reading of nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia, all levels are "0" the PH is sitting at 7 and sometimes 7.2
Should I get some more Bacteria and put into the grow beds, and let the system run for a few days before I put in any fish.
There are no trees overhanging the growbeds, but I do get some gum leaves blowing into the tank and growbeds.
Is there any tests that I should be doing, I am currently only testing ammonia, nitrates, nitrites and PH

I have a 1000 liter tank, two growbeds, it is the Entertainer system purchased from backyard aquaponics, using there media. I have no Idea if the water is treated with chloramine. I usually get 15 trout fingerlings at a time, and they are only about 50mm in length. Once I can keep them alive for more than a week I will get some more.

Do you have any trees over hanging the FT or close enough for rain water to be blown from the leaves to the FT?

I have NFI about any specific plant chemical that would kill fish that quick but it does seem strange that it only happens after rain so I would assume the rain is introducing something to the FT.

Do you have a shadecloth cover for the FT? Contaminants could be comming from there if you do.

I can confirm that chlomines will kill the bacteria. My system had a complete turnover of water from the tap. I have no nitrate and am seeing the nitrite spike now.

As for rain killing the fish - we need pictures. Someone here can pinpoit it.

Your tap water is chlorinated and that can cause fish deaths but it usually breaks down pretty quickly (24 hours if you keep your pumps going). You will see a spike in your readings before you get fish deaths if it is from not being fully cycled so it is unlikely to be that if all your readings are zero. I would suggest some other outside influence. I am in Kalamunda and am happy to come have a look and help you check over the system for possible causes if you would like.

PM me with a contact number if you are keen.

Cheers,
Mike

Just throwing an idea into the ring:
Check your electrics for any possibility of earth leakage through the fishtank.
Only thing i can think of to do with rain being associated.

s.pope, if you don't mind. I would suggest you take a photo of your site and post it here... often things may not be obvious to you, someone else might be able to point out from photos... have you used any chemicals (ie sprays, rat poision, etc) around your plot recently??