Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I just want to start off by thanking everyone here for allowing me to be a part of the community. I look forward to learning a lot from everyone here as I continue my aquaponics venture.

This past Thanksgiving I was hanging out with my friend and I explained to him that I wanted to start a garden, without hesitation he overwhelmed me with the topic of aquaponics. He schooled me for a good 45 mikes and needless to say, I was completely lost. I got to talking to my wife about the possibility of getting something going and she was understandably hesitant. With some persuasion and some research I decided to go for it. The best part of it is the kids helped out while I was making my system and every time they had a question I did research to try to figure it out for all of us.

Fast forward to now. I am extremely motivated but of course a bit scared as well.

I finished setting up the system 15 days ago and began cycling with 20 gold fish.





the system is made of two 275 gallon IBC totes. The fish tank is 150 gallons of water. Media bed is roughly 100 gallons of hydroton, and the two DWC are 13in deep. The sump tank is 50 gallons.

I do have a few questions. The siphon on the media bed fills and drains every 15 minutes/ Should I adjust water flow to decrease time or increase? -- I have yet to have problems with the water draining to the sump tank in terms of overflowing or running too low (i think and hope)

I have been testing the water every day while cycling and the ammonia had gotten to 4ppm while the nitrites showed up at .25 ppm. The nitrites only showed up for 2 days and as of today the ammonia was at 2 while the nitrites sat at 0. My nitrate test showed 10, With only 15 days into the cycling process I'm not sure if I should be happy or be afraid. Everything I read said that after the ammonia would rise I should see an increase in nitrites. But they were only in the system for two days.

Has anyone ever cycled without a nitrite spike or am I missing something?

Any suggestions or advice is highly welcome.

Sorry for my rant on my first post. That's the end of that. Once again, Thank everyone here for having me and I look forward to learning a lot from everyone! Cheers!

Welcome leatherneck1833! The cycle time on the siphons is just fine, though you may pull the bells while your system is cycling. I had phantom nitrates before the nitrites showed up. No idea why. So, no you are not cycled yet. You will see a nitrite spike. Maybe not as big of one I had, but expect to see them. Your system looks great btw!

Thanks Ronmaggie. Thanks for the reassurance, Just trying to stay the course.

Once again, I appreciate your help and look forward to learning a lot from you and everyone here.

No worries! Btw, there is no e at the end of my name. There used to be an o, as in Dimaggio, but for some reason my great grandfather thought that just Maggi would sound more American... This would have been before the baseball player made Dimaggio a famous name.

Welcome aboard!

Looking forward to seeing and learning from you on the forum!

Very nice and neat system! I jealous! Getting family buy in, is the biggest battle - I mean challenge.


Semper Fi

Bob H

Min-a-so-ta'

Thank you sir, I too look forward from learning from you as well as everyone in the community. Thanks again!

0nce an 1833 always an 1833?! Your just trading large water challenges for smaller water challenges

Family buy in is a challenge. SWMB0 wants to travel and won't eat fish. We are both retired and the wife wants to make sure we are not chained to house because of AP. 0nce the veggies start coming in and the grand kids adopt the fishes maybe....

Hmm come to think of it, now I have a good excuse, I mean a good reason and necessity to automate and remote access our AP


Challenges = opportunities.

Stay in touch!

Semper Fi