Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey all. I have been trolling around here for some time now, i think it's finally time to get involved. So i built a 20 gal system about six months ago. Two weeks ago i finally bought a water testing kit (api). So tested my system and surprise surprise my levels were all through the roof except my ph that was low. So i took the system apart made a grow bed that is 2/3s bigger than the old one. Took the clay from the old system cleaned it and added to the new gb. Then cleaned all the fish poo ai could out of the tank and did a 50% water change. Now it has only been a week and my levels are off, the one that worries me is the ammonia.
Ph-6
Ammonia-8
Nitrites-0
Nitrates-40 or 80
Temp-19c
Any ideas on what's going on? Am i back to cycling and should just do water changes and hang out?
Thank you
Ivan

Welcome Ivan

Sounds like your pH might actually be below 6 Ivan... and your bacterial colony might have crashed...

Along with uneaten feed... and "fish poo"...in the tank... that's probably caused your ammonia spike...

You really shouldn't have any uneaten feed.. or "poo" in your fish tank at all... perhaps you have some other issues... either design related, or over-feeding???

Regardless... your pH and temperature combination... is probably the only thing keeping your fish alive....

So you can't make large changes to your pH through buffering... or water changes... without pushing your ammonia toxicity closer to lethal...

But you need to raise your pH to ensure the bacterial nitrification is working properly...

Get some hydrated lime (brickies lime)... Calcium Hydroxide... and add a small pinch... to raise your pH above 6..... and repeat again (preferably the next day)... until you've go the pH back to about 6.4...

Don't feed your fish... until you've got your pH is sorted... and your ammonia levels have dropped back below 1....

In such a small system... you will need to monitor... and buffer your pH constantly...

P.S... how many fish do you have?

Hey rupert, i have a 20 gal tank on the ground and built a shelf for the five gal grow bed (it is a troth for animals twice as wide as the tank and just as long). I have the pump gong off to flood and drain with the auto siphon every 1.5 hours. I also have a hanging on the tank going since it is in my living room and my girlfriend wants it to be "nice". I have two koi and the types of gold fish and a sucker fish. I think i may take the gold fish out because the koi need the room. Should i make it a constant flow? And turn off the filter? Does this help?

Sorry fish filter that hangs on the tank