Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Everyone, We are new to aquaponics and loving it!

We have come across a few queries but my query today is that we have very small 'worms' in our IBC system water and don't know whether it's a good or bad thing?
We first noticed mini tadpoles (2-3mm) swimming only at night and dead on the side during the day but today whilst checking the air stones we found string like tiny worms (4-6mm) alive and clinging to the air stone pipes in the tank water.
The water is also green/brown and won't clear up.
Our system has 6 large barramundi, who are very happy and healthy. We set the system up in January, so it's only about 7-8 weeks old.
We have had to pull some plants out and we've replaced them with others.
Our tank has a double layer of shade cloth around it and we put up a shade sail 2 weeks ago.

Our Ammonia is 0, Nitrite 0 and Nitrates 5, PH 8.2.

We have had other teething problems but I thought I'd start with the question that has stumped me and I haven't found any info about.

Any help about this or general topics like aphids/ladybirds etc would be very helpful.
Thanks

Welcome hillsy

Can you post up a pic of the little wrigglers and your system for us, it helps to answer your questions. I was thinking mosquito larvae but I need to see what they look like.

Cheers

Hi,
I have attached three photos, more to come.
Two are of the system when installed, the other is of the 'worms' today.

We did think Mosquito larvae too but they don't like running water but these seem to really enjoy it plus they don't look like them. They seem to have two heads and thinner in the middle. They do wriggle alot so the photo probably isn't the best.
The first bug we found that looked like tiny tadpoles were the shape of a tadpole.

Thanks.

Some photos of our plants

These photos show the condition of our water which apparently should have cleared by now and hasn't which prompts me to ask if these worm like bugs are the cause?
Everything regarding the water is otherwise perfect. The fish are happy too.

Looks like you should shade the tank more IMO. Regarding critters in the system, usually the more the merrier and the critters will balance each other out. Algae likes a high pH.