Backyard Aquaponics
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/

Just started aquaponics, staring small
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=22316
Page 1 of 1

Author:  lemonparty [ Jul 10th, '14, 15:39 ]
Post subject:  Just started aquaponics, staring small

Hey all, My name is Lemonparty and I've been wanting to get in to aquaponics for a long time.

I'm located in Ontario, currently a student so pretty much on a shoestring budget.

My budget breaks down like this in case anyone is curious:

$35 plants
$10 beneficial bacteria
$11 Water treatment
$6 fish
$10 gravel
$15 lava rocks
$40 water test kit
$15 bell siphon parts

My grow bed is approx 30" x 18" x 7" which works out to be around 11 Gallons I think. The fish tank is a rubbermade roughneck bin that has about 24 Gallons in it.

In the fish tank are 5 fish about 4 inches long, and 16 minnows. They seem to be doing well so far, some minnows have died, which I believe was due to high ammonia levels. But since I bought a bottle of beneficial bacteria the ammonia levels have gone down considerably.

It's day 8 of the system being active so I have high hopes for the future.

I'll try to keep this updated as things progress.

Author:  arbe [ Jul 10th, '14, 16:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Just started aquaponics, staring small

Hi Lemonparty.

Have you got any pictures you can post?

What is the water treatment you have purchased?

Author:  lemonparty [ Jul 10th, '14, 16:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Just started aquaponics, staring small

Hmmm for some reason I can't upload pictures. Here is a link to the Imgur album http://imgur.com/a/74SAs

As for the water treatment, I used aquascape pond detoxifier.

Author:  jayendra [ Jul 10th, '14, 18:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Just started aquaponics, staring small

Scrap the siphon (constant flood) and bacteria and save 20$ get some seeds instead of plants


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Author:  Ronmaggi [ Jul 11th, '14, 00:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Just started aquaponics, staring small

Smaller systems are more challenging. I recommend running constant flood in it too. Arbe, be careful about asking for lemon party pictures... Not that there is anything wrong with older men loving each other.

Author:  lemonparty [ Jul 11th, '14, 05:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Just started aquaponics, staring small

So I've done a test and apparently my nitrite levels are off the charts. Either that or I'm colour blind.

My Nitrate levels are also skyhigh, so at least I know the cycle is working.

Here's a pic of the testhttp://imgur.com/FojglWd, either the nitrates are over 9000ppm or, it's somewhere low, I honestly don't know.



About the constant flow vs bell siphon, is there a reason behind it? Won't that cause rot on the roots?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Author:  jayendra [ Jul 11th, '14, 06:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Just started aquaponics, staring small

Are those vials in the opposite order?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Author:  lemonparty [ Jul 11th, '14, 07:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Just started aquaponics, staring small

@Jayendra

Yes they are actually, the light was on the wrong side so I just walked to the other side of the table for a better shot.

I tried constant flood, but it didn't look like there was enough circulation. Luckily I greatly oversized my pump, and I have it now on a 2 minute flood and drain cycle, with about 1/3 of the bottom left flooded.

I was pre culturing some other aquarium stones for a smaller system I was planning on making, but instead I just placed the majority of them in the bottom of the fish tank to help nitrifying bacteria accumulate.

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC + 8 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/