Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi, i recently gave a newly starting member (RobynT) about 500-600mls of pure gold It was the filter "gunk" from my Tropical tank, Tilapia tank, bristlenose tank and was mixed with the tank water as well. Each tank has been established for around 6-8 months and counting.

I emptied around 30 liters of tank water and from that i got the 500-600mls of pure gunk. I noticed another website sells bacteria for all sorts of uses aquariums, aquaculture could be used for aquaponics this sells for a fair bit.

Are people interested in this? I am just thinking how much time it would take off the new aquaponics systems if you had that little kick start of bacteria growth. If you pore this gunk over a normal plant its growth is at least doubled in speed. It may be something like $15 for 100mls because it takes around a month to get only 500mls, but its not too much to ask compared to the cost of the retail product.

Nic

trick would be to ship it quickly and prefferably in cold weather.

most of the commercail stuff is hetrotrophic (sp?) bacs. the ship well have a long shelf life and i dont think have an O2 requirement when in storage.

I'm sure you know how little time a cannister filter can take to go "bad" and having a re-cycle.

I think it would take a big hit off the cycle up time of a newbie system. Go for it. you['re basically starting the colony with a small army instead of waiting for the recruits to just drop by

I think the water in your system has it in as well, thats how it travels around.

I know how good this stuff is.

I have several filters that all take the same synthetic sponges and when I want to set up a new tank I always take 1 of the old sludgy ones out (they have two per filter) and put it in the filter for the new and add a new sponge to the old one. It means I can kick start the new tank with 'good bugs' and have it cycled in no time at all.

I will defiantly be harvesting some for my new AP setup.

It's a great idea Nic, I'm sure lots of people would be interested if the Bac's will survive the post.

I know when I finally get my system up and running I will be visiting some of the melbourne members with a bucket

Hi can you elaborate on this, is their any way my "gunk" can last longer? If i bottled the stuff how long do you reckon before it died off?

Instead of posting the stuff it may be easier for people just to come round and pick it up. Not sure how Australia post feels about bacteria... or for that matter fish poop

Nic

Definitely one of the recommendations I've read on the forum to help get the cycle going is to get some sludge from another system's filter. It may not be required but it definitely speeds the process as I understand it.

As to how to preserve it, I don't know. Probably best for people to pick it up so it is fresh. I don't know how you would stockpile it though. Perhaps a sludge tank full of chunks of old filter with circulation and air? Probably best just to have a large system with a filter media that is easy to grab a glob full and replace.

Oi Nic, where's mine????

What you playing favorites with Robyn now, just because she's your boss!

Am still unsure why you need the sludge?

I dunno Jeff is it worth wasting the gold on you

Tell me when you need some and ill get some more

The gunk from the filters is what truly filters the water, its the bacteria within this gunk which converts the ammonia, nitrates and nitrite levels making the water livable for the fish. If you pore this gunk over your growbed then this bacteria is given a new (bigger) home and starts to multiply giving you as someone said a army rather than a recruitment pavillion (waiting for the soldiers).

i am open to newbies coming with a 200l barrel and taking some of my already filtered water away, so if any one needs some give me a PM

thanks nic, maybe when i bring the marron in on wednesday

inc, i'd suggest that your idea of pickups would be much better.

the het. bacteria are also nitrifiers but of a different type, they are usually free floating with no need to attach to a substrate and can handle many of the rigours that the standard two can not.

so where is the catch? it takes roughly a million of them to do the work of ONE nitrosomonas

For example, ive heard that a fluidised bed filter crashes within a few hours if turned off.

fresh is best

No problems jeff, i should be here Wednesday but if not ill drop the "gunk" off with Tim.

Nic