Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Is that when the Smiles pee in the fish tank?

I've added ager and have started adding fish food. Same as the salt water system I set up. The pump is moving the water and adding air. Couple of days I might add some guppies. Ran out of time to put the top on, tonight if I can wash the gravel.

Got guppies. 3 female and 1 happy male . Also found a place close for fingerling for the larger system.

He'll only be happy for a little while,,,then he'll read about another male guppie with 7 gals ,,,AHHH I gotta get me some more gals:)

My first fatality.

Was it because of the temp or the ammonia or nitrite.
Well it was none of the above. Aparantly the people that make aquarium pumps don't test them with fish or they would of noticed the small gap that's just big enough to let a guppy stick it's head into. So my system is on air stone until I can fish proof the pump.

Another week and no more deaths. I've fish proofed the pump and added a small heater to help with the bacteria. Will test the water next.

Now got 5 goldies in as well. The water is being pumped through gravel and I've got a filter on the system as well.

AAHHH, that brings back memories - just mine pump sucked up and minced almost ALL my baby silver perch

so how soon do the plants come?

I put a few drawf bean seeds into the gravel. They almost had there heads out before I added more gravel.

Poor buggers, cut off before their prime!

The system must of started to cycle as I'm getting a nitrate reading now. Still doing small water changes to keep the ammonia low untill the bacteria builds up. How long can you keep the test results in those test tubes? Does it keep changing color or stain the glass, just be a good guide before the next test. Could write it down but I'm still looking for my last piece of paper with readings on it. Did find one with a phone number on it, don't know who's.

They dont really stain, if they are the glass ones.

Added a celery I had still in a punnet. Was going to wash off the soil but there didn't seem to be any left. Might have to plant the rest of them soon. And the beans are still trying to get out of the gravel.

Just a picture update.

How fast do goldfish grow. Mine seem bigger. Also picked up a large plastic tree pot to transfer fish into. Other half want's to be able to see fish. going to have names soon no feeding then to bigger fish later.