Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Figured that I should get around to posting a thread about my system since my brother did this afternoon.

I found out about this site from a news item on the OCAU site - thanks Outback Aussie.

Unfortunately I haven't kept a diary like Wavey has, but my system seems to be progressing nicely.

Started out with a 65l storage tub as a fish tank, and a 35l grow bed. Got a 1000lph pump on a 15m on, 15m off cycle, but moved to 30 off after a while to make sure that the beds drained completely.

Had a few dramas getting the grow beds to drain properly, probably not helped by me getting impatient and throwing the gravel in without doing proper testing and filtering. Once I worked out a proper method of attaching hoses to a plastic tub it's all draining and flooding nicely.

Then relocated the system to an inconspicuous spot in the garden and added another 65l sump as well as another two grow beds.

After about 6 weeks, I don't have the nitrates that Wavey has, but the fish seem a lot healthier now the ammonia levels have dropped. Still have high levels of nitrites, but it doesn't seem to bother the fish overly.

As for fish, I've got 14? goldfish - mostly bought on impulse as I drive past pet shops.

Plants are growing a little, but not very fast - I've got a few chilli seedlings and some snow peas as well as a couple of lettuces.

All good - photos soon.


Mark.

Welcome Curly!

Wavey is your brother? Your family has funny names.

I though his brothers would be Larry and MOE

Welcome Curly.... sibling rivallry eh..... nothing like a good AP competition between family members.....

The initial bet was a carton of beer to the first one to eat something from our AP setups.

To be quite honest, I'm just enjoying the process of building something and watching the fish with a cold beer afterwards.

Hi curly. Ur relatively high water exchange rate compared to total water volume is compensating for ur crap nitrite reading. You are prolly midway in terms of the system being cycled. Just ease off on ur fish food for a week to let the bacteria catch up to what is in the water for them already.
Otherwise all is good. Ur stuff will grow a bit better til wavey gets some more fish.

Cheers. I figured I was midway through a/the nitrite spike. Have been trying to go gently on the feeding - I suppose it'll be easier during the week - I won't have to look at their hungry little faces...

Figured I should add some photos.

if you pick off one of those leaves and eat it, does that count as eating something you grew and as such be able to lay claim to the slab

Works for me Les

Most recent test results attached.

I'm starting to see a little bit of algae forming in one growbed. I'm thinking that's because I added a little bit of seasol to combat one of the plants having pale leaves but drak veins.

how ya mean?

I guess because of the high DO levels steve....

Nice test results curly, glad you are having a go

Is the seedling a silverbeet, or a cauliflower?

As you scale up to a bigger system , bite the bullet and invest in proper PVC piping, it is worth it in the long run. Over summer that 13mm poly will totally block up.

+1 for seasol.

High DO level will assist with bacteria conversion to nitrates and only some for fish. More likely, if fish are still ok, salt is in the system.

agreed.

o2 is only going to be as high as saturation point.

its like giving a CO victim normal air.

the Cl ion will out compete the no2 ion and inhibit it from being taken up my the blood.