Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Let him gloat Imy... Bet you catch and surpass him in a month....

Uh oh, that sounds like a challenge

refer your man to these two pictures and note the dates.

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How fantastic it must be just to have EB come set up a turnkey system!

Ah well.... back to the dream.

Yeah, I'm haning out for my tomatoes to DO SOMETHING LOL
They are teeny tiny little babies and don't seem to be doing much.

My partner's garden is 1/2 cow poo, 1/2 dirt so when the roots of his plants hit the poo... they will either boom or die.

Is it very wrong to be hoping for the 2nd option???

Not at all Imy..... myself, I'd probably assist that hope... with a bit of roundup....

A man after my own thoughts

I'm a bit concerned about the tests I just did. Will the system cycle if it stays like this?
Here's a pic and the readings I got (pH looks weird because it has been sitting for a while)

pH 7.2-7.4 (also tested with our pool pH kit)
NH3/Nh4 ppm (Ammonia) 0-0.25 (at a pinch but I don't think it near 0.25)
NO3 ppm (Nitrate) 0-2.5 (somewhere in the middle, darned grey area)
NO2 (Nitrite) 0-0.05 (again, I think its in that middle area)

Anyway, the photo is here to make your own deductions

The scary thing is, its nicer than our tap water (town supply) I'd be okay with having some sacrifitial goldies if the general opinion is that my system needs more pooey help.

If you feel you need to push things along a bit Imy.... get some Urea balls from Bunnings...

That way you can provide (judiciously) small incremental additions of ammoina... to drive things along a bit...

Just feed the tank a little.... measure and watch for an ammoina/nitrite spike.... hold off, until the spike(s) zero and nitrates show... repeat if necessary...

Mind you, urea is also wonderful stuff for dirt (phfft) gardens.... so you might have to hide it....

Or suggest that the other half buys some.... then steal it and hide it ....

LOL... hmm... may be a plan. Only problem is, the nearest bunnings is around 200kms away. Surely they have it at our hardware or grain store though.

I've read some people starting the cycle with 'squeezings' from a goldie fishtank. I have access to some at a friend's place, I suppose filter juice would be easier to steal than ' borrow' her goldies

Also, I have a marine tank... I don't suppose the squeezings from that would work? Different bacterias? There is a load of slime I could siphon out and use but I'd have trouble putting it in without dumping too much salt into the yabby tank.

DAMN, what a classic : So I will give you anouther few picks just to show your old man that AP it does really kick. As for Earthbounds turn key systems, they are worth every cent, ' cause I did try for 2 weeks before buying the system that I could re create his system cheaper, and actually it would of costed me 15 % more minimum. The fundermentals are everywhere. EB and co have kept it no secrete and there books and dvd's are a priceless lesson.

+1 for urea, the aquarium squeezings wont help a hell of a lot unless you give the squeezings something to feed on.

1 small handfull of urea per 1000l brings the levels up enough to read.

Hi Everyone, I am Imy's other half.
Thanks for all the narsty things you have told her to do to my garden.
I am sure her grow beds will kick into gear and take over mine and yes i have hidden the round up.
But until that day that her garden takes over mine i will be rubbing into all of you, and pictures will be going up on my progress.
Have a nice day as i will be watching my vegies grow.

oooh errr

meh, he'll be converted within 6 months