Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

From those readings, I would say yes your plants are using some of the Nitrates. The ammonia poping up again could just be a dodgy reading or perhaps that humonia was more potent than you thought and there was a portion of it that was slow about converting to Ammonia (that conversion does take a little time and may not happen all at once as people have occasionally found out when trying to cycle using urea balls since they can take even longer to start converting over to ammonia.)

Patients waiting for the Nitrite to fall to 0, that often takes longer to get past than the ammonia spike.

Today's Results:

PH: 7.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 3
Nitrate: 0

Things are continuing to settle down. Shouldn't be long before it's ready for fish

just a question, what test kit are you using that gives you 1ppm resolution on the nitrate?

The brand is API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals).

Although the colour chart only shows 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 100 increments. I simply guessed when it didn't match either 5 or 10.

lol +1 for guessing

isn't that what everyone does?!

LOL, my eye sight must be getting bad (give it a rest, VB)

I have the same kit and am confident in calling 0 2.5 5 10 and mayyyyyyyyyyybe 7.5

You dont need to be any more precise than that anyways. My nitrite bottles are nearly full still. Ammonia and nitrate nearly empty

Today's reading:

PH: 7.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 3
Nitrate: 0

Everything seems fairly stable, except Nitrite unfortunately. Wish it would keep dropping. Hopefully will have settled by next weekend so I can get some fish happening.

Is there anything else I should be doing, eg adding any more humonia or seasol?

On a more positive front, plant growth is powering along - wish I had have planted some in the dirt garden to compare with.

forgot the pretty graph - my managers at work would be most distressed!

Hi ryan

Where did you get your fish tank from and how much was it?

chad

Just let it settle for a little while ryan.

Foley's tanks at Woombye (near Nambour). 500L cost me $200. Nice fellas there too

Patience seems to be the key, something I'm learning to have more of. A younger Ryan would have cycled with fish, and gone through the associated dramas

Better late than never report:

PH: 7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10

Been busy this week, digging trenches to connect my downpipes and tank overflow to stormwater. Hence, I've been a bit slack with testing.

Anyway, it looks like I'm finally ready for fish!! I'll be ringing around tomorrow to see if I can get my hands on some SPs.