Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

pamelarose
the water will go murky until some form of balance begins...
nitrification - ammonia will flurish, until an ammonia eating friendly
comes along,
Then an increase in Nitrite(NO2), lovely bacterium Nitrosomonas from Ammonia(NH3), Nitirite builds and if you
have the good bacteria Nitrobacter, it will convert nitrite to nitrate...
your plants will grow and the return water will be airated and filtered
So IMHO only, I'd be saying don't water change, reduce flood height to below media surface. (if it is floating then the water level will be above the full level of media dry)
Don't feed if you have too much left over.

very simplistic synopsis

Hi Everyone!

I'm just poppin' in to tell you the tank finally cycled....clear as a bell. Thank you all for chiming in and giving me some learning!!!! Now I have some lettuce seedlings, swisschard and parsley seedlings in perlite, ready to put into the water. my top clay pellets are dry and the system has been running for 2 weeks with that adjustments. I'm so excited. When is a good time to put the seedlings in? the lettus is almost an inch, but the other seeds are just sprouting. They took much longer.....

Also the school will not give me access. I have no one to feed the weekends or during school vacations. I had decided last week to take the system out and just put the fish in my home "pond" (small 250 gallons) but then the tank cycled and I didn't have the heart for disappointment. Instead I'm trying to work through the challenges I currently have with access.

They do have the greenhouse full of different starting-seed projects so figure that will not be abandoned without at least being checked on. The teacher is trying to get her 'feet on the ground, since she has been out of the classroom for 8 years so has not been able to stay in touch or incorporating the aquaponics into her science lessons. she does take care of the 2nd feeding every day. I go every day in the morning during the school week. Suggestions for maintenance during longer periods of time? Mainly feed and topping of water etc. is my main concern. I do wonder if one of those self feeding "cakes" from the pet store would serve in these times?

Thanks everyone

You might look into an automatic fish feeder for that system. I have a little one on my small aquarium. It is basically a little container that rotates around when the timer tells it to and the little trap door flips open and drops some food in. The adjustment of the amount of food isn't very good on this particular little feeder but it has been doing ok for just a few little fish.

They make much better automatic feeders that are easier to adjust and hold more food (appropriate for a larger number of fish.) One would need to tinker with them a little to figure out the right setting to feed the appropriate amount of food per feeding. Then I would make sure to feed a bit less than normal for the longer vacations since no one will be there to check on things.

As for topping up water. You could get a float valve (like used for stock water troughs) for around $10 at tractor supply. They can attach to the side of a tank but I've actually installed all mine lower down (just supported by PVC plumbing) in my tanks so they only top up when water level drops quite low. They usually have a hose fitting so you might need to adapt that to PVC and then connect it to a water tap or perhaps have a handy barrel on a stand next to the system with top up water standing by in it.

Great info. Thanks! I still have the question about the seedlings....is there a more optimum success at a certain 'age' or height ....root system length?

I'm not sure on the seedlings. It will depend some what on the type of plant. I think the biggest thing is to move them when they are of a size you can handle easily without damaging but before they get so big that the shock will do them in.

For many plants, I like to direct seed but certain things seem to transplant or root from cuttings quite well in AP.

Sorry I'm not of too much help. As your system gets more mature, you will also have gained more of a feeling for what seems to work for you.

This is a great forum and I always appreciate the support. Have a great day. I'll check back in after a few weeks and brag about aquaponics and healthy fast growing plants.