Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Everyone,
I have just setup my first aquaponic system. 4 days ago to be exact.
The grow bed is 250l with a tank of 1000l.
Because of where I live, I have used bore water. It is very clean (supplies the house) but the pH is 8.2. I have a 2500l pond with the same pH that is 2.5 years old containing Black Bream, Catfish and a Sleepy Cod.

The GB has beans, english spinach, pack choi, zucchini, dwarf cucumber, basil and coriander. The tank has 25 barra about 50mm.

Ammonia is 0.25
Nitrite is 0
Nitrate is 10
Water temp between 20C and 24C

I bought the system from Joel and Faye at BYAP. The only modification I did was to extend the water drain below the water level. The system is close to the house and the drain splashing was a bit disturbing. The modified water drain adds additional bubbling and creates a small current flow in the tank as well as eliminating all noise.


It's still early days but I'm hoping things keep going this well.

Welcome.

Welcome to the madness!

Welcome Kim!
You know we LOVE pictures?
Please post some so we can get a feel for your system, and offer better advice

And hello as well ...

How have the bream gone?

No the Bream, Catfish and Sleepy Cod are all happy as can be.
They reside in the 2500l pond which is purely ornamental. They're pets I guess. This pond is not connected to the AP system. It has a PondMax PF6000 filter attached, with an 8000l/hr dirty water pump and a spill for visual effects and aeration.

The AP system seems to be going well so far. I've been doing daily water tests and as of today (day 5) the pH - 8.2 (no change at all), Ammonia = 0.5, Nitrite = 0.25 and Nitrate up to 20. Water temp is 21 - 25C, so the barra boys are quite happy. Veggies have established well too. Especially the zucchinis.

Gone as in, how well have they gone

I have bream, aparently they are slow growers, but have not had them long enough to see how well they go.

Ah, Ok. Bit slow on the uptake there.

The Bream are very hardy. I have had no problems with them whatsoever. They are very slow growing though. Mine are about 2.5 years and the biggest is about 270mm. I got them as 20mm fingerlings.

Cool, any salt in you pond?

Yes there is. I put in about 3kg total. That was mainly to try to keep the blanket weed down.