Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, changed out a bit over half the water, had to leave though to get to work (already half an hour late). I will test tonight when I get home and see what has changed, will try and pickup some salt and maybe an air stone at the pet store to add in (Though I think I am getting enough air in the water).

Thanks again for the fast advice, don't want to cause the fish any more harm

I was always late for work when I first commisioned the big system

Just a quick update, the tests were a little bit better this evening, but still bad:

PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 1
Nitrite: 1
Nitrate: 10

I am stopping in the morning to get salt and an airstone, we lost several fish so far (turns out a couple died and were under the pump and one of the decorations in the tank). So very sad to lose the fish, but hopefully we can get this under control from the excellent advice given here.

Ok, airstone added, bought salt from the local pet store and was about to add it but chickened out, not sure about my calculations, can somebody check it for me? I was told earlier in this thread that 1ppm should be sufficient, I have a 15 gallon tank (56 liters), from what I found on the forum and my own calculations that worked out to about 54 grams or 1.9 ounces.

Does that sound correct?

Also another update, been checking the water and the ammonia seems to be heading down and the Nitrate is going up, hopefully we are starting to get a bit better, no fish lost in the last two days either. Will post up the test results after I test again this evening.

Close enough Marcus... whack it in... even if your test are looking better....

The amount of salt you want is actually 1 ppt (not ppm.)

Now I would have to go look up some info to figure out the correct amount of salt for such a small system though but if you can convert to metric, I'm sure there are some others out there that could help you off the top of their heads.

Now you only need 1 ppt of salt to help against Nitrite but up to 3 ppt of salt is just fine for gold fish (they can handle lots more salt than that) and still ok for most plants.

I may have had the terms incorrect, still trying to learn all the correct terminology

Anyways, I have added the salt and hopefully now the fish will be feeling better, I feel bad I was hurting the fish from my lack of knowlege, but I guess everyone has to start somewhere.

Anyways, we will see how the system looks next time I check the water, thanks RupertofOZ for checking my stats, was afraid I had figured wrong and didn't want to hurt them in yet another way.

Small systems are extremely hard to control so it may pay to have a couple 5 gallon jugs of ap ready water stashed somewhere. Overfeeding is very hard to resist and goldies can fast for very long periods of time if they have to. Speaking of jugs I noticed that jug of homemade wine... You are going to fit right in with this group

Ok, new set of water tests, here is the last three days tests:

12/12
PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 1
Nitrite: 1
Nitrate: 10

12/13
PH: 8.0
Ammonia: .50
Nitrite: 1
Nitrate: 20

12/14
PH 8.0
Ammonia: .25
Nitrite: 1
Nitrate: 40

So ammonia is going down and Nitrate is climbing, looks like a good sign to me I think. Also the water has been lightly salted and am now running a 3" airstone 24/7. I also let some of my house water (city water) sit for two days and then tested the PH and it is an 8, so that explains to me why that was a bit high.

And a quick reply to BatonRouge Bill, the jugs are homemade cider, the first time I have ever tried doing any brewing, just had my first bottle of it and it was excellent. Very fulfilling as well since I did everything from picking the apples to hand grinding and pressing them and then turning it into hard cider, much work went into it, but I had a ton of fun with it, I have 7 more gallons frozen that I still have to do, am going to start 4 gallons after the new year, it takes 2 months before I can bottle and then I want to let it sit for another 6 months if possible.

Good readings mw - the ph will drop over time.

Update on the readings:

12/16
PH: 8
Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 2
Nitrate: 40

12/17
PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 2
Nitrate: 40

So Ammonia has finally come down to 0, Nitrates are on the rise. Should I expect to see the Nitrite start dropping soon? Also should I be worried about the fish with such a high Nitrite reading? I have salted the tank and they all seem to be doing fine, no fish deaths in the better part of a week.

Also is there a way to see if the fish are having a hard time with the Nitrite besides the "dead" giveaway when they are floating on the top?

Also forgot to add in todays report, the first two of the lettice seeds poked up though the gravel yesterday! That can only mean that in the next week or so I can start pestering you guys with plant related questions and not just fish related questions

hehe,
Has the FT gone green yet?
I was just wondering if it happens to everyone...
before the first real signs of 'cycling'
good to see things changing

Never had a 'green' water moment.

Nitrite of 2 is still ok with salt - I definately would not be feeding though.

Ok, wanted to post up the latest couple of tests, from my test yesterday it looks like we are getting through the cycle'ing at last.

12/20
Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 2
Nitrate: 10

12/22
Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 0.25
Nitrate: 10

I noticed yesterday before I tested that the water was extremely clear, it never really got green like others said they had problems with during the initial cycle, but apparently it wasn't completely clear as it now is. Also I am wondering if the difference between those who had their water turn completely green and those of us that didn't have that happen might be related to light levels. My fish tank doesn't get any natural sunlight and not all that much artificial light, the GB just has a small light over it for now, I am guessing the people that had the green water had much more sunlight.

Also just a quick report, I have stuff popping up all over the place in my GB, I will be enjoying lettice in the near future I believe, I am quite enjoying watching the growth every day (and it is easy to see).