Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Patients. Resist the urge to up the feed. You must still get past the Nitrite spike which doesn't seem to have happened yet and many will tell you that it is the more difficult spike to get past.

Do you have any salt in the system? I would want 1 ppt of salt in the system to be ready for the Nitrite you should have coming on here soon.

Also be ready with some buffer material for your system since I noticed that as I passed my first nitrite spike, the pH suddenly fell dramatically. If pH falls too far, the bacteria can quit working and you get to start all over. Probably best to try and keep the pH above 6.5 but the most important thing about pH is you don't want it to change too quickly in either direction.

Hang in there and keep up the regular testing.

RWTD I wouldn't increase feed ammonia still a tad high but if cool not a threat at all, wait until ammonia is close to yellow than green, nitrites will probably go to 5 and the you will get rates, salt is a big thing in here ATM but I never salted, my AMM and Rites have gone up but I think due to the 3 frosts and 1c temperatures so I will resist salting and cut feed for a few days, but as always if fish are fine no need to stress

Hi all,
I have salted to 2ppm but with the rain a couple of weeks ago that could be down to 1 ppm cause I dumped alot of water. Water temp is between 10 and 13 oC and I have buffer material at the ready so all good there. Might wait for a while before salting again as fish look good. Night time temps are geting down to 2oC so bactieria probably isnt doing all that well, but it is doing something.
I do have a small reading of Nitrites the first showing that I have had for weeks, boy have I had some swings.
The system has been in for 6 weeks now so It must be getting very close.

Maybe... you could be looking at another 2-4 weeks...

My readings today are Am .5 and Rites 1 Ph 7.2 rates 10, I put that down to weather conditions your experiencing RWTD and my water is a tad under 10c all I have done is cut feed, amm is down from 1, 2 days ago, hang in there unless fish are acting stressed

Test results tonight
Amo .25 have come right down, Nitrites 0, down from .25 yesterday, Nitrates just showing, Ph 7 water temp 10oC
Have continued to feed and the amo is coming down will keep testing each day.
Droped one of the glass tubes in the test kit
Can you get replacements

If you buy the seperate tests... you get a tube with them... or at least the ammonia one I got came with one..

Any news on the trout food John

Hope to be dropping it off this weekend...

Test results tonight
Amo 0 to .25 have come down more, Nitrites 0, Nitrates just showing to 5.0, Ph 7 water temp 10oC
I haven't stoped feeding and the amo is almost gone
Fed them 1 and a 1/2 table spoons tonight see what happens.
Rain started again so I hope it doesn't rain too much and muck up the system.

feed them up

Yep, I think you could up the feed to 2 spoons... and watch the results...

Will do and keep you posted

sounds like things are happening

Test results tonight
Amo 0 cant get any yellower, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0, Ph 7.2 water temp 12oC
So I spose this must mean that the system has cycled.Have been feeding 2 table spoons a day for 3 days now with no rise in amo. Even after 2 spoon they still seem hungry as they are zooming around looking for more.
How long do i keep them at 2 spoons?