Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Standard 15 on 45 off

(i am amazed, its still going. Must have been the supplied timer)

In hot weather I change the timer settings to 15/30... especially if I've planted new seedlings.... seems to settle them in much quicker...

Hi Rupert,

Once you said to move to 15/30 for hotter enviroments i thought about it and liked the idea.
So I have changed the the pumping cycle to 15/30. I checked the drain cycle and it is draining fully before the next cycle.

I also removed the seedlings and washed the dirt off them, i lost about 5-10 seedlings. We also readjusted the sail shade to cover them from the moring sun.
But this morning i noticed that we still have a problem, there is a gap in between the shade sail and the patio for about 2-3 hours of lunchtime sun. So have to fix that real soon. I have put up another shade sail up for them moment, I should be able to get that done tonight (after teh sun goes down 44 again today.)

I am going to test at about 4pm everyday, hopefully today i will start to see soem rites or rates (whichever come first) Also i have to add some water this morning, i will see how the tests come out this arvo and i might have to does it again, as i have deluted the water by adding the extra water. Dont know how much water, about 2-3 cm at the top.

hi guys,

tests done. no real change.

rate: Trace (maybe a little darker yellow)
Rite: Trace
PH:8.4
Amm: 1.0 (maybe 1.5)

CH

Woaw ammo 1 no more ammo to be added (humonia?)
Your pH is not nice and this is worth rechecking IMHO.
I figure there in not much nitrifying bactereria in your system.

Hi Creative,

The system is basically brand new, i have tried to start it once before but it failed and it has been sitting around for serveral months over summer, due to the timer problem.

Earlier the year i tested the PH of teh standard water here and it was 7.6 i think.

i have also just added fresh water to the system this morning. So i guess i am still waiting for the nitrifying bactereria to kick in.
I know a person with a small fresh water aquarium, i might see if he needs to clean it. I could use the muck to kickstart the system.

(humonia is a nice word for Pee, i believe.)

CH

humonia is a nice word for Pee, i believe.)
Yep shore is

Hi F&F

Fodder just ask if they use any chemicals

Na just beer

Well aeration helps with the cycling process, so ironically, you can run your pump constantly to help with the process because the nitrification process requires oxygen..

If you are doing fishless cycling that ammonia level is alright... but do not be tempted to put any fishes in anytime before ammonia and nitrite drops... at water temperatures of 28degC for example, and ph 8.4, ammonia toxic to the fishes at 0.12 . If water temperature goes to 30degC, it becomes toxic at 0.1 .

So in short, your current system with ammonia level of 1 is unsafe for fishes...

Rupe's posted before about pH > 8.0 inhibiting bacterial growth.

... & was my point gemmel

Hi Fodder,

It has been over 10 years since I was last in Karratha but from what I remember the water tasted like it was ground water. The town water in Newman definatly is and because it comes from underground limestone aquifers is very hard with a lot of disolved calcium and a high pH. The pH is also very variable over the seasons, if Newman has big summer rains and the aquifers are full the pH drops as the disolved calcium carbonate is diluted, during the dry when the aquifers are low the pH goes up as the water contains more concentrated dissolved calcium carbonate.

Karratha may be in the same situation and you may have problems with pH because of this. Might want to consider a rain water tank.

I will try to find the water test results for Newman town water to show you the seasonal variation but I do remember that at times the pH was that high it was getting close to the upper safe limit to be used for bathing.

Simo

Here are the results for summer 2007 after a good wet season



And just before the wet season the same year



Quite a variation but all still high.

Hi Everyone,

looks like we have movement in the stats,

Rate: 5.0
Rite: 0.25
PH: 8.0
Amm: 0.50

So it looks as if the bactereria is starting!