Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello

Can anyone help me with some advice on algae in my fish tank?

I have a 1000 litre tank with 30 Silver Perch (average 5cm) and 30 small lettuce / parsley seedlings (with room for up to 50 plants) in shallow trays and pvc pipe filled with clay balls, I have a bio filter, recirculating pump and air pump. The water is directly from a river via a pool sand filter.

The system has been running just over 2 weeks, and over the last couple of days its been hot and suddenly the water has gone from clear to green.

Is this ok? will it balance out and clear up, or have I missed something.

try shading your pond

And welcome! HG

2 weeks operation won't have seen a full nitrogen cycle yet. the "pea soup" is a common stage that your system goes through. It usually clears up after weeks PROVIDED you have sufficent plants to extract nutrients from the water. For example, my system is still greener than i'd like becasue i don't have enough plants growing. A few dozen lettuce plants have now germinated and i expect their nutrient uptake to help with the algae.

Algae will be less of a problem for us all if we keep the nitrate levels lowwer rather than higher. When in doubt add mroe plants

both the fish and plants will be fine with 100+ PPM NO3 levels, but so will the algae,and especially with the bright summer months comming

I too am experiencing an awful algae bloom both in my beds and my tanks. Part of my problem is Ithe gravel doesn't get a chance to dry out at the surface before the next cycle begins. The other problem as you mentioned Steve, is not enough vegitation. Certainly more plants will keep the bed surface shaded, but it also brings down the NO3 level. Is that correct Steve?

correct. But i have read that people are having success with AP at 40PPM and under NO3.

Many of our systems are 100+PPM. I have no doubt that when i test mine it will be 160+PPM

I wish joel could give us a NO3 test of his cleanest system

Thanks for the answers people, much appreciated

The solution's are what I wanted to hear, more plants and less light on tank are tottally acheivable and wont cost anything.

I hope your plants are green, and your fish are fat

Thanks

Thanks for the post HG and steve for the numbers.
I too suffered blooms, at the time it was suggested to add salt.
It did make a difference at the time.
C1

Steve I am the worst parameter tester in this forum. But I want to become a better water quality management technician. So tell me.... what test kit or test meter is best for getting accurate (ie ppm) readouts for NO3?

Being from Adelaide, I've always found that the best thing to do with pea soup is to pour it over the top of a meat pie. :violent2:

MF, i use aquarium pharmaceuticals brand.

NO3 colour charts can be hard at the best of times its nearly impossible to tell the difference between 80ppm and 160ppm but is read able for the 10, 20, 40, and 80 ppm ranges..........

Mmm... and I ve had one of those pie floaters.
But could not tell the difference between westend and a glass of mud.. until the mud had settled.(ducks the crow eaters)

hi
my system also turned green but with a heap of plants growing that all turned clear within a week, now some of my plants are turning yellow.
any suggestions.
i have a 1,000 litre tank with about 25-30 silver perch 3-4 inches long
julian

more fish, more poo, less yellow!

thanks jamie

normally, how tall / old is your plant before you transfer it into your AP system?