Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Could you have a buildup of leaves in the pond again from autumn? You said pulled out a buckets worth in summer.

I'll check the test kit, thats a good idea. Leaves aren't too bad, can see exactly what is in the pond and there aren't too many.

The original 2 grow beds do seem to be pretty dirty when I pull out a big plants, I'll try testing directly from the outflow there and see if the dirty growbeds (quite muddy) are causing the problem.

Thanks for the advice as always.

TCL - You are absolute legend.
I followed your advice and tested my test kit on fresh rainwater and found a high ammonia reading! So went to the shop, bought a new test kit, and found that in fact my water has a zero ammonia reading!!!
For the last frickin 5 months I have only fed the fish 3 times because I have been to frightened to build ammonia which I just couldn't seem to get down. I have also built three new large bio filters, and bought 2 more BYAP beds (not too unhappy about that) in a desparate attempt to reduce the ammonia that appears was simply never there!!!!!

Sort of bittersweet result. Very annoying I have gone to all that effort, haven't fed etc for nothing, but glad to see that it was only the test kit stuffed, not my whole system!

Well I am off to experience the pleasurable exercise of feeding the fish that I have missed these past few months, lets hope they haven't forgotten how to eat!

Good to see it was an easy fix anyhow Mike, whats to say this kit isn't faulty nah just my twisted sense of humor, but if you are feeding check the ammonia after a couple of days as it may go up a bit until your system re settles

What a bummer over a bad bottle of test solution. Glad you are on the right track now.

Its been a little while since an update. Had a family of six baby ducks in the pond this morning which was cool to see, and water looking great and clean and very healthy.

Unfortuantely the growth in the system is still not that great. Feeding more now, a few times a day on the weekend and about once a day during the week, but I suspect its the large volume of water compared to the grow beds that is diluting my nutrients.

For instance picked a bunch of peas and snowpeas over the last month but they were all pretty small and unispiring really. My leeks and carrots haven't really grown since I planted a couple of months ago, beetroots and turnips growing very slowly.

I might try using seasol more frequently than I have, and feeding as much as I can to boost the nutrients. Finally finished my old koi pellets and now onto BYAP pellets so that might help too.

Now that the ammonia problem is solved you can try to get some nitrates in there. I like at least 10ppm and 100ppm that is better. Just so you have some idea of inputs required, UVI found they needed to feed approximately 50 grams per day in order for the waste to support 1 square meter of they grow rafts.

Its been a year since my last update!
My system is going well, finally getting some reasonable growth on the vegies and haven't had any fish deaths for many many months. Koi going very well and silver perch well and truly plate size as my dad keeps pointing out when he visits.
I am however having problems with black aphids all over the onions / chives and was wondering what the best approach is to get rid of them? They have completely taken over one bed over the past few weeks.
Any advice would be much appreciated!!

My response is to remove foliage and cut to ground level Mike. They should grow back pest free, ours did. Hope this helps

Thanks FAYE, I thought that may be the answer, you dont recomend any chilli sprays or anything like that then?

Hiya Mike..
I wish I caught your Pond Build Before it got to this stage of your Project..

Koi/Fish Ponds Are a favourite topic of mine and I have just[Last month] gotten back from a Tour of America, I spent many a day with many different pond owners and Saw a Lot of great Looking Koi and many Ponds..

I'm not Sure if you installed a Bottom Drain in the pond.. I hope you Did as a Minimum as it is really hard to Clean out a pond of your Volume With a Sub Pump in the pond..

In the near Future I shall also be installing a large 10-20,000lt pond for a few Fish I have..

For such a Large Volume of Water, When the Temp get up high you need to have more Air in your Pond..
- I would go with a 60-80lt/min air pump to a few Large membrane Disk's..
As water temp rises dissolved Oxygen levels in the pond Drop.. it is harder to put air in a hot pond..
Have you considered some form of shade sail over the pond to Keep the Water temp Down..

Pm me if you want to throw ideas around..

Juergen

I've been thinking of adding a waterfall / stream and second pond on a lower bit of ground for a while and been inspired by a friend who just built one today.
Not sure if this is a chance to convert to CHIFT PIST, or keep things as they are and just pump from the lower pond.
Have to have a good think as to the consequences, but any suggestions / ideas / thoughts welcome!