Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

lookin' good.

Why not use a dead fish as an ammonia source?

Why not shove in a few feeder fish from an aquarium store. They are just a type of carp, tough as old boots, and could handle a spike if you don't go overboard with numbers. These fish get put into aquariums all the time and survive with no water changes. Afterall, all you are after is a source of ammonia to get the bacteria up and running. Once they have done their job just add the real fish who will turn the feeders into food.

Job done...........

Thats a good idea, local guppies would do well for that purpose I think.

Rob,
Thanks for that, will pop down to the aquarium shop tomorrow, see what they have.

Hey guys,
Some progress today, got the 2nd GB online, improved the plumbing, bought some fish, forgot to get something to make a lid with, so used a plastic table cloth instead, does the job, even has pics of fruit and veg on it
Remembered to salt this time, fingers crossed.

Fish are Cats again, a bit bigger than before, hoping for a lot fewer unexplained deaths this time.







Cheers for now.

Dui.

why is it imporatant to have the GB level?

Trust me, it helps!
I am undertaking a project to get my 300-gallon GB on a better level.
The low side will steal some water from the siphon (the floor being maybe lower than the legit outlet).
The low side will be the first side to overflow if the pump cycle does not shut off.
In my case, the soil on the low side will erode and drop the low side more and more with each overflow incident

The growbeds are level (as near as) but the spirit level is in the picture because i was making sure the water supply pipe is level between the 2 GB's
The second GB is slightly higher than the first to aid drainage, that was the plan anyway, seems to all work very nicely atm.

Pic of the fish.


Only 1 dead this morning, he was covered in sores and had blood around the gills... anyone any idea what that might be?

Cheers for now

Dui.

Well I have had a disastorous week.
I put 70 small catfish in my system and 67 have died.
I just can't work out why, all water params are good, trace of amo, PH 7.
I can't test for DO, but have a decent air-pump for the size of tank, pump way more than tank capacity per hour, it just doesn't make sense.
With my previous system, I blamed it on sick fish, but it seems unlikely to get that 2 times in a row, I'm not doing anything radical, just basic stuff.
Gets depressing sometimes.

I expect the remaining 3 to die, then will let the system cycle on the amo that's left, and then try adding some more fish, perhaps I should do a 100% water change first, can't get my head round this one

Dui.

Any chance your water is contaminated Dui??? .... where do you draw it from??

About half of it was from the garden tap, stored in a water tower in the mooban (Thai word for small village)
This water is used for everything except drinking, it's pumped from a well deep underground.
Nothing is added afaik, but the area around me is fairly heavily farmed, chemical pesticides etc. etc, are widely used in TL, contamination is possible.

The other half I collected in unused GB tanks from rainwater, so that should be ok.

Baffling at best !

I think you need to flow the water for a week.
use your dead fish as source of ammonia.
dead fish is normal for aquarium new system, nitro bacirea are not exist.

By the way, have you check my post on your 8000 liter topic?
Are you in Soorin ?
Is your system continueus flow? Why don't you use Flood & Drain system.

ChokeDee
Ao+

I have 2 fish left, poor little things...
If these 2 die, and I expect they will, I will leave them in the tank for a source of ammonia.

I did check your post in my other thread and have replied

My big system is in Surin, but I left Surin and came back to Chiang Mai, my latest small system is in Chiang Mai and it is flood and drain with a digital timer, but I have plans to fully automate it with a microprocessor.
So much to do, so little time

โชคดีครับ

Dui.

The remaining 2 are still alive against the odds.
Water params are all good again, I even chucked them a few pellets and both fish are eating well, no real sign of distress.
Curiouser and curiouser.

Went into town today to get some discrete electronic components.
Water sensor working perfectly as is the relay pump drive.
Micro dev kit will arrive around the 11th of November, Thai style "next day delivery", I ordered it about a week ago...

Gonna wait until the amo comes down to zero, then add some more fish.

Cheers for now.

Dui.

Nitrites have shot up, ammonia at 0 now, partially cycled, doesn't take long when it's warm!
Couldn't find my No3 kit today, praying that I didn't leave it in Surin, hopefully will find it tomorrow, my house is such a mess.
The grandmother of the girl next door came round to my house the other day, took one look through the door and said "Kon diow bor" -meaning "Do you stay alone?"
I looked at all the plumbing and electronics all over the place including the floor and thought "Hmmm wonder what gave it away"