Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, so some you may notice the similarity in the new addition, to the system Joel has been designing. But I liked the idea of having pots to add shade to the fish tank, and the ability to have more growing space, I had to have a go at it myself. So far i just added a few chives from seedlings, and the rest I have filled with herb seeds to see how things go!

Cool - nice addition!

Are you just running constant F&D?

BYAPs prototype CHIFT PIST system maintains a constant height in the fishtank, meaning the bottom of the planters will be in constant contact with the water - and the water will wick up to the roots - or the roots will push down to the water level.

If you were running on timed F&D or autosiphons, I'd imagine the FT level would fluctuate (and drop with evaporation pretty quickly) meaning the planters would be getting left high n dry. Even if it was constant flood, I reckon that without a sump to maintain a 'set' level, the water level would drop pretty quick in summer ...

It'd be interesting to see how it pans out without the use of a sump or a floating raft to float up/down with the tide ... Theories, anyone?

BTx

Yes it is ebb and flow on a timed system, and they were my concerns also. The pots I'm using are 125mm deep with 100mm submerged when the tank is full, and the bottoms still in water at the height of the water cycle.
I'm interested in seeing how quickly the water evaporates and, how often the fish tank needs to be topped up so that the bottom of the pots are still immersed at some point during the cycle, as to whether this is a viable option.

Hopefully with 100mm clearance it makes things viable, worth a shot anyway!

Well the Nitrates have hit 0, the fish appear healthy and all still alive.
Currently,
PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

Is it unusual for the Nitrates to be 0, once the Ammonia and Nitrites have reached 0? Does this mean they are all being used?

Pretty much all nitrates are being used. Very frustrating as I am experiencing the same thing in my system. After harvesting the trout, I have introduced SP. Due to the crap summer weather in Melbourne, the SP havent been producing enough waste for my plants.

Not unusual.
I like to see 'em a little > than 0 but if the plants are green don't worry about it.

1) no
2) yes

It may mean that the plants are exactly in balance with the 'ates or it may mean they are deprived. As CJinVT, I am far more comfortable keeping a positive reading; personally I like above 10.

I can obviously inceraase the feeding rate now that nitrates are being fully converted, and have done so the last couple of days, all the feed I have put in has been jumped at and gobbled up quickly.
Does more food eaten always equal more nitrates?
Can you over feed your fish, even if they eat it all?
What is the recommended feeding rate for SP?

Thanks for the help so far!

I just feeding mine in small lots till they stop. With temps up above 18˚c I am trying to feed 3 times a day.

more food=more ammonia=more nitrate

I've never heard of anyone here being able to overfeed fish as long as they eat it all. Many have, however, had fish that are loaded with fat, but that is probably more due to problems with feed content than amt.

On the contrary Hydrophilia... many people overfed their fish... with resulting increased fat deposits (just like humans).... or the excess feed is just wasted by excretion... leading ultimately...

To elevated ammonia levels... and/or poor water quality parameters... and/or fish deaths...

If your system is constantly running elevated ammonia levels.. then you're either

Over feeding
Under filtered
Over stocked
Poorly designed
All of the above
Combinations of the above

If you increase your feed rate... and get an ammonia spike... drop a feed out,or reduce the feed amount... until the ammonia returns to zero...

Then resume feeding again at the same (higher) rate... eventually the bacteria will expand to cope with the increased feed rate...

Silver Perch of your size should be being fed at a rate of 5% of biomass... a number 2 pellet... three times a day....

Typically, an 80mm fingerling will weight about 10gm.... so your biomass is... 30 x 10gm...

A total of 300gm of biomass... 5% of 300gm = 15gm... which is your daily feed rate...

Split into three feeds... that's 5gm per feed...

That's if your water is between 24-30 degrees.... if it's between 19-23... then feed @ 3%....

See attached "feeding strategy"...

Hmm...I guess I need to feed more by numbers and less by what they will take, but ammonia is always zero so I've assumed things are fine...

If ammonia is zero... and there's no uneaten feed... then you're probably feeding about right....

Try weighing the amount you feed... and work out your actual feed rate.... you migth be surprised....

Just an update a few months down the track. Things seem to have really taken off in one bed, with Beans, okra, raddichio, bok choi, silverbeet and cucumber along with a few herbs taking off, although the celery seems relatively dormant.
In the other bed, cress is growing wildly, with the honye dew melon taking off and capsicum coming to life. However the bed growth seems alot less, with the sun flowers, and tomatoes really struggling, along with a hybrid all year round broccolini, and some lettuce that has never taken off. Some of the strawberries are doing ok.
Wondering why the growth in each bed seems so different.
The celery also has a plethora of grey bugs/eggs around the base of the plant. The picture is rather average, old camera, is dipel the only product you can use, and would it kill what looks to me like white fly eggs?
Fish are all healthy, and very much enjoy their feeding times, including left over prawns from fishing expeditions.