Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Future forecast maybe??

It looks as if system three has been getting a bit more food, possibly could account for the elevated ammonia and nitrite levels some as well as perhaps accounting for the better plant growth.
Hum

Oh Dear Joel,
Another test required, 3 different GB setups, but from from the same tank

What made you triple the feed rate in system #3 on 07/01.... while you doubled it in the other two systems??

No wonder you bumped the ammonia and nitrite levels.. and they're only now decreasing...

Another test in the future would be great BUT this is a valid test never the less. If the fish are fed the food they need/want and the plant/fish growth measured then its achieving its original goal of testing three independent system types. In future a single fish tank hooked up to three GBs would be interesting but it comes down to money and time. Probably the latter is the most important.

Feeding went right down over the Christmas break as trips in to work for watering and feeding things were done very quickly.

Also feeding has been on a basis of how hungry the fish are in each system, plus there's the chance that some days they get fed by multiple people.

One of the main objectives of the test is for our own benefit, purely selfish, to see if other methods of a one bed system will work better than what we are using and supplying at the moment. If constantly flooded surges ahead and seems to be a clear winner then we might look at changing the systems we supply to be constantly flooded, same with the siphon system...

From these trials I think we will definitely change our set up process so that people run the system constantly flooded for a couple of months before switching to timed.

ive just switched mine to CF, i think it really helps the plants in the heat, plus added advantage of no fluctuating water level

Good on ya for doing these triald EB, its really cool to have some one local investing in this kind of stuff . . . plus we get to buy the systems cheap afetr

You wish Freoboy LOL

im never quick enough anyway . .

I found the other week when we had some 38 degree days the plants were not looking so good. Changed over from F & D to auto siphon which cycles a bit faster then the 15 on 30 off of the F&D the Plants picked up almost instantly and coped really well.

Like the constant flood having the water constantly flowing through the media helps keep a more constant temperature.

Joel with the constant flood do you run in 24/7 or do you turn it off over night?

You can always vary the timer cycles during hot weather... 15 on/15 off... 30 on/30 off....

Did not think of that!

But being inherently lazy changing over to auto siphon is a lot easier than re-programing the timer. Could always have a 2nd timer set-up?

Something to think about.

CF is exactly what it says... flooded constantly 24/7..

Starting to see some changes in the plant growth at the moment...

Wasn't sure if you turned it off over night for periods of time to save on power?

Photos from 23/1 and the 28/1...