Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all my name is Willow and I have just started my own aquaponics system. So excited to find this forum as well and have been reading as much as i can to help me during these initial months. Thanks so much to all who have contributed such valued information, I have learnt so much already.

As for my system, being just a couple of weeks old, i have hit trouble early with my silver perch flashing and being very irritated. I have been reading in lots of similar posts within this forum on fish disease's and I believe my fish have ICH.

Being the cowboy that I am, I have made so many rookie error's by just diving in straight away and not really knowing what I am doing. So as I am learning the hard way, a patience is coming over me that I reakon only aquaponics could teach me!

Gonna check my ph, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates readings early tomorrow morning and will hopefully get a better indication of whats going wrong!

cheers
Willow

Hi Willow, welcome. Have you salted your tank at all?




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I was once young and stupid, i'm not so young now

Hey Julia!

yeah I did that but only after reading it in another post! So the fish went in a little un prepared to say the least.
I am getting the fresh water master test kit tomorrow so hopefully that will begin to shed some light on my issues and help the little fishies out.

cheers
Willow

Hey, willow777, welcome to the forum. I know ICH is very common in goldfish and most tropical fish and myself have dealt with it in aquarium fish. You must not use just any medication for ICH treatment since you could destroy your AP-ecosystem and harm plants. I have found a site that I am providing the link which expains some natural remedies to kill the ICh parasite with aquarium salt and warmer water temps. Good luck!
http://www.getridofthings.com/pets/get-rid-of-ich.htm

Hi willow and welcome to the forum

Glad you have found the site to be valuable with your progress so far. You know we love pics here so Id love to see some thing up with next post.

Its reassuring you are picking up a test kit tomorrow because it is crucial in keeping your sytem in check. Its just as valuable as the fish themselves.

Let us know your test results and we will help you with your fish issues.

As JB mentioned, salting is important when introducing a new batch of fish. Sometimes itch is a result of stress during transport so we do recommend a salt bath of about 3-5ppt (1kg/1000L=1ppt) in a quarintine tank or tub (like an esky) which will shock and kill any nasties from the place you got them from and will freshen up and replenish the fish's protective coating.

I also believe it is good practice to run your system water at around 1-2ppt to assist in fish health and also mitigates the nitrites during the cycling period.

thanks kevyrev! great link!

thanks Charlie i'll be sure to get some pics happening real soon and share the results of my fish issues. Hopefully i can get the little ones on the road to recovery.
cheers

Okay add me to the list of 'new tank syndrome' victims!

Lost all my 28 SP over the last few days due to my ignorance and enthusiam to jump straight in, but the good news my 4 goldies survived.

Checked my system yesterday and no wonder they didnt make it with the toxic levels they were in. Ph: 7.6; Ammonia: 5ppm ; Nitrite: 4ppm and Nitrate: 40ppm.

So i have decided to not add anymore fish until the system is cycled with the beneficial bacteria.

Pics on the way.

Sorry to hear Willow.

The first month always requires extra special care.

But on the possitive keep it runnng and let the bacteria establish and you will be ready for another batch down the track.

thanks Charlie, thats exactly what I shall do.

learning from mistakes can be the greatest teacher.

cheers
Willow

Sorry for your loss willow
Now with the test kit you at least know what is going on with your water. Once the bacteria start to colonize in your growbeds and the ammonia levels out you will be all set!