Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Got the IBC up and functional about 2 weeks ago. Planted first plants and a few seeds a week ago and fish added about the same time.

My test kit was way out of date so ordered new and got it today. First test ran with the results below.



Not being at all familiar with these shades of color, I am hoping the system has cycled?
Yes, that is a question!

I am going to incorporate the barrels into this system later on when I have the whole green house to myself and can move things the way I want them. Since we are certified organic with our main garden, I will try to get that incorporated into that certification also.

I have some more pics to get uploaded and will try to get that done tomorrow, Been busy with lambing and there are some things that just can't wait till tomorrow

Cindy

Well your readings would indicate that the nutrient cycle has worked and is now balanced. Your pH seams low though. Then again, it's hard to tell from the photo. What pH values match best to the colour?

Cycling normally takes about 6 weeks without a source of the bacteria being added. The cooler the weather the longer it takes to cycle so given Utah is in 0 to 20 degree C I would say your system has not even had its ammonia spike yet (depending on stocking levels). Keep testing and hold back on the food till you get both spikes out of the way. Also salt to 1ppt to minimize the nitrites spikes effect on the fish. Good luck with it.

subasurf, the color is close to 8.0, which is normal pH for our well water right out of well. The system is run right off the well.

Peanut, gee I was hoping it was cycled already. Sigh. (My 9 goldies spent the winter in the house in a 10 gal aquarium when I cleaned out my barrel system in the fall). I did spike it very little with the aquarium water when I aclimated the goldies and I still have the filter and water that has an alge eater in it that I can add. When I added the fish in a plastic bag to aclimate, he turned belly up within a minute. I took him back in to the aquarium and he rolled over and took off. So think he will have to wait for a bit.

Green fuzzy growth sure likes the sides of the IBC though lol I put up a shade cloth around the outside of tank, so maybe that will take care of the fuzzies. The system is inside a green house.

If the IBC FT is around 200 gals (guess) 1ppt is equal to what in teaspoons, tablespoons or cups?

Thanks
Cindy

I just checked another post and the date this system was activated was around the first couple weeks of march. The actual dates will be on the pics I when I get them posted.

since I have so many pics, I have given the link to Photo Bucket instead of taking up space.

http://s1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa4 ... %20system/

Hopefully this will work.

cindy

At the moment, I have have 2 small pond pumps in the FT. (only because I had 2) The second just recirculating water from FT back to FT just for added air. I have a little air pump on the aquarium that will go out eventually unless I get a more suitable pump before. Still looking for an air pump.

The second pump is going into the plastic square piece on top of the FT. That will set at the back of the FT opening for the time being and will eventually go into the system addition. The water will circulate back into the FT via a short stand pipe at the opposite end.. Not exactly sure what to put into that piece yet. Net pots will go into it with maybe lettuce Maybe try a strawberry plant. There is a pic of a couple towers that will also go into the barrel system addition.

The pumps are going to be replaced with a larger one also probably a magnetic. I think one of the smaller pieces of the barrel ponics system will house some duck weed that will be isolated from system. Worms will be added to main system also.

So far those are my plans. I am also tying to figure out a way to heat over winter. Toying with the idea of a rocket mass heater. Also maybe a way to heat the water, and put a mini hoop house over the GB so it doesn't loose as much heat. Maybe insulate it some way. Still working on that phase of it. Have to get plants growing before I do too much planning.

cindy

Did another water test today with the same results. I have new growth on a strawberry plant that I thought got nipped by a 20 degree night. Also have a lettuce sprout that popped thru the media today. Pepper plants look good. PVC fence post got resealed today and as soon as verified no leaks from the end caps, it is ready to go into service. Probably put lettuce in them.

PVC container is ready. Hooked up water, planted some lettuce seeds in net pots and let her run. Water running out the stand pipe on the other end nicely hopefully adding oxygen to tank.

Here is the PVC trough with the net pots. This is a temp. set up till I get the barrel growbeds up and running. This trough is what they use to put over 4x4 posts on either decks or field fence posts.



The stand pipe is set so the net pots are in the flowing water about 1/4 inch. I put a few stones from the GB in the pots, tore corner of paper towel off, put a lettuce seed on towel, folded it over and left a long end to wick water up to keep the towel damp but not set enough to float it away.

With that size of IBC bottom for a FT, anyone give me an idea on how many goldfish would need to go in there? Not for eating so no idea on growout wt. I only have 9 in there now from last year. Right now, goldies are the only thing going into the tank. When they come from the pet shop, they are usually about 1-1.5 inches for the small and maybe 2+ for the large. The only growbeds active at the moment is the top of IBC, and the trough. It just dawned on me that 9 may not be enough for the size of the system.

Thanks
Cindy

Water Test this morning with water temp at 58 degrees: pH 8.2,,,Ammonia .0,.....,Nitrite 0,..........,,,Nitrate 10

What's the next thing to be watching for?

Thanks
Cindy

Here are a few pictures, since everyone Loves Pictures, I am working on the redesign/addition of the components seen and playing with ideas on positioning, sump, slo, swirl, etc. The pump currently in use is 750 GPH for the IBC part of the system. I sorta need to get this addition in service to use some of the excess Nitrates. I really don't have all that much room to be messing with the plants, and the fish have held in there thru thick and thin and cold water. I still have the 9 that I wintered over in the house from the system last year.

The barrel 1/2's will be grow beds with media. If I don't have enough on hand, I will do one and use the other as a deep water for maybe lettuce or herbs for now.


Spagetti squash


Purple cabbage


Broccoli


My one lonely jalapeno, other 3 plants removed to dirt. Not doin well there either.


Have gotten one ripe berry from here and a couple more on the way.


Apple mint along with a couple other types went berzerk in here. Pulled them today and sent to friend.


And my favorite.


Just an overview of the whole growbed.


For now, I think this is the way this will be laid out. Not ready to take raised bed out yet, nowhere to put some great dirt. In process of doing raised bed(s) behind the Greenhouse. Then the whole left side will open up.


This area currently has all my mint plants, (choc, orange, mojito, apple, and regular) a sweet potato plant, basil, ginger, and a couple patio tomatoes, There is going to be an A-frame to hold horizontal towers for strawberry plants and maybe some more letuce. The A-frame will use the barrel system's fish tank and be on its own with water and a few fish as a start for the system. The tubes will be on a slight angle with the water running in one end of the one on top of the other and run the length of that on an angle and then into the tube under. (At least that is what I am thinking right now anyway.)


As always, thoughts one way or the other are welcome.

cindy

Thanks for the update Utahgirl.... looks like everything is going along nicely...

Another update. Things are really progressing. I'm a happy camper, or AP'er

Here are the latest pics.

Broccoli waiting to be harvested.


Just couldn't wait, afterall, I didn't want it to bolt. Just enough for a taste tomorrow.


Purple cabbage in the making. Coming along nicely.


Another view of the cabbage


Spagetti squash coming on. There are at least 6 on this bush and an unknown amount on the second one.


Another squash


It's a jungle in there. This was taken a few days ago but shows what is yet to come.


I got at 1200 gph pump and switched the 700 out for that in the main tank. The barrel 1/2's are waiting for silicon to dry and should be able to get water in them tomorrow barring any more leaks.

I have the little pond pump ready for the A-frame that contains the NFT's is also up and ready to go as soon as I figure out the plumbing. Am going to hang a couple strawberry towers in the center of the A-frame

When it is all together and functional, I will get pics up.

Cindy

Excellent work. Got to get me a greenhouse!

Looking great Cindy.

Just be weary of mint. Apparently it is very aggressive and will take over your grow bed!