Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Think u might jut have to wait... Simply if it's to determine if the ammonia is in ur water source or not. If you muck around with stuff it will be harder to trouble shoot.

I would personally be patient and see if the bacterial develop enough to drag it down.

If you realy can't wait I would be inclined to treat the lack of bacterial instead of the ammonia directly, by getting some more filter junk from a mature aquarium and chunking it in your grow bed.

I don't see the point in treating the ammonia directly if you don't have enough bacteria to brig it down in the first place

Well, I have the fish in their own place (away from the system) and as long as it won't kill the plants I have planted, I can wait... as long as it is going in the right direction.
Thank you.

I wouldn't even consider trying to reduce the Ammonia, as I said before, having the Ammonia in the system will serve as an idicator for when the bacteria colony has started to develop... when the Ammonia begins to drop by itself... your bacteria colony has started to develop.

The bacteria needs an Ammonia source.

Never heard advice on the worms so I put them in there. I don't know if they will make it with those numbers or not but I did make sure there was an air source via air tube under the hydroton.
Here are the numbers from Sunday until today:

Sunday 4.29.12
pH 7.6
Ammonia between 1.0 ppm and 2.0 ppm
Nitrite 2.0 ppm - 5.0 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm

Monday 4.30.12
pH 8.0
ammonia 1.0 - 2.0 (closer to the 1.0)
nitrites 5.0
nitrates 5.0

Tuesday 5.1.12
pH 7.4
Ammonia between 1.0 and 2.0
Nitrites 5.0
Nitrates between 5.0 and 10

Have you added anything to the system during the period of these observations? Anything at all?

Just from the numbers it appears there is a slight increase in nitrates, which if not from any other source is from the conversion of nitrites; this is a good thing as this is part of the all-important processes we need. You haven't mentioned water temperatures, which you MUST measure, but it can take up to about 8 weeks to cycle a system. Cycling could have started, all you need is patience to let the system grow the beneficial bacteria and for them to start doing their work.

Other than daily monitoring (it's not absolutely needed but it is a good experience to observe how things change from the very start, and experience at using the water test kits) do nothing else to your system. Create a chart and plot your levels, it's easier to interpret than simply looking at numbers on a page.

Over the next week I'd expect to see the nitrates continuing to slowly rise, a rise in the nitrites as the ammonia is eaten (until it's starts conversion to nitrates at a faster rate) and a reduction in ammonia. When you get to zero ammonia and zero nitrites, you can feed some more ammonia and let the process continue. Add more plants as you get nitrates available, or get a head start and plant some more now.

bunson..... sorry but I did know about the water temps.. just forgot to post them.. The water is 75 degrees F. (I have a heater set at 75) and there is 4 air stones placed at various places both in tank and in the GB.
Earlier when I started, I added 3 doses of ammonia remover (which did not work)
I also added a squeeze from the filter that the comets came from (from the pet shop) when I first started this.
I added 60-80 red wigglers also.
I have a tomato plant, a mint plant, a zucchini start, a couple of basil starts, an ivy cutting, and 4 red onion bulbs as far as plants.
I have some seedlings starting to pop up so I will have more plants to plant soon.

Why add more Ammonia?... at that point the system has cycled and that is when you should be adding fish!

It may be a personal thing, but I don't consider a system "fully cycled" until the ammonia and nitrites drop to zero (or their lowest threshold value) within 24 hours from feeding the system, demonstrating the adequate colonisation of the beneficial bacteria.

Although one doesn't have to wait until the system is fully cycled to add fish, I find it safer and less stressful to wait.

Di be patient!!

As bunson was mentioning, a new system may take as long as 6 weeks to completely cycle (get to where the baterial are numerous enough for the system to work correctly). From my reading you've only had it going for about 2-3 weeks, correct? Once that happens the NH4 (ammonia) levels will drop significantly and so will your NO2 (-trites). Your NO3 (-trates) will then go up depending on the amount and size of plants in the GB. Looks and sounds like your headed in the right direction!!

The hardest part of a new system is having the patients for it to become mature!!!

Steve,
I read that it takes time .. I just wanted to be sure I was heading in the right direction and also making sure I did not kill my poor fish in the process and when to add the worms and plants. I have had the water circulating for about 2 weeks now. I knew it would not be "cycled" yet... no way did I expect it to be... I just did not know with that MUCH ammonia if I needed to add plants or fish or worms. I have taken out the fish (put them in their own place away from the system) and added some plants and some worms.
I don't plan on doing anything now except plant more plants as they sprout from seeds and wait.

Thanks for all the help and encouragement everybody...

pH 7.4 (same)
ammonia 1.0 (lower)
nitrite 5.0 (same)
nitrate 20 (up) yay
temp 75 degrees f

pH 7.4 (same)
ammonia 0.25 yay
nitrite 2.0 - 5.0 (hard to tell)
nitrate 20
temp 75 degrees f

Its getting there

Yes... I was excited to see the changes... I have planted more plants and they seem to be doing well. I appreciate everyone's encouragement.

Nearly there.

I cannot find the "official" chart of the cycle, so quickly did a rough demo model. (The progress of your system is represented by the arrow).



The next step is to start thinking about what to do next as the next step!

Have you 100% confirmed where your initial ammonia came from? Is your water supply tainted? After your ammonia and nitrites drop to zero (or their base levels) are you going to add an "artificial" ammonia source, or add the fish? (See my point above about being 'fully cycled', "Although one doesn't have to wait until the system is fully cycled to add fish, I find it safer and less stressful to wait.")

There is absolutely no rush to DO anything, but as is often said, "Plan early, plan twice!"