Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, I'll put some real nh3 in, that will get it firing. If I bring it up to about 2 ppm will that be used/converted in a couple of days?

NO if your system isn't cycled yet, it will likely take a week or so before the ammonia would drop. If you are getting fish in a couple days you only want to put a small amount of ammonia in. You will have to test often and probably salt the system and not feed much while the bio-filter cycles up.

Well if fish arrive in a few days I'll be in a bit of a pickle. Some full on water management required I guess. I have had a couple of fish in there for a week or so but they wouldn't have been enough to get anything happening.

if you are only getting the appropriate amount of fish for the filtration you have and they are small. Then you can let the system cycle up with the fish, just resist feeding the beggers when the water quality says no. If you are getting more fish than you can let grow out with your current filtration, then you will have more problems.

Shouldn't be to bad only 20 4-5cm goldfish. 300mm deep ibc bed. This number will reduce in a couple of weeks to ten fish.

I need to learn to read. ignore this post

peat works well for lowering ph in water as it brakes down and is still organic unlike hydro acid