Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

It could be what is causing that skin condition on your avatar...

That was for a early Halloween party.

Thanks for the info RupertofOZ my house water is around 8.6. I'm topping off water fairly constantly. I don't get as much dry air and the few remaining plants are using it. Adding every two weeks around 10 liters of water.

If you find your top ups are raising your fish tank pH levels too much Rob... then adjust the top up water to the desired pH... with Hydrochloric acid... let it sit for a few hours.. recheck the pH and adjust if required... then add to the tank

Render messed up, had to redo and upload.

I did a hospital tank for the one sick goldfish, and after one night I am getting some major improvement. I added 15ml of salt to a older 2g(8L) fish tank I had. I was running salt in the aquaponics but under 1ppt after a few water changes to remove some of the solids from the sump. I'm leading the idea more towards stress, and low salt. That goldfish has a very good slime coat now and the red on the tips of the fins are fading away. Just wish that I had done this sooner.

Going to be making a adjustable grow light stand with shelf

I was going to use 2 24" T8 CFL bulbs. but looking locally after I bout most of the stuff I see there is a 150w HPS light for sale that someone is selling locally for 55$ USD. Instead of 120v at 80w for the 2 CFLs it would be 120v at around 400w to produce 150w almost 3.5A!!

Not sure what to do right now.

I replanted some basil and added some spinach a few weeks ago. This is what I have so far and the ONE GREEN PEPPER

I have not checked levels in a week. They look a bit high.

Just the two goldfish and catfish. I added the injured goldfish back a few days ago when it looked so much better.


pH | 6.4
NH3 | 1.00
NO2 | 2.00
NO3 | 20.00

Temp - 75*F / 23 *C

I'm seeing too many clay balls. Pick up a few more seedlings to stuff in there. Lights grow nothing if they are hitting just clay.

I'm not sure if I can find seedlings this time of year near me.

I was supprised that I got the spinach to germinate, the seeds where from 04. Maybe less than 10% germinated. The rest are probably molding in the growbed. I could maybe bring some wild mint from outside that has not completely died off yet from the cold.

Well, the mint would definately cover the clay balls, the problem is getting the mint out of the system when you need to.

Probably one of the reasons why I can't get rid of it outside. Even the roots in the flowerpot turn almost into one giant mass.

About damn time. The one green pepper is turning red. Any recipes that use one chilli pepper?

You could stuff it with Spanish rice.

Time to raise pH


pH | 6.0
NH3 | 1.00
NO2 | 2.00
NO3 | 0-5.00

Temp - 75*F / 23 *C

New video is up