Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I think i paid $25 for a 20kg bag in one of those big warehousy pet stores. ring around and ask

hey man, im about to start setting up a AP system and using the sand pit shells too ... how are they going? would you advise against it or is it working ok?

I just grabbed some grit from the Pet store on the way home today. I will see how it goes and get some from a hardware store next time if it looks like I need to be using a fair bit.

I would like to come and check out your systems. Things are going to be too hectic until mid way through January, though. After things settle down I'll PM you and we can make a time - thank you

I read somewhere that banana skins are good for PH, is that right or do I have my wires crossed? Assuming I have it right, where do I put the banana skin? Won't it go off?

Burying bananas in a grow bed ... is a source of Potassium... for fruiting/flowering.... but doesn't have anything to do with pH...

I only put them in at lunchtime today, but keep watching to see if my PH stabilises.

Ok, that's good to know. Thanks Rupert

Oops, I misread

The sand pit shells seem to working ok at the moment. My main worry with them would be they are only 200mm deep, as opposed to the recommended minimum depth of 300mm

Time will tell what a difference that makes overall, but this is just a test system so I am happy to learn from my mistakes on this one

The ammonia and nitrites have gone! I have redosed with hummonia to 1.0 and will test again tomorrow to see how that effected things.

The PH has stabilised at around 6.4

FYI, whilst your PH is perfect for your plants etc, its not so good for crustaceans just in case you were thinking of adding some down the track as it will soften the exoskeleton and they become vulnerable to disease unfortunately.

Dosnt mean you cant buffer it up a tad if/when you are ready anyways

While it isn't something that I had considered for this system it is probably something I would like to expand to in my next system, eventually.

What is the best PH for yabbies/red claw etc?

Neutral or above. Between 7 and 8.

Update

So my ammonia and nitrites are back to zero after putting the ammonia up to 1.0 pp yesterday morning. My nitrates are around 20, is this normal? I don't have any fish yet (wanted to cycle first), so I have added 50ml of Seasol this morning (after my water tests) to give the plants something to eat.

Is it too soon to be getting fish? I only started to cycle on 20th December (so like 2 weeks ago - seems WAY to early?!?)

As you can see from this photo my poor Bhut isn't doing so well - is he just hungry do you think?


The oregano seems to be fairing quite well;


I have also purchased a large(r) tank for my fishies to live in (when I get them). It is 140 litres, which is a step up from the 110 litre tank I had before (which may now function as the sump - CHIFT PIST for the win ).

I did a stress test on it yesterday - it bulged heaps so I rigged a support for it;


I wasn't happy with that look so I am giving it much more support - pics when done

I haven't leveled the stand yet either, so that is yet to be done as well.

Latest water test (6pm 3rd January);

PH 7.6 (more than doubled the water, so cycling/mixing through)
Ammonia 0.00
Nitrites 1.00
Nitrates 10.0

So I have added my larger fish tank in now - my sump + fish tank now equals 250 litres.

Shade cloth over fish tank;


Overview of system, with SLO;


New fish tank all braced up;

Added your fish we have had hot weather lately so that has hepled you. Check your fish tank water temperature during the day. Rember the hoter the water , less oxygen for the fish. You may want to look at a small air pump/stone set up.

My tank is 2200 lt and temperatures have been hitting near 29c in the afternoon. I run a small 25w 1000lt pump into a spraybar for extra aeration.

Hey Bear, no fish added yet as I wanted to be certain the system had cycled first. I might try out with a couple of goldies to see how they go once the new water is fully integrated and my levels have stabilised.

I have a 4W, 5.3 litres/min, twin outlet air pump running, one outlet to the sump and one to the fishtank. I didn't get the pump from that website I got it from my local pet store, but that was the first link that came up.

I have also included a modified Affnan siphon (using one of his 'silencing the aquaponics' variants) that incorporates a lot of extra aeration when it goes off (although probably no more than any other siphon);


Do you think I have enough aeration with those inclusions?

The temperatures have been mad lately! Has your 2200 litres been hitting 29c? What temp ranges do SP prefer?