Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

This is my first and I wanted to inquire as to the ideal number of times a pump should fill up the plant bed? I have a 275 gallon tote? Right not I am only pumping every 4 hours with on for 5 minutes that filled the bed.

What is the proper technique to how many times to cycle your pump on \?
How long should it stay on?

Thanks

This is a hard question because it depends. You could have it pumping constantly with the constant flood system but costs more in electricity and has much higher oxygenation required. The longest you could go without flooding is dependent on the medium and its ability to hold water so the roots don't dry out.

In hydroponics, I flooded as little as possible, but in aquaponics I flood 15 on 45 off. I intend on reducing the flood amount to the growbeds to every 2 hours and having a constant pump -> solids filter -> sump (where my duckweed is) -> fish tank for aeration.

My favorite part about aquaponics, is systems become a personality, many facets are virtually unlimited. Just don't let the roots dry out, and don't let them drown from insufficient oxygen. You'll be fine.

Basic rule is to cycle the fish tank once per hour, having said that it comes down to your system and how you are running it.

I have 2200 litre fish tank on a 15/45 cycle but would only move about 1500 litres during the 15 min on period.

And your water is suitably oxygenated to be able to run in that cycle?

You need to cycle enough water through the bio-filtration every hour to keep the water clean enough for the amount of fish you have.
You need to have water well aerated (this can be achieved with air pumps and air stones if you are not needing to cycle the water enough to keep it aerated by pumping)

General rule for a good starting point is to pump the volume of your fish tank each hour.

In a new system, pumping the water more is generally better for getting the bio-filter cycled up.

They plants may be happy with getting water less often but you also have to take into account the needs of the bacteria and the fish.

@4xjbh no problems so far, will be adding a continuous airpump for the next lot of fish.

I filled my tank 275 gal IBC tote on Dec 1 and placed 35 Tilapia youngling fish in Dec 23. This is the first measurement of my chemical levels and could really use some advice.

Based on what I heard here I have changed my pump cycle time to come on every 3 hours and stay on for 20 minutes.

Anyone have any suggestions?

PH 6.6
High PH7.4
Ammonia 8.0 PPM
Nitrite 5.0 PPM
Nitrate 5.0

Pump more, leave the pump on permanently for a while if you can... You really should be pumping every hour with those fish levels. Don't feed, do a water change, and perhaps salt the system and hope they survive...

After 2 months you should be close to being cycled. How much media do you have? I would change about 1/3 maybe more of the water to get the ammonia down. If you have nitrification established then you may be feeding the fish too much food or maybe you have a dead fish that is causing the ammonia to spike.

You need to increase your pump rate significantly... you should be turning over your 275gall fish tank at leaast once per hour...

You're not nitrifiying properly with such a low turnover rate... and you probably also have low DO in your system... which will be inhibiting your nitrification even further...

Don't know what your tank water temperatures are... but your ammonia level... and nitrite level are very high...

If you've been dosing your tank with anything... cease immediately....

If you're feeding your fish... cease immediately... and I'd advise either pumping continuously... or at least 15 mins every hour...

Increase your oxygen if possible...

Please report your fish tank water temperature... and the pH of any source water... before doing any water change(s)... but take your readings ASAP...

Being the middle of winter... an cold... don't know how cold... 8 weeks and still not completed cycling isn't at all unusualy...

And the readings show that the system isn't cycled at all... but much of that might be due to not only the temperature... but the DO and turnover rate.. as above...

A pic of the set up would assist as at the moment we are only dancing in the dark
No feed, full time pumping are good but there is something seriously wrong with your biofilter, or how it is operating.

First of all thanks so much for your assistance.

My water temp is 70. We are located in San Diego, CA and lows at night only get down to mid 40's
I have adjusted the pump to come on for 2 hours then shut off for an hour 24 hours a day.
my ph for the last 3 days is 6.6 6.0 6.4
my amonia is 8.0 8.0 8.0
Nitrite is 5.0 2.0 2.0
Nitrate is 5 10 10

I have not emptied any water out yet.

What steps do you advise next?
pictures will be added for you to see.
Thanks again

Hope that auto feeder isn't running...

Id leave the pump on full time.. Do you have any much on the bottom of the tank, uneaten food?

Another question is the use of a bio filter?
Currently I do not have a filtration system. Should I have one?
If so what type is best.
Thanks again your advice is very much appreciated