Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks guys

Stunning mate! Brilliant job

Well it's been 2 months since commissioning, so here's a quick update.

A whole lotta nothin.

The readings have been constantly at 7.8-8.2/0/0/0. So much for faster cycling by using water & hydroton from my old system. I added bigger goldfish (up to 12 now) and have been feeding them a lot more in the hope of seeing an ammonia spike, but so far nothing.

The chillies haven't moved much, but they haven't died. I've hit them with seasol spray and the occasional chelated iron.

Any ideas?

Perhaps it is already cycled. If the hydroton is already colonized, what more is the for it to do?

Maybe, but wouldn't I see some nitrates?

I have never seen any nitrites or nitrates, and only occasionally see some ammonia.

I started with cycled hydroton :-)

You might find that you need more fish or fish food. Are you feeding them flakes or pellets?

Just flakes at the moment. When I've run out of flakes I'll switch to the same pellets I use for the silver perch.

+1

Id say high PH (nutrient lockout) and the use of flakes (nutrient defficient) is why you have minimal/poor plant growth.

Are you adding iron ?
Iron is very important and there is not enough in commercial pellets.

Yep - 1 tbsp diluted in a watering can, about once a month. Is that enough?

Hmm good point Charlie. I'll hit them with some HCl and see what happens.

Just be careful with the Iron MozzyFunkey... you can over do it.

1 Tablespoon is what's recommended per 1000L of water... about every 6-8 weeks.

I use about 1 teaspoon every week.
If I leave it for more than 3 weeks my spinach suffers dramatically!
The leaves turn dark green and go hard and get a brown tinge. Sometimes they don't recover.
I have 4 spinach plants and since adding iron again a week or 3 ago 3 of the plants are pumping out beautiful big leaves again, but one of them hasn't done squat.
I think its (a) cactus now..

Ah thanks Dr Mamage - what happens if I overdo it?

SV: perhaps spinach like iron more than most plants? At least that's what Popeye would lead us to believe...