Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Greetings all, I have been trolling for forums for information and helpful tips. You all sound very knowledgeable and I beleive that will help me tremendously in setting up my system. So far I have setup a demo system 10 gallon FT with a small GB. a few goldfish volunteers and after a few hesitant weeks (not ready to dive in) it is finally up and running with a few herb seeds and one plant to see how it goes. So far I have no readings for ammonia, nitrates or nitrites, the PH level is 7.6 and I am getting more volunteers to help increase those 0 levels. I am running an aquarium filter on the FT.

I have a 275 IBC tote and 2 %% gallon drums for my actual system, so far the colder than cold March has slowed me getting it started having to work outside, not sure on Greenhouse or just putting it indoors. going to stock with Blue Gill fish or catfish, but first things first. getting everything I need to take my demo to real system. thats all I can think of for now.

Really enjoyed seeing everyones systems.

Poor baby... Its in the 70's, here...
But you can do trout...

I wish I could do trout, will have to check. This is Illinois we don't get anything fun. They have trout license and every year release a bunch at certain lakes, I thought about catching some and taking them home That is still an option. Yea some first day of spring high around 29 F.

I hear everyone likes pictures so here are 2 of my little 10 gallon demo system, I have learned a lot just need it to cycle so my poor plant grows.

Decided to go with catfish, so the bluegill question is moot. now I may take the whole system outside since they can do cooler temps. but still leaning on indoors so its year round.

I don't get it. in my little 10 gallon tank I have 8 goldfish, 1 - 2inches big, I feed them twice a day, so far no ammonia readings, no nitrite or nitrage readings, but the system is new so I was just looking for Ammonia. I feed them twice a day. Ph is a little high mabe around 8, I tried lemon juice from lemons to lower it, but it does nto seem to have any affect. the only filter I have is the GB.

any help would be appreciated. I am getting 20 catfish for my bigger system today I might throw one in there after it acclimates to see if I can get the ammonia up. i am hopping my fish don't die in the new system. I dno't have the BG ready dr said I medical issue keeping me from getting at it like I could, but this is only time fish vendor be around so stocking tank them adding BG in a day or two.

thanks in advance for any advice you have.

Les.

the lemon juice is anti-bacterial, it will hinder cycling..
the higher ph is ok for now (especially while cycling) and it will eventually come down
cycling takes time, go light on feed, when you see your ammonia spike, you're just starting...
what kind of food are you using? flake foods don't have many nutrients, usually they're made to provide the fish with just enough to stay alive (so you don't have to clean your aquarium as often)... good quality food is important for the fish and the veggies

If you are feeding the goldfish aquarium food, you probably won't get much in the way of ammonia readings. It is formulated to minimize ammonia. Switch to aquaculture feed, then ammonia should be produced.

Thanks for the info, Yea busted, I was using gold fish flakes. They are 86 now. I got some premium food at the premium fish store so I will crush it up and feed it to them. I am seeing my seeds starting to sprout for my herbs and getting the fish on track will help for this little system.

My catfish arrived for my bigger system yesterday shy little fishes. Being new and inexperienced you over think, under plan and generally worry like a new mother. I keep peaking at the catfish to insure they are alright. and keep hopping for the best.

Thanks again for the quick response and information.

Hi Fogbad,

First off, welcome to the forum! Glad to have you aboard.

Catfish are a solid choice. Of course, I'm partial to tilapia, but catfish definitely provide you with solid flexibility in terms of temperature variations throughout the year.

Thanks for the welcome.
now next question is filtration, let the GB filer with red worms or make a swirl filter, bio filter to take out the fish solids. I have read some on both but undecided.
Also pond pump or sump pump. not sure the pond pump will take the solids out of the tank and I will have to elimiate them differently. sump pump i guess can carry the solids out to either the GB or filtration the I was
thinking of putting a pipe at the water level I want to keep have the overflow drain to a swirl filter into a sump tank, then pump that water to the GB. but if solids sink, they won't make it out the overflow pipe. I have chceked out members systems and will continue to read more when time allows but I got to get my GB up soon, thats why I am asking the more knowledgeable people. and Sorry I am sure this has been discussed but I don't have lots of time to troll the forums, searches are good but the results can be mindblowing.

desicions desicion. I am not very decisive and thought I had it all planned out, but the more you read the more confused i get with what other people do with their systems and wonder what is best for mine. Basically its an IBM system, GB on top of fish tank. basic BYAP setup but want to leave room to grow and expand, which I read is likely to happen.

any advice would be most appreciated.
And were do people get their red wigglers?

where are you at in illinois? im in Fairview hgts.

I live in Champaign Urbana. glad to see another person from Illinois on.

My wife danced with Mid-Illinois Ballet for a season back in the early nineties. They were out of Champaign.

Not familiar with that, but the Univeristy has a lot going on.

Question, Sump pump or pond pump? I currenlty have a pond pump, some solids are being lifted to the GB, but I don't think enough to feed the worms i am putting in there. I keep reading a lot about people using a sump pump. I have a typical IBC FT GB setup and afraid I am not getting enough solids pumped up. no ammonia yet with 16 Catfish, about 200 gallons of water. going to add some minows or my volunteer Goldfish from the 10 gallon tank just to amp up the waste.