Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Gran, as I said, the gills to me looked really dark red ( I don't trust my eyes on photo's). There are a few reasons why this can happen but when you get down to it it is usually a lack of O2 or a very few other things.
If Troutman does not believe it was a temp related/lack of DO, fair enough I trust him; there must have been something else that caused the fish death's. If I had to take another guess it would be an ammonia spike possibly assisted by a rise in ph/temp.
Although it is unlikely have you put a chloride into your system ie salt?

Thanks to all of you.
Rupert, I had no CF through growbeds for two days at day time but only 3 times for 30minutes beforethe day the fish went in. On Saturday I pumped FT to FT (have to add another valve)but it was probably too late forthe first load to survive (sorry trouts)

Skeggley- I've added another piece of pipe to the big GB drain, so it sucks air and goes down tothe floor with a 90 degrees corner but most likely too late for the ones who gave up yesterday.

Gavin - If it is not the air problem what is it then?????? If I only knew, I have to hope for the best regarding the last 5 trout. If they survive the night and start feeding, I should be fine?

I am crossing fingers because if they don't I would not know what to do with that system and have to burry the idea to raise fish to fertilize the vegies. In the moment the vegies seemto grow 'backwards'

Anybody got a spare air pump:) (just joking)
I would need one then with the capacity of pumping 1000ltr per hour? Right?

Sleepe - I was told to use pool salt, we've got a chlorinator and on the bag it says 'Swimming pool salt'
I had added a good hand full, not more.

Erich - the blue barrels run in a different system.It gets water from the pond.

Ouch! looks like you've just about covered everything except the rainwater tank...

I'll be thinking of you and your fish... hope the others survive.

Five small trout collectively have only a small oxygen demand so if these survivors cark it, as well, then it is clearly something other than a lack of DO, as far as I am concerned. Besides, there should be plenty of O2 dissolving at the surface of the FT.

For what it is worth, I have only ever used an aerator when transporting fish. Anyway, keep your chin up, Gran - you are clearly very capable and this set back should not dissuade you from enjoying a worthwhile pastime that you will master soon enough.

Jensilaedi - the rainwater was added late, couldn't have been the culprit for the first load but might be the reason for the second wave.

PLJ - I like what you said,thanks.
I will just have to wait and see what's happening overnight.

Dont get put off Gran. You and all of us learn from these problems and we are all trying to come up with the culprit. There has to be a reason

About rainwater:
I think it is generally assumed that rainwater is clean and wonderful, and that tap water is not so good because of added chlorine, fluoride, etc. Just in case you don't know, when collected from a roof in a city, rainwater contains all kinds of contaminants that have been spewed from vehicle exhausts, factories, etc. Especially bad is the ionised material that is present in significant concentrations in proximity to high tension power lines.
I drink rainwater that is collected by my roofs because, being in a rural area, it is relatively clean; bird poop and dust being the main contaminants. If in Perth I would drink tap water before I would drink unfiltered rainwater. Contaminated rainwater is unlikely to be the cause of your fish deaths since one could assume they would have all perished together if that was the case. I believe it is worth being aware, however, that as an input to your system, water from a rainwater tank is potentially a source of harmful toxins.

PLJ - If someone had told me last year what I am spending my time on through the last 3 months I would have considered that person to be insane
But here I am with (almost) all my faults, mistakes and inabilities to get that $%^&* AP going.

By the looks of it, I made every available mistake that is NOT listed in whatever manuals regarding aquaponics, maybe the best way to learn fast. Unfortunately I helped a few innocent creatures to the other side in the process

I am down to the last 2 trout today and have to go out and do other stuff in the morning.
I probably come home to 2 more casualties.

Did I learn my lessons? Don't know, I learned a few things but I am very anxious now to keep going..................which I will, no doubt about that Seamonkey

In the past I have topped up our pond with water straight from the tap and for years these little guppies have stayed alive without being feed or water being tested. Pond water volume is about 3000ltr, so tap water top ups are usually around 5% per week, more in hot and/or windy weather.
If I leave the pond for a couple of days after top ups and then pump the pondwater into the completey drained AP, would that be an idea for a fresh start?
How do others top up their systems, water has to come from somewhere and when space is somewhat limited one couldn't have another 1000 spare liters hanging around.

I took pics from today's casualties regarding gills and how they look anyway.

And the gill pics

Tap water is generally fine, although pH is typically quite high. It is a good idea to spray it into your tank because this action allows much of the chlorine to dissipate into the atmosphere.

ummmm - yeeaaaa - naaaa

They may have a small o2 demand however the O2 levels would be fairly uniform throughout the 1000 litres, and not in pockets so if its low on DO (and that air pump would make it so) - its low on DO period....

I agree with the rainwater comment. Im rural and have been for some years. Being that, my rain water is quite good

Absolutely yes. rainwater is quite good.

Hi Gran, I am very sorry to hear about your trout and you probably wont get a definitive answer I'm afraid. A couple of things to keep in mind are that two things imperative to trout are temperature and aeration. While other people around Perth were just getting trout including us, the temps were still teetering in the danager zone. Many of these systems are not in a greenhouse and yours is, so the temps are probably going to be higher. I think you were a smidge too early. But the second thing is having turned off the water pump is a no, no in my opinion.
Then there was the mention of Charlie Carp. Sometimes when the damage has been done the fish just never recover. A handful of salt isn't enough - minimum 1ppt which is 1 kilo per thousand litres or in the case of disease 3ppt.
If I were you I would top up from the scheme water, people all around Perth do it. Little and often, so once a week to replace what is lost, rather than big additions.
I would keep my eye on the water temps and the forecast and see what the future brings. I just think you are a bit too early and the temperatures are probably not on your side - it is very warm in the sun today. Another few weeks may have been a different story for you. Don't give up, get back on the horse and thanks for sharing. You are not the first to lose first on your first go and you certainly wont be the last.

What was in the IBC before it became your fish tank?
I ask this because I have recently lost 3 lots of fish in a IBC that was cleaned scrubbed etc and rinsed left in the sun for weeks. All the water reading where in acceptable levels or 0. So I have to say the my IBC is contaminated with something that killed the fish. I am in the process of lining the IBC with a liner and then I will also take a grow bed of my current system and run it with the IBC to see how it goes.

Well, it is almost evening and we have the last 2 still swimming around................
I told them to hang in there. Have to wait and see if they make it.

Faye - Thanks Faye, as I sad before, I must have done lots of mistakes that I havn't read about before. I was just following "manuals' and whatever I have read here on the forum.
But every case/location is different. Next time I put fish in water I will attempt a different strategy. Have to find out which one though
My guess is that it would have been all the same if I had chosen a different kind of fish?

ThommoPerth -
3 lots of fish??? That's even more upsetting. I hope your next lot will be safe.
In the IBC I use was
<10% DIETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER
and
<0.1% Methylchloroisothiazolinone

I googled those names. I was told it was some kind of soap mixture and the IBC would come out clean.