Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I finally got my siphon to work and got all anxious and re motivated. I went and got the rest of what I thought I needed and here is the system so far.
http://i.imgur.com/Bo0ngnM.jpg
http://imgur.com/U9dBoM1

There are no fish in the system yet. I am getting some goldfish to start tomorrow.

Here are my questions.

With a system outside like this, will the tank get too hot for the fish? I had it setup in the garage but I felt the lighting I had wouldn't be enough so I moved outside to take advantage of the free sunpower.

My PH seems high, at 8.0. Is that going to kill my plants? I'm using clay, so my assumption is that it will even itself out soon? Should I add something to bring the PH down?

I added some plant food stuff from the local zamzows and it brought my nitrites up to 80ppm.


I read to cycle my system i should get some water from an established system. I have a pool that has been sealed with visqueen for the winter. Rain / Snow and ducks have made it a pond / mess. Would this stuff be a good idea to add to my system?
http://imgur.com/ljKurgc

I am going to go with no. The ducks may/probably pooped in there. Their poop may contain diseases(e-coli) which cold blooded creatures (fish) do not.


Anyone want to expand or correct my opinion?

I agree. Id be worried about nasties in the pond.

You need an ammonia source to cycle your system and there are numerous ways to do this. Although introducing established media or water from an exsisting pond or aquarium can be benificial - the effect or benefit is quite small.

You can supplement your plants with Maxicrop (seaweed) until your fish get going.

So I used some Earth Juice from a local pet/plant store.
http://www.greenfireshop.com/cart/index ... art-h34002

To try and keep my plants fed while cycling the system. Here are my current levels.


I just added a little water from a pond, and 3 goldfish yesterday.

What should I be watching for? I notice amonia is up to 1. I should expect it to go up higher, then lower to 0 while Nitrites go up also, correct?

wow! you need to get your PH down. What does your water test right out of the tap?

well suprisingly, straight from the tap my PH is much lower.



Should I be pouring some tap water into the tank to lower it? not sure what has caused it to get soo high.

I would say your gravel did it, but it looks like your using hydroton. Your Ph needs to be around 7 give or take. You could add some tap water to help lower it. Are you on city water? If so, is their chlorine or chloramine in it?

city water is my assumption. I don't know if there is chlorine in it or not.

1st rule of any aquarium endeavor, know where your water comes from and what's in it. Fish and bacteria don't like chlorine and all city water is treated. You should probably set up a rain barrel of some sort or you'll be treating your water every time you top it off. Any local aquarium store should know whats in the city water.

I also read that if you setup a rain barrel, don't capture water from a shingled roof because the run off can contain nasties of there own. I setup a small barrel in the open, I don't catch much rain water as yet, but always room for improvement. Also if you use Tap water you should leave it in a bucket or container for a few days for the chlorine to disapate - or airate the water to help de-clorinate the water.

How in a matter of 3 days has your ammonia and nitrates shot up so fast with only 3 fish? whats in that earth juice? how much did you add? and what is your tank size?

I posted a link to the earth juice. I may have misread ammonia but it looks like its 1ppm. The nitrites are way up though from the juice.

Only like 15 gal tank. 3 small goldfish.

That explains the total climb.

Be careful with speed, my experience with my fish has been anything to fast is deadly. If this is the amount suggested to use I feel you may be on to something


~ jtk07~
using Tapatalk - please disregard typos!

So this is today.


It looks like my PH is going down which is good. Amonia is going up, at 2 and I notice my Nitrites are at about .5 ppm.

Is it doing what it should be ? lol.


All of a sudden my siphons stopped working. They are not breaking, so I lower the flow, then they wont start... back and forth. My clay keeps finding ways inside the guard and getting wedged between my standpipe and the bell. So i cant just take the bell off to look in and see whats going on. Is it a bad idea to seal the guard to my growbed bottom with something?