Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Salt to 1ppt... to mitigate against the nitrites... trout fingerlings are more susceptible to nitrites.... than others....

Thanks Rupert... Will do !

Hey SuperD2,

Only lvls that has changed for me over the last few days of warmth were PH moved from 6.8 to 8.0 and ammonia has jumped from 0.5 to 2.0. Hopefully see a change in the others soon. Plants still growing so i assume they are going well.

keep the updates on your system coming

I think I'm just ahead of you both - I started mine on april 5th
My NITRITE has become increasingly high.
I'm looking at it like a 'hot potato' or 'handball' effect on the API Masterkit - the colour just transfers from one side to the other, eventually you have higher NITRATES.
I've been guided to not add anything more until its cycled, but I don't have fish so its okay.

Hi Timbo

I read on your thread that you added a heater... Have you still got it in ? I thought the heater would have really kick started your cycling !

Are you have any problems with pests ? My broccoli & cauliflower are being hammered by aphids & little hairy caterpillars.....everything else is ok though, lettuce & peas are booming!

Hope you see nitrites soon !

G'day Jayendra

Just checked out your thread, nice work on the cladding, looks great. I wanted to do the same, but being in a rental property didn't seem worth it as when I move I will probably just throw the IBC out.

Got a question for you... Readings today were same as yesterday ammonia 0.5, nitrite 5.0, nitrate 0
I am using the API test kit also.

So, my question is how long after you got a reading on nitrite did your nitrate kick in ?

Had nitrite for 5 days now & the nitrate is still a no show !!

Cheers
SD2

I added some aquarium water (2 buckets) so may have mixed up the results.

But for some strange reason I was seeing nitrates before nitrites just a deeper yellow than base.

Just remember that you have plants in there and they are probably eating the nitrate so its not showing.

"I added some aquarium water (2 buckets) so may have mixed up the results."

My local aquarium shop allowed me to wash one of their filters in a bucket of my FT water.

"Just remember that you have plants in there and they are probably eating the nitrate so its not showing."

Good point, I think your onto something. I have noticed a really slight orange tinge to the nitrate test plus there has been a noticeable boom in the lettuce last few days.

So now I'm just waiting on a drop to 0 in ammonia levels.... Then it's cycled ??

I think so, from what I (a newbie also) have read.
You have fish? yes

I'm fishless cycling and I have to add Fish emulsion.
When the ammonia @1.0ppm, goes to 0.0ppm after 24hours, I'm cycled.

The nitrite will drop also after time I think.

Once your nitrites have dropped to 0 then you have cycled

Yep 5 rainbow trout fingerlings, which when I got them a month ago were only 100mm, now the biggest one (real guts this one) would be pushing 200mm.

From what I have worked out when the ammonia drops to zero & the nitrites & nitrates are steady it means the system is cycled ??

Can anyone out there confirm this is the case ??

I just can't wait to add some more trout & get the 300 ltr growbed on line....anyone see any reason why I can't do this as soon as it cycles ??

Or would it be better to add the new growbed media only & give it a week or two to build bacteria before adding more plants & fish ?

Once ammonia and nitrites are 0 and your nitrates are there then you have cycled.

I would have the new bed online for a bit first. Just what i would do though. Like anything everyone does things differently.

Cheers for your reply

So I should see nitrate readings..... The plants won't suck it all up ?

Yeah I think I will get the new bed online for a bit before adding anything else.

Was just re- reading the IBC of aquaponics doc again & came across the Ammonia Toxicity Scale Graph.
Does this graph represent the corrected pH for temperature.... Is this what I should be recording daily .... How does this effect my system ??

Dont worry, with trout your plants wont be using all the nitrates

That table is telling how much TAN or ammonia will kill your fish at a certain ph and temp. eg at 20C and pH of 6.8 a reading of 8 ammonia would be toxic.

So with a reading of 6.8 pH & 10c water temp in my FT.

That puts my TAN at 17.... Is there another graph that shows what levels TAN is toxic to fish ?

Sorry I'm a little lost, I understand the separate Ammonia & nitrogen levels being a problem. I just don't understand what this graph represents..... Chemistry never has been a strong point of mine !

I understand where you get a reading of 8 in your example.... Just where does it say that this would be toxic ??