Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok so I just got back in town from a trip to Memphis island Dan was feeding the fish while I was gone. I just tested the water because my plants were looking a little crappy. I am really confused because my nitrates before I left were off the charts now I have done two tests and it comes up like a light brownish color not really the orange color that would mean like .5 ppm. My ammonia is less than .25 and nitrites are still off the charts. Any ideas?

Also I think I need to add some maxi crop what's a good ratio to add it?

Fish are happy and I can already see some growth in a few which is crazy because I am only feedeing every other day. I think I am growing to start planting a few more seeds today too.

I'm surprised your fish are "happy"... if your nitrites are "off the charts"....

I have salted too 2ppt but yeah they are eating a lot more than I think they would.

Rip since you are a maxi crop user what is a good dosage?

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Lol rip funny auto correct *Rup

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with 110 gallons of gb, i used about a cap full every 6-8 weeks

Stop feeding until your nitrites come down. Test your tap water to make sure it is nitrite free, then use it to dilute your test water until you get a measurable nitrites. Then multiply that number by the amount you diluted.

Ron did what you said and I had to do 1 pt ap water and 4 parts tap it came out to 2ppm so 10 ppm is what I am running. I also did it with my nitrates too and that was weird because I did 50/50 and it came to about 40ppm maybe 80... But that's why it is weird because it would be 80 or 160ppm really which is what my test tests up too.

On the feeding deal I went from everyday to every other day about two weeks ago to let the system get caught up. I mean how long should I go without feeding them?

Ok this might be my dumb question of the day... Can your system have too much nitrates enough to slow down production of more. Like worms they will only multiply enough to the space and food they have. If there is too much nitrates in the water and it is not being soaked up enough can that effect production?

You can go for at least a week without feeding them.

Ok new question which is worse high nitrites because I am feeding the fish a little bit OR Dead fish because the other fish keep eating each other? All of the smaller fish keep ending up on the cover for the overflow eyes both eaten and fins and such nibbled at. Nitrites are dropping I am down to 4ppm BUT I am also not really seeing much more in the way of Nitrates I am still at about 80ppm. I need to replant new seeds my DW turned off the light before we left for Memphis last week and when I came back they were not looking so hot. Tried to give them a sprits of maxicrop water and give them some more light now they are dead so yay... but its ok I got some new grow lights and will get some new plants started soon.

OK well here is the answer I have found 6 dead fish today that these guys were hiding. I went from 40 to 25 from them being eaten. So I fed them today. I mean they were hiding fish under a filter and had probably been there for a bit so I mean the nitrite spiking could be from them.

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ok so I originally had a SLO in my FT but the small fish seemed to have an issue with it and kept getting sucked up on it. Now I have just an overflow pipe and for a while when all the fish stayed low in the tank there was no issues now they seem more comfortable in the tank and are swimming higher and are getting caught on the overflow now. Any ideas how to stop this?

Put the smaller fish in a floating fry basket.

Ok so through the process of Natural Selection I have about 18 Yellow Perch left and all 10 Cats. Which sucks but is also ok. I put a second guard on my overflow to help keep fish from being sucked up... however I am coming to a point where I need to reinstall my SLO so my solid waste in my FT can get sucked up. But still some of me 18 are still smaller and I don't want to lose anymore. There are still about 5 of them that havent really grow at all. I have also noticed the Cats eat the food once it has dropped and the perch eat it while its dropping but they won't eat it if is floating at the top just thought that was a bit odd.

I have also decided my next Fish Tank I will be installing a viewing window because I love watching them but I I have to lower the spray bar and turn off the air pump to watch them. I might even get a new one and move the fish over and then add one on the IBC I have now too.

Put the small fries in a floating fry basket.