Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi guys,

Ive got some fingerlings coming next week, and currently my tank water looks like a crossed between milo and coffee. (added some fresh red scoria to the GB's)

What would be the fastest way to clear this up in time for the fingerling delivery?

Currently ive shut down all pumps (recommendation by someone on this forum) to let the water settle.

I've also just purchased some blue barrels, wondering if some kind of filter would help.. vortex/swirl or some kind of biofilter.

Any ideas?

Ive read they clear up dams etc with gypsum but not sure how that would go in AP.

"Agricultural gypsum is another material for removing suspended clay and does not cause the concern of a fish kill associated with adding hay. Gypsum is also chemically neutral and therefore does not cause possible pH problems associated with alum, another commonly used material. Typical application rates are from 1,000-1,500 pounds per surface acre of water, depending on the severity of the clay suspension. Again, it is wise to add the gypsum at a conservative rate of 250-500 pounds per surface acre of water, wait several days, and determine if additional gypsum is needed. This prevents excessive application and therefore helps keep costs down. Dissolve the gypsum in clean water and spray over the surface on a calm day. Late evening is often an ideal time to make the application as most nights are wind-free. Water movement from the wind prevents the suspended clay from quickly settling out, reducing the effectiveness of gypsum."

http://ohioline.osu.edu/a-fact/0006.html

I'd avoid adding anything else into the system that:

a. Isn't needed
b. Could compound the turbidity problem
c. Could possibly creat more problems

If no fish in the system yet then I'd be agitating the water as much as possible, including running a broom etc across the floor of the tank, then filtering the water as it comes out of the FT. The best stuff I've found is the white filter pad material that goes on top of the filter in an aquarium type bio-filter. Lay some, doubled over, under the outlet where the water from your FT enters the GB and clean it regularly by flushing it out on the lawn with the garden hose.

Many forum users use these solutions;
- woman's sock/stocking on the pump-to-GB output pipe
- Egg white in the FT

thanks guys,

Just keep your pump on 24/7. If you have a siphon in the GBs remove it and just do CF (constant flood) Siphons have a tendency to drag the fines back into the fish tank. Once the water is cleared up convert to F&D.

+1. Pump on cf should clear up in a couple of days

I would use the alum as I have found it works much better and quicker than the gypsum.
Lowering the pH a bit can also be advantageous in a new system if your supply water is quite high.

Where does one get alum from? I got some from the chemist for drying skins out, but its a tiny jar

I get it from Landmark its about $20 for 20kg from memory. Any of those rural type stores should sell it. You wont need much, I generally start with about 30mls per 1000L but if the water is very discoloured you may need a slightly higher rate. At these low rates it dosent seem to drop the pH very much at all.

G'day Troutman,

Could you please let me know if when you say 30mls per 1000L you are refering to a dialuted mixture of water and alum or just straight 30mls of alum powder?

Also if you refer to a mix of water and powder could you please share what the concentration is?

Appreciate any assistance!

Cheers,
Marc

I would like to direct you to a post I made a few days ago






~ jtk07~
using Tapatalk - please disregard typos!

+1 Mr D

Spot on I reckon, crank it up flat out. Personally I would leave the syphons running they help to stir the crap up too.
use filter fabric / medium of some sort under each of your outlets, I used sections of polyester insulation batts and geofilter fabric from the local hardware.
Stir everything up a few times a day and clean filter pads regularly.
Chuck a couple of native fish in there, Sliver perch dont mind muddy water and are almost bullet proof.

Before you know it youl be watching the fish swim around the bottom of the IBC, and thinking about how clear the water is.

Thats when you'l know your hooked on AP

I just mix 30mls of alum powder with approx 100ml of water and then stir that into a 1000L tank. Within 2 hrs the water will be crystal clear with the sediment on the bottom of the tank which you can then siphon off.

Is alum ok with fish?