Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

what is normal for the cycle
???

I believe they even excrete ammonia from their gills as past of respiration, so they don't even need to eat to produce ammonia. Think I read that on here somewhere.

As Journeyman says, either your system is cycled and dealing with the load or your test kit is faulty.

Are faulty test kits a common problem?

I wouldn't say common but they are not unheard of.

If there is another AP enthusiast or Aquarium keeper near but use your kit to test their water and compare. Then use their kit to test your water and compare.

Doh! I forgot about that part of the ammonia production... So many things to remember, so few brain cells.

Speaking of brain cells, must be pub time - gotta go put footy tips in...

(that;s what I tell the missus... *sniggers*)

Well after losing 7 fish in 3 days I took a water sample to the local fish store and they confirmed that my test kit is working and my water is good. I tried upping the amount of food I was feeding to see if I could detect some ammonia but still never did so I cut it back to normal a week ago.

The pet store suggested the fish may be gulping air when they eat and I should submerge their food. Other than that possibility I have no clue what might be wrong.

I still don't think I'm fully cycled yet (2 1/2 months after starting) Is there a test to validate that the system has matured?

I read basically zeros across the board.

Why do you think you're not fully cycled?

A system is cycled for a certain fish stock load when it can convert all the ammonia produced by that load to nitrates fast enough to not have ammonia and nitrite show up.

Since the aquarium store have confirmed your test kit isn't faulty, you are, by definition, cycled for your load.

I keep saying cycled for your current load as your system might need time to adjust if you add more fish (but it shouldn't take long).

Cycled is not the same as mature, I keep hearing that systems can take a full season before everything's running at maximum capacity.

Fair question. I didn't see the usual progression of Ammonia to nitrites to nitrates. Maybe the plant load converted everything too fast to be detected?

Also my plant growth has never been particularly as dramatic as I was expecting. Several of the plants never developed fruit and even the herbs have been just marginal at best.

My water temp is about 90 degrees which isn't ideal for goldfish but is well below the 106 I have read they can tolerate.

OK, 7 fish lost is time to change tack in this thread - let's not worry for the moment about the Ammonia or other steps. How did the fish die? Did they look strange? (bulging eyes, or gaping moths/gills) Were there physical signs? (discoloured skin, white patches, sores) Did you see any strange behaviours before the fish died? (flopping around, frantic movements, gulping air at the surface, hovering around your air supply) How are your fish behaving now? Anything odd or repetitive?

I think first we need to find out WHY you're losing fish before we go chasing an Ammonia cycle that may or may not be working fine.

Where does your water come from? Is it treated chemically?

I dropped the water temp yesterday afternoon by a couple degrees. I started submerging their food to keep them from gulping air as of yesterday's feeding. 3 more dead fish this morning.

The fish don't seem to be acting any differently than usual. No signs of trauma on the dead ones. Some have had cloudy eyes others were clear. Not bloated. No white spots. Some mouths open some closed. Noticed one had blood at the corner of one of his eyes.

One of the ones I found this morning might have been dead for a few days and I didn't see him because he was wedged between some rocks.

They seem to have a healthy appetite.

The fish store tested my water for several things that my API kit doesn't and they were all fine. (like water hardness, salinity etc.)

The water I use is from a Rain barrel collected from a gutter system. It hasn't been chemically treated. In any case I haven't added any water to the system in about a week.

As a way of testing perhaps I should move the fish to some fresh water and see if the problem follows them?

I'm at a loss

It could be that they are feeder goldfish, and they die if you look at them wrong. They call them feeder goldfish, because they are meant to be food of other fish, and not expected to live long.

Can you post some photos of your system (wide view).... and the rain collection system...

Might give us a few clues... maybe...

That isn't remotely true. Commonly feeder goldfish are just comet goldfish and they live long and healthy lives. Easy to breed mass quantities and sell for pennies is why they are sold as "feeder"

My 2" feeders are now 5" and healthy as can be. My system of similar size with this one started with 9 and I still have 9 because I expect them to get 12"+

[/quote]
Can you post some photos of your system (wide view).... and the rain collection system...

Might give us a few clues... maybe... [/quote]









Sorry the light washed out the down spout on this picture but it is just a down spout dumping to a screen on top of the barrel. To save the inevitable question yes the barrel was used for food safe material plus it hasn't been an issue for the past 2 months.

It could be that you lucked out, and got them from a good shop. I remember as a kid the feeders being the hardiest fish in the tank, but a lot of the time the feeders come with some baggage as the shops don't take particular care of the tank, it is not like they are prized discus or anything. I am not saying that there is not an elusive problem in the system, but the problem could easily be the goldfish too. I would say that if they all die off, try feeders from another shop, and see how they fare. If they are ll good, than you know you can proceed to the tilapia with minimal issue.