Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

This is my first AP system. I am using two 55 gallon barrels. The pond pump runs at 300gph. I am using lava rock for the growing media.

I have everything in and running now I just need to get it cycling. I will try to get a better video loaded soon but for now here is one I took on the 4th of July



I have tested the water yesterday and this morning. Here are the results...

July 5th

High level ph 8.2
Ammonia 1.0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 0 ppm
Water Temp 80

July 6th - morning
ph 8.2
Ammonia 1.0 ppm
Water Temp 72

I have USP grade urea to add to it but I am not sure how much. Any suggestions?

I have read that for fish less cycling I want to get the ammonia to 3-4ppm. Is this true and how should I add the urea? As this is my first system any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hiya YJ, ammonia at 1-2ppm is fine, don't try to rush things. maybe add a splash of pool acid to bring the ph down to the 7's but not necessary. Your system will find its levels in time...

Sorry Ron, I wasn't sure how you did that last time with YouTube video. I should have it figured out for next time.

Do you have the lava rock in yet? You'll want that in place for cycling (and siphon testing, really).

My system started with about the same volume you have and it didn't take much urea at all to go over 8 ppm ammonia. Same with acid or base additions, a little goes a long way.

I do! I even put plants in last night. I had too they were not going to make much longer in the small pots they were in. i am getting a video on youtube now. I will post it in a few... till then here is my water test results i got when i went home for lunch...

July 8th - noon
ph 8.2
ammonia 4 ppm
nitrite .0 - .25 ppm ish - The color was hard to read. I would guess is still at .0 if i had to
nitrate between 20-20 ppm - I was told this could be a 'false positive' due to the tap water conditioner.
water temp 74 F

Tap water is likely why your pH is so high, too. If you can harvest some rainwater, you might want to do a partial water change to bring it down gently.

Well it actually rained last night. We got about an inch. Which brings me to another question. What about rain, is it an issue? Should I cover it when it rains?

The video is done and on youtube, lets see if I can get it right this time...





So there it is. I had to get the plants in as some where in bad shape and the strawberries had been in fish emulsion in the fridge for about a week. I am hopeful they can all recover. Any tips here?

Also, I timed the fill and drain times. As I said in the video it takes 6 minutes and 15 seconds to fill and 1 minute to drain. Is this adequate times for the plants or am I going to be drowning them? If not what ratio should I aim for?

I keep mine covered because it was initially in a small greenhouse, but many people far more experienced than I leave theirs exposed.

I run my system in a continuous flow mode, which is fairly common, and the plants do great. So I wouldn't worry about drowning them.

I like the stand you built. How do you have the barrels attached to it? Did you just add screws along the rim that go into the wood sides?

I have dual barrels as well and I had issues with getting both to synchronize when they flood and drain. I would come home and find one side had double the amount of water than the other. Long story short, I just connected both beds with 1" pvc to balance the water level in both. I was just wondering if you ran into that issue at all or if that is any concern that you have.

The rain is nothing to be worried about. to getting the video embedded!

Starting to see ants in my GB. I have checked everything for aphids all is clean as of noon today. Not sure how to handle it. I am thinking of putting duct tape (sticky side out) around the legs to prevent more from getting in. Any thoughts on other ways to get the ones in it out? I was looking through the forum and plan to flood the beds to the top but i wont have a chance to for another few days (the wife now times me while I am poking around the AP system LOL

Tested the water today at noon....

July 11th - noon
Ph 8.2
Ammonia 2ppm
Nitrite 5 ppm
Nitrate 10-20 ppm
Water temp 70

It seems to be going well. I am still waiting for the wrench to be thrown in. I expect that may come with the fish:)

Still had a few ants in the GB tonight but it was just a few. There are about a dozen stuck to the duct tape! It will be a few weeks before I have more financing and will get some DE then but for now I will stick to the tape, pardon the pun. The plants are doing very well. I put a capful of fish emulsion in 2 days ago and even the droopiest one picked right up (they where the ones I got in bad shape for free). I put some spinach seeds in it yesterday and will throw a lettuce seed mix in tomorrow. Anyone got an idea how long it will take to get the nitrites to 0 ppm? Also I expect the nitrate count to be a false reading from the tap water conditioner or the "Aquafin Cycle" I put in. Any idea when I can count that as a true reading? And if it was from the "cycle" would the plants not have taken the nitrates in already? As things are going so well I may forgo the bullheads and go straight to something I will eat. I'm thinking bluegill, from what I read they do well in AP systems. Might go with channelcats though they are good to eat as well and just as hardy as bullheads.

Any suggestions? I will be catching the fish from the lake (I have checked with game fish and parks, it is legal so long as I don't go above my possession limit). Should I salt the system when I add the fish and what 'salt' should I use? Also should I worry about the ph yet? Will it go down as the system cycles?

Wow, I didn't realize I had that many questions. Sorry if I rambled. You guys have been a HUGE help and I am just pumped that it is actually working!!! I am really excited! Thanks to all those willing to help a newbie not kill a bunch of fish and plants!

PS. Thanks for the thumbs up Ron, it only took me 3 tries to get it but I kept editing till I got it right!

Your ph is nothing to be concerned about right now. You may have some nutrient lockout with your plants, chelated iron should help that. As far as salt goes, it would be good to pick up a bag of Solar Salt. The 40 lb bag should cost you under $10. You find it with the water softener stuff. Some people salt up right away, but I did not. I did salt up when my nitrites got too high. Also, a good scale is useful to measure it with. Wight is more accurate than volume. That being said, I measured with volume, and everything turned out okay. Be weary of the aquarium additives. They are not meant for fish people consume. Good ol' salt is your best friend. If you decide to bring the ph down before you add fish, hydrochloric acid, or HCL, is your friend. You find it with the pool supplies. It is also called muriatic acid. If you decide to bring your ph down after you add fish, you need to adjust it slowly. People adjust their top up water with HCL, and over time that brings the system down. Eventually the nitrification cycle will bring it down anyways.