Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

PH - 6.0 - added shell grit again
ammonia .5 - 1 (just after feeding) Should I decrease feed for awhile?

So things are chugging along nicely.
I harvested an enormous broccoli head.
The fish are looking silky and shiny jumping out of the water when feeding.
I've got a good way of cleaning the pipe that comes into the RFF - using a smaller pipe and creating a plunging effect.
Put some more worms in today.
I'm using a sieve to sift out the solids that float in the RFF.

Does anyone have a good way to clean the bottom of the RFF.
I have 40mm pipe that's pretty flush with the bottom of the Blue barrel.
I've been using a pole to push the waste towards the hole while the tap is on but it fills the bucket up real quick and I don't get all of it.

Massive Broc


The Patch


Madeley Kale


Watermelon radish

Vegies look great, Jay!

What breed of radish is that in the last pic?

I syphon my RFF but mine is only a 60L drum.

watermelon radish

Siphon ? ahh I see with a hose - can you explain a little more?

Looking great Jay, imagine what the gb's will be like when the system matures and the plants take off!

I clean out the filter with a syphon hose with a 40cm length of pvc pipe in end so I can guide syphon around pipes in rf filter
cheers
Byron

Yea, I just use a flexible hose that I had in the shed. Syphon gunk into a bucket then put that on the dirt garden.

I aerate it in a bucket with some molasses for 24 hrs and tip back into beds remainder of sediment on fruit trees

what frequency do you clean out with say 30 trout?
Does it matter if it sits in there for a bit?
Some of my gunk floats every now and then.

Do you find you get more out siphoning as opposed to turning on the bottom tap?

I cocked up the drain tap and only use when I empty filter completely, I syphon once or twice a week when I can be bothered just to brew up tea and clean filter out on thurdays
I feed my fish heaps (old stable system) so theres always something in the filter
cheers
byron

I used a siphon today - way easier thanks guys!

The Water tests from today
PH - 6.0
ammonia - .5 - 1.0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 80

Doesn't seem to shift from that

One question - when I came to the tank today they were swimming on top of the water - I think they were hungry, because they all dived down again and were VIGOROUS when I fed them.

I've read your whole thread and very impressed with what you've done.

I'm in Garfield and would like to visit if its possible... I'm just starting out and getting a bit overwhelmed at different systems etc.

I visited the Trout Farm at Noogee today and they quoted $3 for fish about 4" to 5" long... rainbow trout.

Heya PT - yeah sure come today if you want.
PMed you my address

Kale Juice from aquaponics
Yum!