Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Gabe and Skeggley,

yeah prepping for barra the koi are keeping the system going for now but cant wait to get it so i know its right lol my lettice has now gone to seed so didnt have much luck with them but my spinach is powering along as is my chiles, spring onions, garlic, strawberries beetroot and tomatos so i think its settled abit now.
Skeggley the bloom happened quick like a few days to full bloom to the point you put your hand in the water a few inches and it would not be visible is was clearing when the fish turned up and not know what to do with them i ended up putting them in the water but i still am not sure if the marron killed each other or it was the bloom my guess is the bloom then they started eating each other but they were fighting so still not sure on how to keep the marron yet. they are in a seperate tank well its the sump from the GB with pvc pipes to hide but i do have 2 males left and was wondering if it was coz i had a mix of males and female, i was kind of hoping they would breed. Maybe i should put yabbies in instead.
Gabe do you have pics of your system i would like to see them if you do its good to check others out, i am looking at adding a vertical garden to using the strawberries.

Frank

Sorry Skeggley 03:08 am when i read your post last night shift i did about an 80% water change and it took a few days for the rest of the bloom to clear once i raised the water level in the gb so it was quick once the water level was right.
anyone know much about avocados i have a small tree but the leaves have what look like rust spots on them and was wondering if i should be concerned or not

ok lost 3 lots of fish but marron still going so not sure whats wrong, ph, nitrites, nitrates and ammonia all good did water change and and got lvls good again put some more koi in and i still have 4 marron in the sump tank see what happens i guess dont know what else to do

Hi Frank

I have a few photos posted here

viewtopic.php?f=45&t=16929

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=16996

It the roleystone hills in the background

Gabe

wow Gabe awesome system you must be close by if thats the roleystone hills i must say i am getting disheartened with having lost so many fish so i have just bought some koi will see how this goes and if they dont work dont know were to go from there. i have marron going though well down to 4 but i am sure thats not enough to keep the system going

well after 4 lots of fish dieing i was standing looking at my system thinking i should get rid of it as i cant get it to work and while standing there it started to rain, looking at the system and seeing the growth of the plants slow as there are no fish i noticed the water from the rain running onto and in my system and it dawned on me the rain from what is landing on my system and stands are running into my sump tank and the stands are all treated pine so i am guessing the treatment from the pine is leaching out with the rain and going into the water killing my fish. so will try once more when i move the sump and clean out the system again might wait so i can get some silver perch though.

Yeah always have to be careful with run off or rain tanks etc.

Hi Frank

If you think that it may be of value your are welcome to come have a look at my system. Send me a private message if interested

Gabe

Hi everyone,
well i have lost 4 lots of fish now and looking at my plants they are not doing so well i have tested the water and all the levels are good i just dont know what is wrong, i have bought another aerator to in crease the D O but i would have thought there was certainly enough. The marron are doing well infact i think 1 is berried so i will have to find a tank to put her in till they are free swimming.
On a lighter note lol i went and had a look at Gades system and that is awesome it has given me new inspiration to keep trying so in about a weeks time i will buy from bunning new grow bed stands that are rated to 750kgs and modify my system a bit and try fish again so i will post new pics when i change things around.

Frank

Hi everyone,

i have found my ph swings are very quick i buffer it to around 7 in the afternoon and by the morning its getting close to 6 not sure what to do but keep adding lime any ideas on slowing the swing down or steadying it would be great or do i just need to keep doing what i am doing till it slows on its own

Are you adding hydrated lime or just plane lime? Is your system made up up mostly rain water? maybe you need more carbonate hardness?

Hey Mattyyoga
no the water used is tap water it has got some rain water from the rains we had but it was not run off and i have been useing garden lime

Hi Frank

Garden lime is crushed limestone - it will raise your ph but is slower acting than hydrated lime.

So you can add a bit more at a time with little risk.


Gabe

Hi Frank

Hows the system behaving? Have you restocked?

Hi Gabe
The system is still not quiet right i have still a bag of crushed sea shells in the water the ph is a constant 6.8 now with the garden lime in the bottom of the tank and sea shells the marron dont like the change as they have been escaping but now showing good groth in the plants and i have 1 fish left from the 2 test subjects the one i lost was sucked up the pipe and found on the gb the other has been found on there twice now but in time to put back in the ft when i get back onto days off i will put some mesh over the ends of the pipes. i have removed some of the plants that looked sus and will look at getting some more in a couple of days and will also look at getting some fish. Not sure if i should get some koi or some edible fish yet.