We've started the nitrogen cycle and added fish to my 650 gallon CHIFT PIST system seen below. We collect rainwater and our system runs on solar. The first batch of fish were bought from the most reputable organization available here in Belize called "Central Farm" and 9 of the 10 fish died in transit. The last one was found dead the next morning on the surface.
So we're trying something new. We exchanged a bottle of whisky for some juvenile fish across the street. We put 17 juvenile black Tilapia in the system that weighed from about half an ounce to a little over the two ounces.
Fish losses:
9.5-12 hours after tank transfer, a ~0.5oz fish died
23-24 hours after tank transfer, another ~0.5oz fish died
Sometime 24-36 hours after tank transfer, two ~0.5oz fish and one ~1oz fish died.
and at 48 hours looks like we lost another 1/2 Ouncer
There are also two fish that are quarantined in a bucket because they are super lethargic. They will die.
The visibility of the water is no more than a foot, is that too dark?
Water has consistently tested at these levels over the past week or so:
Ph: 7.5
Ammonia: 0-0.5 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
GH: 30
KH: 40-80
DO: not measured, but we haven't seen any fish gasping for air at the surface.
Temp: We still need to buy a thermometer but it might be a little lower than they are used to because our tank is out of the sun. In Belize many ponds are basically holes in the ground with full sun during the day. We do not know the exact conditions of the tank they came from.
The fish may have been fed a lower protein diet (just guessing because protein costs $$$). They aren't eating nearly 6% of their body weight in food per day but most of the tadpoles are gone.
Some of this death is anticipated due to the stress of moving.
I am sitting here with wet shorts because one of the fish that died and floated up had a brown spongy something on it. Does anybody have experience with that? We suspected it may have been dirt from the bottom of the tank that somehow stuck to his scales? Not 100% sure if fish are always buoyant when they die, I tried to catch some with a rake by slowly dragging it. One of the lethargic ones I mentioned above surfaced and I could literally pick it out with my hand. At one point I got in the murky water to feel in corners with my feet. Then a co-worker and I made a net out of some screen and a couple sticks to drag through the system and sure enough four or five fish made heroic two foot jumps over the net. That was a relief. Never being able to see the fish is a bit of a downer.
I haven't salted and I don't plan to use fertilizer (especially considering the visibility). The plants are wonderful. Everything is in working order. I will post pics when the satellite internet allows me to.
There is 300 gallons of grow medium and about half the beds are planted so far. We have asparagus, spinach, cabbage and green onion as a repellent.
Your ideas are more than welcome
Backyard Aquaponics
