Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

Well this is my first post. I am up in Darwin and this is my first system. Today I just replumbed the system so the pump feeds both the FT and the GB. Still struggling with plant selection for the climate and as such I am still cycling the system with seasol.

I had ten barra in it about a month ago but they all died in the space of about two days. The bloke at the fish shop said it was my fault, then he called back a week later and offered to replace all the fish as he found he was loosing fish from the same batch.

Currently I am trying to come up with a decent shade idea for the conditions up here without spending a fortune? I had a look at CDU's and I thinking along those lines.

Any help would be great thanks.

Hey Rick..

You re-plumbed your system that way? Much better if you have all your water going just to the fish tank if at all possible..

Hey earthbound,

Yeah I would of liked to keep the system with the suction coming out of the FT under gravity but I found that the head pressure just wasn't there. it was taking a hell of a long time to fill the GB's and the last one in line was getting next to no water at all.

I spoke to some people in Brisbane and they mentioned to use the pump and run an over flow line straight back to the sump. The system seems to be running great guns now. I just did a full water test and all my readings are as follows.

PH 8.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

I think with these readings I should be alright to put fish, "Barra", in the system. What is the general consensus?

Any info would be great. Thanks

How long has your system been running, I would get the Ph down to at lest 7 if possible.

Hi mate, welcome to the forum.
What was your ammonia source?
Pictures?

I have been running the system with seasol for the last five weeks. The PH is slowly dropping. From what I understand Barra don't mind a bit higher PH.

I think Gwydion is going to drop in and have a look and see what I can do to get the system up and running properly.

I am going to get some pics out tonight just as soon I work out how to drive the MAC properly. I failed getting pics off my phone.

Seasol does not have ammonia if my memory is right, a fish emulsion like Charlie carp is good to kick start.

Hi,

That could be what my problem is, who stocks charlie carp? Bunnings? How much do add?

How much water in total, start with half a cup and give it a few days. I used one cup to start with with 3000 litre and then half a cup a week later. Used the seasol to feed the plants but only a cap full in each grow bed (500 L) per week until it all kicked in. With your temps it should not take long.

Oooops, got advise last week from some people in the know in QLD, and they said to add whole 1ltr bottle of seasol as I was planning on being away for three weeks, but I got injured and ended up staying in the area. My system has a 1000ltr IBC as the FT and 3 300mm cut down IBC as brow beds with MT Bundy 1/4 inch gravel from Finlays Joint. I really just want to get fish back in the system.

Has the system cycled at all that is the question.

I only got the proper test kit last week and started testing. So I'm not really sure if it has or not. I got some new advise to get some ammonia and add it to the system, I just don't know how much to add for the size of my system.

Charlie carp is your best bet, they both do the same job of kick starting the ammonia.

Hey Rick, you want your amm 2ppm or less to cycle, add a couple of capfuls of cc one day then check the levels the next day and add if required. Alternatively you could try peeponics, which is free and slightly humorous, but will take a bit longer.

Thanks, I am going to make my way to woollies to buy some ammonia. I will let you know how I go.