Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Cobus, the DO problem might be the culprit allthough the SPs were swimming around at the bottom happily, didn't come up for air at all and Gavin measured the system in April. It wasn't that hot as it was on the weekend though.
It doesn't really make sense to me unless I scare them to death........another possibility and if that would be true there would be no solution.
It is so very frustrating.
Spent a couple of hours to find an air pump that moves ~1000l/h but mostly the net comes up with submersible water pumps...........
So, if anybody has an idea where to go here in Perth and not having to spend a fortune please let me know.

Hi Gran,

Ive said in the past, if I was in perth I would be around in a flash to help you out. Because you have had issues over a period of time it starts to become difficult to help or come up with solutions. If I could see your system in person it would help a great deal but thats not an option for me sorry.

When you say gavin measured your system what did he measure? Was it dossolved oxygen?

Ive looked over your system countless times and cant pick any design faults. Usually open mouths like that in your pictures suggest oxygen but if that was the case I would expect the fish to be hovering the surface before death.

Without going back through your system again Ill ask a few questions..

Are you adding anything to the FT other than fish feed?
What feed are you using?
What are your FT tamps?
Are you washing dirt off seedlings before planting?
Do you use pesticides or sprays in the yard?
Do you have any rain water run off?
How hot is it inside the greenhouse?
Are you using a flood and drain syphon or timer? If so pull it out for the moment and run constantly flooded.




Anyone else with any idea's????????????

How hot was it over the weekend?... what was your tank temp?

What was your pH??

Did your fish die overnight?

Could/would hydroponic chemicals/residues harm fish?

Skeggley they probably would, but the IBC, the growbed and the pipes don't have contact with Hydroponics and before I used the towers and drain previously used in hydroponics had a very good scrub before they were used in the AP. Now the valve is shut..........at least I presume so, otherwise the AP pump water would have definitely let the little hydroponics container overflow by now.

Thanks guys for trying to help |
Very much appreciated.

Currently I have three water pumps running, one in Hydroponics again, one in AP in the greenhouse and one in the pond supplying the blue barrels. Each system is not connected or has worked with one another.
The few pics at the end of this post might help to visualize my situation.

Rupert:

Temperature last weekend: 33°C Sat/37°C Sun

PH: Varies between 6.8 and 7.2 (had a big drop to last week and had water running through seashells for 2 days with constant checking

Time of death: during morning, day and night

Charlie:

Are you adding anything to the FT other than fish feed?
I have added Seasol to assist plants, very little though, never more than cap of bottle dissolved in FT water and applied with clean watering can probably once a week

What feed are you using?
The smallest pellets I bought for the trout at BYAP

What are your FT tamps?
On the first hot day this month the temp went up to 29.8 °C. Never gone higher though and holds (after additional insulation of FT) now between 24/27 °C at daytime

Are you washing dirt off seedlings before planting?
Yes, I stick the whole seedling into a clear tap water bath and shake most of the particles off.

Do you use pesticides or sprays in the yard?
Not anymore after my husband killed half the lawn about 13 month ago. Grass is just about to have fully recovered next months and spraying is banned since last year 

Do you have any rain water run off?
No rainwater in sight anymore, learned that lesson already last year in the beginning of my AP.

How hot is it inside the greenhouse?
Well, this morning it was 18 °C, when it is hot outside it is a little hotter inside the greenhouse. 4 automatic window openers help ventilation and on very hot days I have a fan running. The greenhouse is standing in full sun so it heats up about 10°C more than outside temp.

Are you using a flood and drain syphon or timer? If so pull it out for the moment and run constantly flooded.
The pump is running 24/7, the 2 syphons are working but it is almost like constant flood since there is not much time in between fill and dump.
The big GB has a filling time of 3 1/2 minutes and dumps the water in 90 secs , the IBC takes 7 minutes and needs 6 minutes to empty through the spray bar and I have the air pump running all the time.

There is another thought that crossed my mind though. I read somewhere that fish died because of loud and constant noise. It’s very quiet around here but we do have one of these big power lines close by that start humming quietly when it is hot and everybody rushes to start their air cons.

Gran, you have a beautiful setup there.

Thanks Cobus
Unfortunately the fish don't appreciate that

More pics

I do have a little wild life already
Maybe I should raise frogs, with the huge amount of tadpoles this year in the pond there must be one prince amongst them

The plants look great and thanks for taking the time to answer questions. Im kinda stumped with what may have killed the fish this time, everything you are doing is fine. The returning water should be plenty for oxygen.

Gran, the blue barrels what did they contain originally?

I wouldn't have a clue Cobus, I bought that one as a whole at BYAP.
My guess would be that they would not sell you something you could not use this way.

Charlie
So I do not need to buy an additonal air pump?
What I read about the airation lets me assume that fish gasp for air at the surface which even the trout didn't do.
One day I might rip out the IBC all together. Only then will we know if that container was the reason for all the heartache

Here is another clip that I just uploaded about airation

Gran, is it possible to get your system's water fully tested at a lab etc? I know it can expensive but I got our well/borehole water tested at an university because I was afraid that the ground water might be polluted. It is a long shot, I know, but maybe you can get answers then?

Cobus, I am not that utterly keen on having fish that we can eat.
I liked the idea of having fish so plants can grow.
The idea of buying fish food instead of expensive fertilizer for the hydroponics was appealing.
The money it has cost up till now lets me doubt the effectiveness all together.
There is still the idea left that it is better for the world allthough I am not a very green person............
We'll see what happens, fish and growned or back to Aquaponics.
Gardening in Perth is a challenge, plenty of work, water and tender loving care and all almost lost after a few hot days.
We can't win

I'm no expert but to lose so many fish unless you have wildly fluctuating pH or temps in the FT would indicate that there is some toxin or something in your system. Is there any pesticides or poisons about?

that being said my fish are very timid, but have gotten used to me feeding them however when my wife feeds them or even looks over my shoulder when I do the hide (it's not like she has a fry pan in her hand).

I guess my fish are lucky in that they have an 8000 L pond to frolic in, so any change that happens is very gradual.