Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

With you showing nitrates and no ammonia I would think you are cycled already. Give the plants time to adjust to a comfortable water flow and you should be good to go.

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show pic of your new design.
The pro in this website will give their opinion.
I see a lot of raft built ti be easier and most expert used them.
for me , that's my next project is the draft.

I would like to go with traditional GBs outside incorporated with a horizontal tube system. Inside I would like to get vertical tubes going due to space restrictions. As soon as I get them out of my head and onto paper I will post on here!!

The raft system looks awesome... very clean and direct.. at least from the pics I've seen anyway.. When I get my huge greenhouse going I would def look into incorporating this!!

Thanks JR!! That's awesome to hear!! Having my system cycle, to me, is a huge milestone!!

Should I be feeding the goldfish (large comets 1-2") a better food for better output? I am feeding them Aqueon flakes right now?

Hi mate, googled aqueon flakes and got this;

Less waste = less ammonia.
This is great for an aquarium, not so great for our needs.
Not sure what other food is available perhaps one of your countrymen can chime in.

Wow!! Thanks Skeggley!!

I currently feed flakes but that was only due to knowing I was upgrading the system soon with different fish. You can get a good pellet feed and crush it to a size that goldfish can eat.

Overcast here, been getting rained on a bit. Between lots of cloud cover and not much sunlight it's pretty dark here during the late Fall through early Spring but the cloud cover keeps the temps higher. Gets down into thte upper teens sometimes colder but not every year. I manage to keep my system above freezing without any heating (I'm prepared to heat if I have to) so I run it all year. Mostly just keeping things alive through the Winter, fish aren't eating much (It would be different with trout). Right now I still have tons of parsley, some tomatoes, chives, leeks, chard, lemon grass, and basil is on it's last leg since the water is in the low 50s (usually dies before this at 60F). I planted kale in wicking beds and the outdoor part of the AP system. Unfortunately the resident Finches that like to peck at kale, eggplant, and chard got all the seedlings in the AP and made a hash out of the ones in the wicking beds. Mostly cleanup time here since the lows have been getting down into the 30's for the last Month and a half. I'll have to watch the people with indoor systems and those in warmer climates have at it for awhile.

Cheers

Yea basically same seasons here.. Ok good to know as I was wondering what happens when I get my outside system going.

Just waiting on a new t5 light.. added 100 worms yesterday... hopefully this will pull my system out of the slump..

Thanks.

I am battling a constant PH level of 7.4-7.6.. This is definitely due to the grow media I chose.. I also get my water from a well that I'm sure is right full of limestone... I can get the water down using ph adjusts.. I cannot get my system down due to the media..

Is there anything at all that I can due to lower this buffer naturally.. or anything at all???? I read EARTH'S comment that trying to adjust PH too much causes more harm than good.. but that was for low PH

I have gone through many threads on here of other people with similar problems.. but there is no clear answer?

I have a high amount of nitrates running through the system but I know the plants aren't getting them to full potential.

Your PH levels look good... PH lockout doesn't happen until 8. I wouldn't try to lower that, in fact, if it stays there steadily you are in good shape! Add some liquid seaweed to help the plants with any nutrient deficiency they may have and give it a little time. My water PH is usually higher than yours due to high PH topup water.

Ok thanks JR!! Now I know my PH just cant go above 8!! I will get some seaweed.. My top up water is the same as well... Hows the addition coming along? Any pics yet?

Haven't had time to do anything with it yet. Hoping to get the cutting and welding done on the stands this weekend and at least start digging in the IBC.

Great! Cant wait to see.