Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ive been tracking my systems chemistry on http://www.ourresearch.net/ Its an aquaponics website dedicated to community driven research. They are just getting started but Its pretty neat. Check out these graphs the site generated.Its hard to see nitrites and ammonia on the bottom graph because they have both been .25 ppm for a while. I think the cycling is going well. Thinking about getting some more fish since I haven't had any disasters in a while. Perhaps its time to invest in my eating fish. Its probably going to be catfish but maybe bass as well.

A cat tried to get into my duckweed pond a couple of weeks ago so I sent in a camera to check on the fish. Thats when I discovered the pipe attached to the pump is coming off the coupling. I picked up some parts to fix it but I haven't gotten around to it. Anyway I finally got around to posting the video so you can see my fish swimming around.


Not the same camera as the one I dropped in the water a month ago. Although I also have a water proof case for that one too, I want using it that day because the audio sucks when the case is on.

My mom sent me this picture. This system was built by a girl I grew up with. It really is a small world.

Awesome, is she on the forum?

+1 Ron

You should stop in and catch up on old times. Share the forum and have her join up. Spread the fever, word, bug, addiction, etc...

My mom is still in contact with her parents. I will have to get her number. She is an over achiever so she would be a great addition to the forum.

I still have yet to see my fish eat. They seem healthy and active despite the cold temperatures. I'm not really sure how much I should be feeding them. By my count there are 6 left and they have grown to about 1.5 inches. I feed them a small pinch of flakes once a day. Im sure it's plenty while the water is cold but its warming up fast.

Flakes won't do much for plant growth. They are formulated to put out as little nutrient as possible.

+1 again.

Flakes are also designed to make the fish visibly "Pop" with color, not really grow. I've found, in working with some of my friends systems, that once the fish are introduced/raised on flakes, they don't switch over to pellets. The pellets will actually sit on the bottom or float on top (whichever type you buy) and rot. The little buggers just won't eat them.

Might try grinding up the pellets with a mortar and pestle.

I figured my fish were too small for pellets. I was planning on switching when they got a little bigger. Grinding the pellets is a good idea. I will try that. Can you recommend a pellet suitable for ap?

http://alliedaqua.com/fish-food.html

Check out the Fry Crumbles for your small fish

Check out the bottom of the page where the Biopod and Worm Farm thingy are. I'd like to get one of those Biopods

I tried to lower the ph again with distilled vinegar dropped it by about .6 over 2 days. 2 days later its back to 8-8.2. I'm wondering if I tested enough of the gravel. I tested more than half a pint and covered it with vinegar. I did this for about half of the bags.

I should post pictures more often. I've got so many this may take a few hours.

Here is some of the kale I planted on 02/09/14 see previous post. The picture was taken on (02/17/14).

Here is the same kale 10 days later. It looks like a lot of growth to me.


This little guy showed up recently.

Here are more pictures.



Look how much duckweed I have now.


Look at all this growth.


Strawberries.


The most incredible part is most of these plants aren't receiving any direct sunlight yet.

After a couple of days of rain and cold weather (California cold, not east coast cold) we have a sprouting party. Carrots and peas.