Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Skeggley. It's doing well. I've been meaning to update but haven't got around to it. I'll post something later this week.
ICS


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Hi all,

I've been really busy with work, here is an update on my system.

Up until last week our system really flourished. We planted cucumber seeds and they grew at a rapid rate (pretty much before our eyes), produced two cucumbers and then last week it withered away to nothing along with our zucchini plant.
Our corn is still growing strong, the beans have produced plenty, capsicum plants have produced a few capsicum, strawberry plants have grown very well but the fruit has noticeably dropped off. Our mixed lettuce has been providing plenty however the rocket lettuce doesn't seem to like the conditions as much.

I'm not sure if the growth halted because of the lack of fish and therefore nutrients in the tank. We have had about 10 goldfish in the entire time, been way too busy with work to source any others. In saying that I'm heading off to pickup 50 Silver Perch tomorrow, hopefully they will provide a little more nutrients for the plants.

I'll post some photo's up when I get a chance to get the camera out.

ICS

Did you take the photos off Facebook? i was wondering how it was all going

With ten minutes up my sleeve, I thought I'd post an update of my system.

In the last month, I'm not sure if it is because the whether has changed and started getting cooler but our growth rates in the grow bed have really diminished. We also introduced 50 silver perch about 2 and a half weeks ago.

We have been mindful of companion planting (it doesn't help when there is often conflicting information on the internet) but here is the breakdown:
- Cucumber and Zucchini basically withered away to nothing a month ago
- Corn is continuing to grow and we one cob of corn growing on each plant.
- The tomatoes died off, they didn't like the setup
- Beans grew and produced really well until our last harvest about a week ago. There is now not a bean in sight
- Strawberries aren't producing any fruit but the plants themselves look really healthy and seem to be almost outgrowing their space.
- Our first round of leek seeds only produced one measly little sprout, but since then we have sprinkled more seeds and they appear to be growing now. Same goes for Celery
- We have planted some beetroot, time will tell
- Lettuce and Rocket continue to produce steadily
- Capsicums are growing very slowly, but we have fruit.
- Recently planted some Bok Choi and snow peas and they are sprouting nicely.

As for the fish, my water quality tests consistently well for Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites with my PH sitting a little low at around 6.0.
To try and raise the PH, I went to the local aquarium and they sold me some gravel, which they said did the same as "Shell Grit". It hasn't raised the PH too much yet and it has almost been a week.
Since introducing the gravel in a tray, in the sump, I have lost quite a few perch though. My water quality is still testing the same, with little increase in PH (6.0-6.1) and the 10 or so Goldfish I have in the tank as well haven't been affected. At the moment I'm putting it down to coincidence and leaning towards the fact that I transferred the perch just as the whether started cooling down (the hatchery I bought them from said that any later in the year and he wouldn't have sold them to me because they don't survive well when handled in cooler months).
I'm not sure if it is a concern or not but the water isn't as clear as I thought it would have been, as an indication I can just see the white stomach's of the dead perch laying on the bottom of the IBC.

A few photo's of my system over the last few months

Happy to hear any feedback to my issues.

And More...

And some more...

And lastly, until I get the camera out in the backyard again...

good to see some updated photos Ian... looks great

Thanks mate. Went to take some more today as well but got sidetracked.


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you should do a short write up on the L&F blog

Nice update, thanks.

Regards, Martin.

Hiya ics, looks very green, nice one.
Your ft looks very shallow, how much water is in it?

Lol.

Skeg, that's a container to hold the fingerlings before they get put in the tank.

Regards, Martin.

Hi Skeggley,

Yes, MartinC is on the money there. That was the foam container that the fish were brought home in. My actual FT is a 1000L IBC

ICS

Everything changes once you put medium in the grow bed. Water volume of your grow bed will decrease to about 10-15% of what it originally was.

I used the siphon design by Affnan at

http://www.affnanaquaponics.com/2010/02/affnans-valve-detailed-explanations-of_9459.html




I have been using this siphon in 5 half barrel (soon to be 10) grow beds without a failure.