Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good evening all, as a new member to BA I am prepared to soak up as much advice as I can get to ensure a successful start up. My system is 24 hours old and I know the calibration period is going to be agonizing to say the least as I am anxious to see those veggies launching out of the GB's. A lot of hard work to this point, time to pop a top and let the magic begin!!!!

Do you have fish? The calibration period was fun for me.

No fish yet, I wont have the opportunity until June 15th as that is when the next shipment of catfish will be available. I am taking that time to get the system calibrated and properly prepared for fish to enter the system. I added ammonia yesterday and planted some marigolds today to start the filtration. My father in law offered some healthy pond water get the process going. Seems like a good idea??

Welcome chaotic.

Don't need to delay on the vegies mate, get as many as you can in those beds, add some seeweed extract that will help get things started, it still amazes me how little nutrients some plants need to get started, lettuce is one that comes to mind.

adding the pond water will likely assist with speeding up the cycling process, Just watch out for snails or anything else that can colonise your system.

Don't forget to put some photos up ASAP so we can all see what your up too

what use are photos to you freddie?

but I agree, lets see the pics chaotic.

and welcome!

I cant print them out in braille and feel the images

That's what I do with those magazines with the girly pictures

AH, there's no safe response to that mate...

Pics coming soon, in the mean time was wondering about using treated plywood for my fish tank top. Could the treatment leach out in the rain and moist environment causing harm to the system?


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Personally I wouldnt risk it as you dont know exactly what the ply was treated with.
I used the cut-out from the top of the IBC as my lid but If I went to wood I would use untreated wood planks or shade cloth mesh on a plastic frame.
research the woods available to you to find benign products as some woods are also dangerous but I cant list them from memory.

Yeah I'd be a bit concerned. Maybe seal it with a few layers of marine varnish?

I used pallet wood - the problem I'm having is the type of wood is some rainforest wood (hard but soft) and its eating the gal screws I put in.

Hi Jayendra, see how brass screws go, they shouldnt corrode. (cant promise though)

Thanks for the ideas. I am going to explore a PVC frame with shade cloth. Just need to worry about critters getting through the cloth!


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Hey guys, a few pics since day one. Got liquid seaweed circulating. I just found out a few days ago that my 25 catfish are way ahead of schedule for delivery. TOMORROW! Wasn't expecting until two more weeks. Now I have a system that is not ready to go. Nor do I have a place to put them besides the FT. I guess at this point all I can do is put them in and feed very lightly (probably flake food) if nothing at all. They may be sacrificial at this point. Nitrites show to be very high! It's going to be cult-like death! Veggies are doing great with ammonia and liquid seaweed. Went with pallet wood and Thompson's Water Seal for the lid. Massive flooding overnight and today caused a FT overflow before I could cover it. GBs still taking on water. Hoping system is ok for fish tomorrow.