Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I don't write programs for anyone, except my 12-year old daughter that is learning some programming in Dark Basic. Haven't done much since college in programming.
I was interested in the math of networking, and got into networking, so now I'm (as I like to say) a computer plumber. I keep the pipes flowing for data.
I like the math of encryption, and in college I programmed my calculator to do bitwise CRC coding (I got a kick out of watching it), and SEC/DED (Single Error Correction/Double Error Detection). One day at church a good friend mentioned that it was good that I was interested in calculators instead of training elephants - (something to do with my obsessive nature in figuring out things...like AP)

Sorry for the hijack. Now back to AP....

Todays tests:

pH7, ammonia 0.15, nitrites 5, nitrates 0 It looks like something is starting to happen.

That it does Forest... keep testing regularly

or accept the fact you have began to cycle and just do what your doing, congratulate your husband and your self you are ap-ers

I'm glad you said that, john, because that's what I thought was happening. According to Steve's graph on page 12 (I think) this type of thing does happen on the road to a cycled system.

Rupert, do you think there's a problem?

Not at all.. like John (and the graph) says that's the point in the cycle that you are at....

Just suggest to keep testing to make sure you don't have a sudden spike that's out of the ordinary.... the margin for error is probably lowest at the moment and if any action (like a % water change) becomes necessary you'll have to move quickly.... still you have room to move because of the size of your tank and stock levels

Forest, you're half way there!

You can take your ammonia stress cap off now Its interesting that the nitrites always seem to peak higher than the ammonia does. Natures wonderful they might peak to double but then are a decent factor less toxic.

Anyway, if you can get away with not changing water that would be cool. You have a fair PPT of salt which has a de-toxifying effect on the fix in regards to the nitrite.......maybe cut back on the feed again for a little?

Continued testing as Rup rightly suggested will allow you to see the cycling process. Just keep doing what you have been, we also want to watch as it were as your system completes its cycle.
Too earlie to follow my suggestion or implied not testing.
Your doing great. Still 98 fishies?
Great suggestion Steve, slowing down a bit around the curves.

yep, still 98 fish. Good eh?

Thanks everyone. I'll keep tesing.

Very good and impressive, I wonder if you had exchanged notes with Monya prior to starting all this.

LOL, nope I don't know Monya. I do know joel though and he's help a bit from the other side of the country.

The water is still giving us grief. The ammonia is still up, it's not toxic but I want it to go down. nitrates are barely registering and nitrates are 0. Can someone explain to me what is happening when the water goes crystal clear from green pea soup?

Here are some photos.

and today, three weeks later:

Celery on the first day:

celery three weeks later: