Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

My system has been running for a 100 days today.
The weather is warming up and the tank temp ranges from 15° to 20°

But few questions:
- My PH was between the 6.5 and 7 mark but has now crept up to 7.5. At what point is action required? I think it's because I've had to start adding tap water to the system. I leave it to offgas for 3 to 4 days before adding it. Our municipal water is about 7.5.
- My Phosphate levels have dropped to 0.5 from 10 - Do I need to supplement? If so how does one do that?
- Then my Nitrate level has dropped to about 30 mg/l is there an optimum range for nitrate?

Dam I'm just looking at that last pic, if the cat hops up on the deck then those tomato's are going to get stretched

G day Mr Python just finished reading the rest of your thread wow great set up and great ideas you seem to be busy and addicted as I am just purchased a 500 litre gb for my court yard system so I will have 1000litre gb and 500for my ibc blue barrel project it will be a chift pist set up I hope it all works out hear from you soon

It's been a great ride so far. Now the weather is starting warm up and the stuff is starting to grow even better.
The hassle is now the pests are starting to show up too.
A new learning curve because you cant just spray anything on there

Any ideas on controlling tiny green caterpillars and something that leaves a snail trail but remains illusive. Aphids are around too

Hey Mr. Python
Seen you on Wilddogs as well!
I am still researching and hope to start my system as soon as free time permits: I have a large established koi pond which I plan to tap into.
I am in the Lowveld and sure to attract all of the unwanted visitors from vervet monkeys to aphids.
According to my reading:
Slime trail = nocturnal slugs. Bait with a beer trap or make a yeast base trap for them to drown in.
Small caterpillars; I would try to concoct some worm tea (from casts) and apply a foliar spray.
Aphids are farmed by ants, try to control the ants where they are coming from, hopefully not actually in your growbeds.
Cheers
Mogas

Hey Thanks Mogas,
Yip spend way too much time on wilddogs too...

That's a terrible waste of beer but I suppose i could drink the other half. But I do like the idea of a slow death for the bastards
I have plenty worm tea - do you just spray it on?
Don't see any ants around, they are on the rape plants growing in the deep water culture tank, so the ants would have to swim across the moat. I squished all the visible ones and there are only one or two now.

Note! I am a noob at this. Was just reading up on pests last night. Best check for yourself and I cant recall all of the details except that the leachate is pretty strong stuff. Those in the know say that tea from the casts is the good stuff.
Ya, I think you are supposed to dilute the tea then spray it on.
Aphids; ok, I also read that they are easily hosed off.
Slugs; yes, damn shame about the brew! but worth it if it works.

Dipel works well for catapillers when you see them spray them and after awhile they get a crook gut and die

Also put bits of egg shell on top of your media the white moth flys over and thinks there are moths already taken up residence

Bit of guidance from the old hands.
I took some water chem measurements again last night. My Nitrates are 0 and my PH is around 7.3. Should I not at least have some nitrate. The plants are looking a little unhappy. I have been feeding the fish a little more, I added a liter of worm tea and a scope of iron.
Should I add a cup of pee (Humonia) just to boost things a bit?

When deciding the fish ratio i know it's 1 fish to between 10 and 20 liters, but is that tank volume or system volume?
My tank is about 800 liters but my system volume is 2300 liters

I would not do the humonia, it converts at an unpredictable rate. Fine for fishless cycling, but scary when there are fish.

Should I get more fish or just add some seaweed extract to tide the plants over in the mean time till the fish get bigger?
The weather has warmed and they are growing like hell.

I would just stay the course. Keep feeding, as the fish grow, things will improve.

I threw in a bottle of seaweed extract and pulled out all the stuff that has bolted/started flowering.
So it looks way happier out there now.

Tried building the system on the front page and must say after 22 days everything looking ok.

Hey Cobus,
Your plants do look lekker.
I'm glad to see yours working so well.
How many fish in the bottom?

I'm building a few "T" barrel systems at the mo, here's a progress pick.


The finished product will look cool if I ever find the time to finish them.