Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I recently did a full test of my aquaponic system and found that my levels of phosphate are what appear to be too high. I think it was over 100ppm. Right off the scale. Now my Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrate level are way down.

So it looks like my handling of the Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites are fine, but my plants are not absorbing the Phophates.

I converted my 80000 liter (21000 gallons) pool into a pond. I have about 300 mix between Carp and Tilapia fish, with hundreds of baby Tilapia from last year's breeding. The system has been operating for nearly 2 years. I have built up the plant beds to 9 1meter tanks. The plants are doing pretty well considering I have not been adding any nutrient for about a year.

What is confusing is why the Phosphates are so high, but everything else is low.

Excess phosphate? Never heard of it being a problem. As long as your fish are happy and your plants are growing, it should not be a problem. I know that phosphates in laundry detergent can be a problem, but it actually breaks down into fantastic soil conditioners when used in grey water irrigation.

That is interesting. The consensus was that phosphates should always be abundant in an AP system but a few memebers had run tests and found they didn't have much P at all. I reckon I had P deficiency last year.

I think my beans are showing this deficiency now.

Thanks for the assurance.

My system is a bit confusing, because of the size of the tank. This is not strictly Aquaponics, as I am trying to create a diversity, a food chain.

For the time that I have had the system, my Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite levels have always been low, probably too low. But that is measuring the water. I recon that if I tested the beds, it would be a different story.

When I get some time, I will post the whole setup with pictures.

Ammonia and nitrite levels should always be at zero or close to zero. There are a lot of successful systems whose nitrates are around zero also. As long as the plants are not showing deficiencies, life is good.