Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all
We now have our new system up and running. Has been in for just over 2 weeks and the plants are doing really well.


temporary covers until we can make something permanent


temporary shade until we make something permanent









Sorry - pumps were off when I took the pics so no indication of flow. We are doing a constant flow system

Fish: I have 9 SP fingerlings in tank 1 and 15 in tank 2. They feed well when I am not there so I can't "feed for 5 minutes" yet. They are very skittery little fish! Have ordered trout for winter and will combine the SP when the time comes.

The media was second hand so the system cycled really quickly. We did clean it prior to setting up. My readings for each tank is consistently:
pH: 8 - don't think that I need to be worried as this will come down as the system settles?
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10 - 40


OK, now for the questions:
1. we are having to throttle both of the pumps as the system won't drain fast enough for full flow. I am guessing this is normal?
2. we adjusted the outlet pipe last night as when we filled up the tanks they bulged and the pipe was touching the tanks and making a lot of vibration noise. We popped the matting underneath to help with the vibration, but this has only part solved the problem. Anything else we can do, other than shelling out for a more expensive pump?
3. do I worry about the pH being at 8? Fish and plants appear to be happy
4. should I be adding supplements to the system or do I just do that in response to poor plant growth? I have both Seasol and chelated iron. An idea of how much and how often would also be helpful
5. I know that I need to plant more plants. In the spaces I am experimenting with direct sow of seeds. Any hints or tips? I was also thinking about making a seed tape. Toilet paper seems popular. Would obviously have to use the right one. Would that interfere with the system as it degrades?

Thanks everyone. Hopefully that is as clear as mud!

Welcome Teepee,

1. can be a problem, just good to ensure you turn over the tank at least once per hour
2. if tanks are bluging what about some external structural support?
3. ph will come down once system matures AND you are feeding enough. If you want you can lower the ph of your TOP UP water using HCl, this should be done external to the fish tanks
4.I would probaly add a dash of seaol and iron chelate with that ph - even after 2 years and feeding at 100g/ day my systems still need iron supplements
5. some seeds direct sow OK (brassicas, lettuce etc) beans tend to rot in my experience. Either raise the flood level to just beneath the surface until the first set of leaves appear, or top water with a hose every day. I try not to put extra stuff inthe growbed, though a little bit of toilet paper will be eaten by worms (have you added these?)

Cheers Matt
ps where in Perth are you?

Hi Matt,
thanks for your reply. We are in Leeming, so almost adjacent to you. Would love to see your system in person and pick your brains for knowledge!

System is very snazzy. I didn't know BYAP did blue beds, they look cool.

time for an update:
My system has been up and running since early Feb.

I have two 650l ponds each on a closed loop to a 500l growbed. One tank has 9 SP fingerlings and tank 2 has 15 SP fingerlings.

Current readings:
pH 8 - 8.2
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10-20 in the 15 fish tank and 0 in the 9 fish tank




My fish are growing, but still aren't eating all that much. approximately 1-1.5 Tbsp per tank per day over three feeds. They won't eat when I am there and I am noticing some in the bottom of the tank, so try to be flexible on adjusting their next feed.







Whilst I am happy with the growth, it could be better. I have applied foliar Fe chelates (the yates one), but this just seems to leave trace spots on the leaves and hasn't helped with the green colour. I know that a large part of this is that my pH continues to be high. I am trying to be patient and resist lowering it with acid. I top up each week so probably adding to the carbonate load!

I have added worms to the growbed.

Any ideas of how to improve nutrient uptake? I am adding seasol (and testing) regularly for trace elements. I have also been adding some Charlie Carp as my little fishies don't produce enough waste to keep up the nitrates! - good or bad?

Feedback greatly appreciated

Your system is still very young so try adding some extra patience.

A spoon full of seasol and a spoon full of iron to each grow bed every 2-4 weeks shouldn't hurt anything. You only want just enough to tint your water somewhere between orange and tea color for a couple days. Once a system matures, water that is a bit amber is normal. I've been known to sometimes spill enough seaweed extract in to make the water coffee brown. Fish don't seem to mind but when you add that much it really makes it hard to see them.

As to the pH. If you keep topping up with the lower pH water, (just make sure you do the overnight bubble test on the well water since I know my well might test at 7 when I first draw a sample but if I let it air out overnight, the pH will be up at 8.2-8.4 depending on season.)

I'm not sure about using charlie carp in the system, I've heard of some people doing such things but personally I can't recommend anything like that when you have fish in the system. Since it isn't really a scientific thing you are doing it at your (and your fish) own risk.