Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

What you are missing here is that TCLynx set this thread up as a starting point and a guide for beginners, somewhere for them to start off on the right foot, nothing more nothing less.

For someone starting out there needs too be a starting point or it would be like a ship without a rudder and they have no hope of ever getting it right, there would for more people fail than would succeed, talking about solids mineralisation or anything else other than a simple rule of thumb is beyond what TCLynx set out to attchive.

Yes, yes, as you've told me many times now.



Yes, but by hybrid I mean actually growing in the MBs. Still interesting.



Sure. I get that everything is very is rough. And I agree it's not overly complex. I also understand not everyone likes to min/max. To a borrow a term from gaming. I'm the type that will spend hours learning the mechanics and planning out how I'll play a game before I even play it. Guess there's a bit of engineer in me. That's why I'm doing my best to keep walls of text, formulas, and examples to a minimum. I learned rather quickly that many don't tolerate that here much to my disappointment.

Speaking of which this whole discussion has gotten a bit off topic so I will stop.

+1 Joblow. I have found this thread really useful starting out without getting too bogged down in the technicalities - thank you TC and the other experienced APers for contributing .

Once I have some experience under my belt with my starter system, and see if AP is a lasting obsession rather than just a passing phase, I might expand and delve into more sophisticated designs if required.

Zwiebel, some of us are interested in the science behind AP and really get into the detail, but others are just happy to be able to set up a robust system that can give them some fish and vegies with a minimum of issues, and are looking for some straightforward rules of thumb to do this. Perhaps it would be a good idea to start another thread that delves into the science and differing approaches with your wall of text, formulas and examples where like minded folk can have the in depth technical discussions so as not to create confusion for beginners who are directed to this thread . Perhaps the admins could split off the recent discussions into this new thread

Oh dear not another one

Just because you don't get the answers that you want doesn't mean that we are not tolerating the discussion.

If you think that then you need to do a bit more reading of some of my posts on here. Me and a bunch of others are perfectly cool with detailed discussions, mathematical modelling and engineering of systems rather than just guesstimating. The trouble is for so many aspects of what we are doing the data just isn't there. Other aspects of what we do though we do have the data and we can get into some pretty technical detail.

No, no, don't misunderstand me. I was just talking in general. I didn't mean this specific thread. Though like I said it's gotten a bit off topic. So there's no need to split threads or what not.

Stuart that was not directed at anyone. Sorry if you took it personally. I regret even saying it now.

My point was that it felt like people, you being an exception, either didn't enjoy such discussions or felt that they would only confuse people starting out. So I'm just saying I'll dial it back.

Thanks for the reading suggestions btw.

No worries. It wasn't so much that I took it personally but more that we regularly get new people getting miffed with peoples answers. It gets a bit boring especially since almost all the answers are by people genuinely trying to help.

My p
Fair enough and kind of true

But they have tolerated me for long enough

I've been down the road you are starting it kind of disappointing the lack of land marks along the way.

Don't worry too much about taking threads off topic its traditional. Although having said that I have noticed a cultural change on the forum with a tendency and desire to stay more on topic.

I started this thread http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=25053&start=15 amd it hs got to its second page and it still on topic

On your gaming alusion...did you ever play Role Master?

Zweibel's "enthusiasm" is reminding me of you in the early days Stuart....

Yes I know.

I believe the plants replace the negative charge of the nitrate ion they absorb with an oh- ion, and increase alkalinity in the process. I think consistent high degree ph dropping is an indication of lack of balance.

I don't think people are against getting into the deep specifics of different design models or the math and engineering in general, but as a few have speculated, perhaps such deep discussions might be better placed in their own thread.

It is the nitrification process that lowers pH. There are a few things that raise pH but most well functioning system probably get most of their pH elevation from adding bases or from their source water.

Keep in mind annoxic or anaerobic zones or conditions can also cause a pH elevation.
Algae blooms can cause diurnal pH swings between high and low because of CO2 cycling.

So on the nitrification and pH lines, can this newbie ask for a rule of thumb?!
My system has been up and running for 4 months. I used to top up with treated tap water but when I eventually had the thought to test it, I discovered that the pH was way over 8. I then started using my groundwater as this has a pH in the low 6's. My system pH still sits at 8. I know that with new systems you just have to patiently wait and that I will be, in the long term, having to raise my pH.
So, the question. Is topping up with groundwater, even though it has a lower pH, the wrong way to go as I will just be adding additional carbonates to be used up in the system?

I am also continually getting a reading of 0 for Nitrates. My SP don't want to eat lots now that it is cold and my trout as eating heaps, but the veggies seem to be using up all the nitrates. Do I add extra (liek charlie carp) to provide extra nitrates? I have done this and tested for days with no apparent spikes in ammonia or nitrites?

I so appreciate this forum. I do find it a huge learning curve and whilst it is good to be looking forward to what I might need to look at, it is also a little daunting when you thought that it was just going to be fish + water + fish food = veggies. Now I have to learn about deficiencies, supplements, dealing with solids and a whole bunch of other stuff! Keeping my head above water ... just!

Thanks for all the help and advice

teepee, this is probably a little more complex a question than a quick rule of thumb will answer since it will likely require asking a whole bunch of questions specific to your system, perhaps help on this should be in your system thread.

Commonly high pH issues are either due to the media (some people mistakenly use limestone or marble before they know better) or due to high pH tap water.

If it is just the tap water that was a problem, some time and low pH top up water should put you right, but as noted, everything slows down with cool weather. So the rule of thumb there would be add more patience.

If your media is keeping your pH up, then there isn't much help for it until the media is changed out to something that will allow the pH to drop.

I am in the U.S. so I will not be talking in metric units, sorry. Rule of thumb previously stated is 1 pound of fish to 5 gallons of media, My system has 14 half barrel auto siphon grow beds that hold about 8 gallons of pea gravel. So that should support about 22 pounds of fish. My FT is 330gal IBC tote with 55gal swirl filter and 330gal sump. two 1200 gal/hour pond pumps run 24/7.
Unfortunately the 22 pounds doesn't equate well to "how many fish" Obviously the size increases weekly. So in my case where I have about 65 tilapia in the fish tank after the fish reach a certain size, I will have to thin out the population. What weight characteristic should I apply to a given size Blue Tilapia? a 3" fish weighs approx nnnn, a 4" fish weighs approx nnn. So I have an idea of how many fish to take out and when.

Thanks

emp1953

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=22925

8 US gallons =
30.2832943 liter

cheers