Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I don't think a new growbed, added to an existing cycled system would "cycle" as such. I imagine it would just be colonised by the existing bacteria, but I don't know how long it would take to get up to speed. Probably a bit longer than usual at the moment due to the cold.

Started some spinach seedlings 2 weeks ago, but they seem to be going yellow on the tips of the leaves. Any ideas on what I am doing wrong?

A couple have died... they are under t5 fluros next to a window with a heat mat set to 20c.





Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Tomato seedlings are now Showing the same... browning on the tips.. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?



Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Nitrates have jumped to 80 ppm...
what level should I start worrying?

I've put in a bunch of seeds to take up the excess once they grow. Not sure if they will grow fast enough.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

My nitrate tests have ranged between cab sav and shiraz for two years without any apparent ill effects on the fish.

Thanks rendang. The trout are much bigger now then when I got them.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Bought an Arduino a couple of months back finally got around to setting it up with some temp sensors.

One sensor is in the trout tank.
Another is in the garage.
Will be adding one outside somewhere.

Below chart is the last 24 hours of temps.

anyone know what these are they are growing on my pump in the sump tank?



Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Has AP moved on from being a "possible" addiction yet?
My guess is that they're Mayfly nymphs, no threat to your system and a possible snack for fish.

it definitely has moved well beyond a possible addiction.
sweet hopefully they can survive the trip through the pump to the fish tank.


Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

well it's time again for another expansion to this wonderful addiction.

I've decided to replace the barrels with ibcs (well expect for the mint barrel). The ibcs should let me have a much larger sump as well as more growing space.

With having the top 30m of the ibc as a growbeds ontop of the remaining frame as a sump tank, Do I need to seal the ibc frame with anything to stop zinc leaching into the water from the frame or is the run off from rain minimal and nothing to worry about?

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Tagging along.

I don't think zinc will hurt anything but I can't say for sure, you mean just from the frame of the GB sitting on top of the sump tank?

yeah just the frame and the bars under the growbed ontop of the sump. I'm guessing it will be quite damp with the splashing water returns.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

well just found this that says that zinc poisoning can be common in aquaponics... it's not bad in normal ranges (and actually needed for plant enzymes) but says that in aquaponics that it is more likely to have too much zinc rather than not enough leading towards poisoning like copper...

http://blog.brightagrotech.com/zinc-in-aquaponics/

It sure sounds like the little from occasional splashes that might find its way back into
your tank might not be significant, but that referred to article had a nice solution:


As this forum's very own Rupert commented on that blog, Rainbow Trout are sensitive
to zinc, so you might find some data in the member systems section with those using
IBC tanks and Rainbow Trout.

If this is a concern, it sounds like a little bit of plastic or tight-weave mesh to knock
down the spash might avoid the issue as well.

--
Sam