Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

I hope no-one out there is a stupid as I am.

I built a small system at home using stacking storage boxes for tank and grow bed, cycled nicely using a bacterial starter and fish food for a couple of weeks, put the fish in - a few days later, no ammonia, no nitrite, 9 dead grass carp fingerlings.

The only factor I could think of was the copious amounts of bathroom silicone sealant I used on the joints. Read the label and, hey presto, it says it contains fungicides and should be kept away from pets.

Damn Neal, that sucks, can't help you, but feel for your loss!

Cheers, mate, I was so careful with everything else. The annoying thing is, it did cross my mind that I should be using proper aquarium sealant but I thought I'd save some time and money by using what I already had laying around the house.

I do that kind of thing all the time. If I just stopped, stood back and listened to my gut feelings I would have saved myself a lot of time and hassles over the years

just gotta chalk this one up to experience...
your system sounds simple yet interesting - going to share it (post a pic or 2) ?

oh man, what a spew.

I've used 'normal" silicone sealant in fish applications, even though it says 'not for aquariums" i think its more of a disclaimer so people with $200 discus fish don't sue them.

The bathroom one though was probably a no no due to the anti fungal additives you mentioned.

run two tank fulls of de-chlorinated water through your system and get some new fish asap, your bio filter will (should) still be active

Would that fix the problem, even with the silicon still in there?

anybody know just how long that antifungal stuff is active?

oh sorry man, i meant take the gravel / clay balls / media out and re use it in a fresh system (or in the same system, just remove the components you have used the silicone sealant on.

or, if you are trying to best murry's record, just dump more fish in

couple of pics for aquamad

Thats a little disapointing for neal... I do like your little design though, great idea to get two containers that fit into each other like that..

Silicon sealant can be a bit of a difficult one, I went shopping for some a few months back. There was shelves and shelves of different types, in the end I had to ask which one could be used in aquariums and there was only one type that was suitable. This one suitable sealant also said that it was not suitable for plastics..... I used it anyway...

there is one type of silicone that is certified for potable water, don't kow if it is the same one, but it would be a sure bet. I'd say stay away from the one with aditives to inhibit fungus, and ALWAYS make sure that it is fully cured before use. I like the general purpose one, as it released acetic acid during cure (vinegar)

compact and neat, great and simple... thanks for the pics, always interesting to see people's systems, be they big or small!

Now, EB, THATS what i call a portable system!

Hell, you could whack it in the boot (trunk for the 'others') and take it on holidays and have fresh veggies where ever you go!

Neal, i'm going to use that design if thats ok, of course it will all ways be neals.

I'll have to title the new thread.......steves "neal" system lol