Sophia's first IBC AP system!

SydneyChick

So today hubby and I decided to install the tank window.... The guy on the YouTube video made it look so easy... It wasn't... :evil:

Once you all stop laughing at me I'd appreciate any tips on how to clean up our messy silicon job!

Thanks :thumbleft:

pacarner

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Once it has set you will be able to scrape the . silicon off with a sharp blade.
The silicon on the tank will probably peel off or the same use a blade

Brian

While it is wet, turps or metho will probably work. Have a look on the tube.

Once it is set, not much without scratching the acrylic. Cutting, scrapping, peeling.

All part of the learning curve.

SydneyChick

Thanks guys - and thanks for not laughing at me :cry:

SydneyChick

Charlie wrote:

Interesting that your pH is dropping in such a short time. Although the nitrification process is acidic, its uncommon to see it fall in the short term when usually it is more over many months, sometimes years. But!, this is a good thing in my view, because a higher pH is preferable during cycling but down around a value of 6.4-7 is perfect for nutrient uptake so it will be interesting to see where you end up. Its always easier to buffer up than acid down so your on the right track. Its probably more correct to say your system is settling rather than acids lowering it but its hard to say for

Could the seaweed solution I watered on the seedlings lower the pH?

Charlie

I wouldn't think so Sophia, I can only assume your source water has a higher pH and it is now settling down. Keep testing daily and see where you end up. If its still falling when in the low 6's you can add some buffing agents.

SydneyChick

Well pH seems to have dropped further and now sitting somewhere around 6.6

Ammonia has dropped as well and is around 0.25ppm

Nitrites and Nitrates remain high.

What should I do?

Add wee? Shall I do anything about the pH?

Gunagulla

Add some Ca(OH)2 or KOH, along with some shell grit to increase pH. Adding more wee isn't necessary every day now, but if you do, then not too much.

What should you do... wait patiently until it has finished cycling!

SydneyChick

Gunagulla wrote:

Add some Ca(OH)2 or KOH, along with some shell grit to increase pH. Adding more wee isn't necessary every day now, but if you do, then not too much.

What should you do... wait patiently until it has finished cycling!

Just don't want to starve the nitrite producing bacteria with low ammonia in the water.

SydneyChick

Progress shot of GBs from today.

Got some more cladding done and built a vety quick hoop house over the GBs and draped it with growcover to provide the seedlings with a bit of shade as they have been frying in the heat.

I have serious doubts about the longevity of this hoop house as it's very drunken looking but Illhave to work out something more permanent another day.

The growcover is rolled up a bit to allow pollinators to access the flowers on our eggplant seedlings

Food&Fish

You may have to pollinate by hand as bees probley wont go in that hole it would be best to completely remove an end
After bees pollinate they fly straight up and will get trapped in the roof area

SydneyChick

Readings from today:

pH has gone up a little with no intervention. I think it's somewhere around 7.2

Ammonia is hovering around 0.25ppm
Nitrites are still high around 5ppm plus - I try later to dilute the sample and test again like Gunagulla suggested.

Plants are doing their job as Nitrates are dropping:

Cunningstunter

If you're growing your own seedlings - and as per your other thread - perhaps just add a heap more plants (knowing that some of them won't make a full life cycle and will have to be removed - but will use up the nitrates in the mean time?

P.S One should note I am rank beginner therefore my advice is not to be trusted

Continuum

When checking your PH, make sure you give the bottle a good shake and test twice if you have doubts.

I tested after shaking and found that I had 2 wide ranging figures.

SydneyChick

Gunagulla wrote:

It will take a few days for that 500ml to convert to Ammonia.

Once the nitrates (and nitrites) are in the hard to determine colour range, I find it useful to dilute the sample.
For example add 20ml to your 5ml sample, and multiply the result by 5, as it is only 1/5 as concentrated after dilution.

I had to dilute my sample twice (Add 20mL clean water - test - then add anothe 20ml clean water) before I got a sample that wasn't deep purple.

So if I times the twice diluted sample (pictured above) by 10 I get 5ppm which isn't very helpful.

But if I assume that the first dilution was showing 5ppm and times that by 5 I get 25ppm which is a bit more helpful... (First dilution pictured below)

Backyard Aquaponics A place to discuss aquaponics

Sophia's first IBC AP system!

Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics