Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yes, I like Gordon's timers and will consider them again once my present issues with system 1 is fully operating and before I get system 2 going. I purchased a twin pack of HPM single socket timers so I have a spare.

" Have you got anything in your beds or system that can use a decent amount of nitrates ?
seedlings are not going to do the job." see the pic.

Day 26 test pic.

Pete.

OK, best to hang in there and when you need a watering can of water take it from your AP.
Then top up AP with fresh water. Your veg will catch up over time but will be only taking small amounts ATM.

I have seedling trays of small plants, and some larger plants in pots embedded in the gravel in my GBs to suck up nitrates. You can pack them in much tighter than you would plant them, as they wont be there forever. However, you need to be careful about what soil/potting mix you use, we only use organic potting mix to avoid any risk of nasties for the fish. The bottoms of the pots get wet each high tide, which keeps the entire pot contents moist all the time. It's a good way to get sizeable nitrate munching plants into your system quickly.

It looks like you have a bit of space available to do it - all that nitrite has yet be be converted to nitrate, so you will have plenty available.

So they're like mini wicking beds err pots?
Funny in the last few days I was thinking about what to do with 10 stainless conical reducers a friend gave me, see pic. I thought I might be able to as you say fill them with potting mix and sit them in a tray with 50 mm of scoria, a disc of weed mat then ocassionaly fill the tray with ft water. What do you think?

They could function as pots if the potting mix doesnt fall out the bottom when you lift them, but you'd need to shade them a bit to stop them cooking the plants in sunny weather.

Test pics, looks like the Ph and Am are down and the nitrites are back on the chart.
I've just been taking water out to feed the WB and replacing with fresh water as suggested.

Pete.

Looking good Pete... A bit more waiting though

Hi Brian, where have you been hiding?

A while ago you mentioned that the FT will go green and then clear up again. Does that happen to all systems and will it matter if fish are in it by then??

Pete.

Lurking Pete, there is a difference!

If your tanks are getting enough sunlight, and there are enough nutrients then yes the water will go green. Seems to happen to most new aquaponics systems.

It appears that the fish won't care in most cases, only issue is too not do anything rash and cause the algae to die fast. Just keep the oxygen up, especially at night, reduce feed if needed and wait a little more

I think my pea soup took about 6 weeks to clear.

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I was going to use one of those floats with a plastic bubble copper arm and brass fittings then I thought of the "NO COPPER IN THE FT WATER" argument. So is there a preferred float to use or do APers use the one described?

Thanks, Pete.

There are some with stainless steel arms, and I think also PE units, with rubber washers.

Those HPM mechanical timers are very reliable. I have been using them for years for various loads and haven't had one fail yet.

Thanks Gordon & Brian.

I'll search for an alternative float.

The only issue with them is the trigger disc is black and it can be difficult to see the depressed ones, otherwise it seems to work well.

Getting closer to F day.

Pete.

I installed a Aquagarden Mako 4000 pump to replace the 30 year old Hitachi.

The Mako is 1/5th of the size delivers about the same 3000lt /hr and consumes 28-51 watts depending on the head (as it changes). It is very quiet in fact you can barely hear it 2 m away. I plumbed it with the 3/4 poly which I had to soften with a heat gun to get over the barbs. It didn't come with a 3/4 BSP screw in barb for the inlet so I made one out of a SS barrel nipple and bored it out to 7/8".
With a slight tap adjustment it fills all three beds in less than 5 min.

Pete.

Hi Guys,

In the left side of the right bed I've got these two (I think) cucumber or zucchini seedlings with yellowing leaves, is it a problem if so what should I do about it?

Thanks, Pete.