Plants are doing very poorly - new system

kadarra

Bit more of an update. pH was a little higher today probably form some residue Hydrated lime in the sump but this was easily adjusted back to 7.4 (tested both high and normal range) by dumping 150 litres and then adding another 150 litres of aged water. Tested again a couple of hours later and all was good.

Solved the mystery of the overnight water loss too. I had made a spray bar and fitted it during the week to aerate the sump tank more from the radial flow filter but what was happening was it was causing some backflow build up in the system and the Radial flow filter was filling to capacity and then leaking out a small hole in the top. Was hard to spot being white and night when I was checking, but found it in daylight. :oops:

The gush of water when i removed the spray bar was conclusive. Sealed up a few more minor weeps and leaks and it was all stable last night. I marked the water level on the sump wall and it was spot on this morning. Phew!!

I did a bucket time test test and my estimate of pumping through the FT at 2000 litres an hour was spot on. 37 seconds to fill a 20 litre bucket works out at 1945 litres per hour. so I have 2 x FT capacity being turned over in an hour.

Also I noticed today that my strawberry berries which have stayed the same size for a week have now started to colour up. Hopefully the bird netting will keep the beaks at bay.

Nitrates back to zero today and ammonia back to zero today as well. :headbang:

Nitrates have dropped back to 80 as well. All looks to be on track.

Yippee - cycled at last!!!
Here's hoping we have turned the corner and its all good from here on.
Time for fishies. :cheers: