Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,
I posted a picture a while ago of my experimental systems: http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/alb ... ?pic_id=48

They've now got the fish and are ready for plants. The water parameters tested today are:
pH 7.2 -7.6
KH 6 - 10
GH 7
Nitrate 50 - 100 ppm
Nitrite 0.5 ppm
Each tank is about 65/70 l containing 8 x 50mm goldies.

I know the NO2 is a bit high but we've stopped feeding for a few days and I'm ready to do water changes if it gets any higher.
Should I put my plants (7 lettuce in each gutter) in yet? I think it should be ok but I'm open to any advice from other wise aquaponikers!
Cheers in advance,
Neal

I like that, aquapoinkers...
Just put the plants in - give it a go, might delay that water change you are planning...

Man, rock and roll!

The nitrates are screaming "plant in me, plant in me!"

IMHO; PH is good, watch it though, as the KH is quite low, and it may drift down quite quickly when you start feeding fish more.

Put a mesh bag of sea shells in each of the tubs if you want to raise it slowly and buffer PH, also i won't be as detrimental to plants as sodium bicarb, and will raise the GH by the same amount.

NO2 is acceptible, but would hope this would come down very soon. If your ammonia is at zero then sound like just the tail end of the inital cycling, especially if i drops when you cut back feeding.

I'm with AM, plant away and hold off on the water change unless the NO@ goes higher, you'll be wasting the precious NO3
Plant away, brother, and keep us posted with pics

Steve

Yep...... What Steve said......

Morning all, an update from Reading Uni,
Put the lettuce plants in yesterday, nitrite now 0ppm, 8 goldies still alive in each tank!, nitrates 100ppm. 2ppm Fe-EDTA (chelated iron) added to two of the fish replicates (to see if the leaves are greener in those systems).
Neal

THanks for the pics... looking forward to seeing those plants take off and grow!

great stuff neal. Glad to hear your fish are all well too!

Must have been right about the tail end of the initial cycling

Good job neal. Will be a great experiment for aquaponics.

VERY good to see that you've got your aquaponics ppm up and the system cycled before you started the cycle. I've read a few that just whacked the fish in and started the trial, then rubbished the aquaponics resuls. no wonder

I think that since you're measuring nitrates, this would be a good indication of feed rates, if it drops below 100PPM then feed more!

Eagerly awaiting the results How long were you going to run the trial for again?