Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey guys,
I'm in South Australia & have a new chop2 system I've been cycling. I reckon the waters ready finally.
Just wanna run the figures past you before I order my first batch of fish.

Ammonia -0
Nitrites - 0.05 mg/L
Nitrates - 20 mg/L
PH -7.5
Alkalinity - 40 mg/L
Iron - 0
Pottassium -0
Calcium - 50 mg/L

If it's clearing ammonia out within a day you're probably good to go (it would be nice if the nitrite reading was zero as well but it's OK just proceed with caution). Take it easy with feeding at first so that the bacteria can adjust to the load. It's also a good idea to start off slow because new systems are often not entirely stable yet.

Good to see another South Aussie, looks like it is fish time. As Scotty said start it of easy.

Have you got it planted out yet? what sort of fish are you looking at stocking with? I started with something similar to you in April, planted out immediately and cycled with Charlie Carp and seasol, 1doz Rainbow trout have been in for a couple months now and going great, feeding well. Plants are using all the available Nitrates as it's pretty much zero now and has been for a couple of weeks.

I've used alternating limes (garden/dolomite/brickies) and Potassium Bicarb (EcoRose) for Ca, Mg and K inputs and bonus buffering capacity, pH has been rock steady at ~7.2-7.4 for some months.

Good luck with the project, its very rewarding! I was feeding the fish this morning and browsing on broccolini shoots and sugar snaps on a mild winters morning, tasty!

Hi Piney

What fish are you getting

And where are the photos we love photos

Pics coming. Will retry tomorrow.

I am ready to get some Silver Perch. Can any of you South Aussies recommend the best source ? Looking for 50. Most affordable sources seem to be interstate.
I figure its that cold atm I might not rush.

I am using mains water. Our supply to our farm goes straight into a tank. We dont use much at all, so it sits there for a long time, would I need to aerate that before topping up my system to get the chlorine out ?

I have a good supply of rainwater but all the roofs are corrugated iron & I dont want to risk using that.

how big is your fish tank and grow beds Piney.

50 might be a bit ambitious......


>> would I need to aerate that before topping up my system to get the chlorine out

well setup system turning over for a few days/week should do that for you
and lift your DO as well.

best to avoid the zincalume....

Above is my 1300 L fish tank. Its an old milkvat . These are double walled with insulation between. Should help with the temperature.

volume ? and pics of whole setup / grow beds.

only looks about 1000-1500 Litres.

(posts and edits are crossing )

Nice looking system Piney

I love the idea of using the stainless steel milk vat, great stuff

nice looking. re silver perch, not sure of suppliers as i've just started and trying the Trout/Barra rotation. There does appear to be a place in Lewiston that sells SP fingerlings, seem to be batches of 50 tho @~$3.00 each. Gumtree search will find it.