Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello, we are starting a system and just finished adding the media to the grow bed. We decided to do it on the garage because we are in Michigan and want it a little more protected during winter (how we are going to keep the temperature going is still a mystery but we will get there eventually).

We are using a cut IBC tote. The wife has been saying that it smells moldy in the garage. I've had the pump on 24/7 since the day I got the bell siphon working and it is flooding/cycling.

Our IBC tote has an irregular grow bed (see photo) and her theory is that because one of the sides never drains all the way down, there's mildew growing on the bottom with the media.

Images: https://i.imgur.com/0hVmIcB.png and top media https://i.imgur.com/G8xtfxx.png

I've read about mold growing on the top of the media when it's wet, and ours are, because when I was tuning the bell siphon the water got to the top sometimes. We use expanded clay pellets for media.

I added some photos. We still haven't started cycling or anything, at the moment we just have water running through the system.

Any tips? Also, where do I go from here? Fishless cycle I guess?

FWIW, I don't think I've ever seen a system that drains all the way down (it's normal to retain an inch or two of water, sometimes more). I suspect the odor will go away as the system matures but reducing the amount of surface open to evaporation should help.

I'd check the humidity in the room, increase the air movement using a fan and decrease the humidity by ditching the flood and drain with siphons for constant flood.

I'd switch to a Constant Flood system and set the water level using a stand pipe (without a weep hole) and no siphon. Set the level so that the damp media ends about 1 to 2 inches from the surface. This should reduce any evaporation from the media. Since the water is moving, it's oxygenated and the plants will do fine.

Might want to cover some of the fish tank as well.

If you keep the air moving you reduce condensation on surfaces the air is moving across (condensation that might encourage mold growth).

Put a dehumidifier in the room, if needed - this might save you some troubles with mold in areas around your setup.

Oh yeah, Plan B is ditch the wife -

Have you actually seen it?.It's strange because water would be touching it.

I think that might be the least of your problems.If there is a mouldy smell,it's probably because there is mould & growing plants in that type of environment could lead to plant problems.
I would do what scotty said,get a hygrometer & see what the humidity is,use a dehumidifier if needed and have fans continuously blowing.


Add more clay or lower the stand pipe.It's recommended that you leave a couple of inches of dry media at the top.

Fishless cycle because if you mess something up,the worst thing is you might have to cycle again.Who likes a dead fish

I had the same problem when I started my indoor systems in a closed room. I put a stand fan on low pointing away from the beds to circulate air in the room and cracked the door slightly to let the air exchange a bit. That cleared up the musty smell in a day and haven't had it come back in about a year of running since then. Give a fan a try and I bet it will make a difference for you.

Regarding cycling, you can get plants growing even before you start cycling so some leafy herbs or lettuce will start slow but having them going let's you throw fish right in after a couple weeks (though adding Dr Tim's bacteria culture + ammonia for a week or two is a big help.) With fish, the ammonia cycle will straighten itself out over time. As long as you're not way overstocked, nature can be surprisingly self regulating. That's a hard thing to put faith in but you'll see it happen as you get going =)

Your build looks great! Are you using artificial light or is there sun light access there?

-Nick

Tried the fan, but since it's a garage (large, and no outside exit) didn't work well. I am using a dehumidifier now and seems to be helping.



I got some Maxicrop, but that's for fishless right? I suppose the dr Tim thing is different than Maxicrop.

Thanks! No, there's no sun light there, we will have a fixture with grow lights there eventually, and maybe make a little greenhouse like structure for when the winter come. We don't know exactly how cold the garage will get here in Michigan so we may need to conserve heat or find a way to heat the water.

Take a look at your Maxicrop product - Some products like Seasol Powerfeed for example, contain nitrogen in a form that helps get a system started with cycling. My guess is that the Maxicrop product you have doesn't contain any nitrogen but does contain growth promoters so it would be more for after the system is started and you're trying to encourage plant growth. Take a look and usually you'll see the numbers for N-P-K on the front of the package. The N will probably be zero.