Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

we've had a really cold night and some of my perch are swimming upside down in the tank - problem is i don't know whether its that or the added ammonia which i've stooped adding as a precaution. water temp around 9

have you tested the ammonia today? I don't like the sound of upsidedown

Shit Beeso - I didn't even realise you had perch, thought you just had some goldies. What sort of perch are they (silvers?). Time to get a test kit my friend. Ammonia is a killer and it's important to know exactly what it is. The bacteria will not be as effective at lower temps and will reproduce slower. Good move stopping the dosing. I'd be inclined to stop the process altogether till you have the ability to test on site.

If you are able to - I'd do a water change Beeso, sounds like high ammonia to me. Remember to nutralise the water and add it slowly due to the temp differential.

beeso, its the water temp, two of mine are dead at the bottom tank temp 8C, i haven't pulled them out yet so don't know if they are silvers or jades. which ones u got?

interesting though, my silvers were feding yesterday at 6.5.

Hope you get it sorted beeso, sounds like ammo to me.

been slowly adding hot water to the sump to spread the ammonia and raise the temp, curse this cold snap and my keenness to get growth!

Yea i found a battered one this morning tank temp 7.5 and another one upside down put him in the hospital tank 3 kg salt 300 litre hese ok now

silvers are my only eating fish and redclaw

are they showing signs of extra activity and feeding with the hot water additions Besso??

well with no ammonia added since tue night and a slightly warmer day the system seems to have balanced out. the fish in the sump are active but the really sick SP died along with another smaller SP, the bigger ones up the top have disappeared but there is lots of places for them to hide anyway so could be either way. if ammonia is back down when i test tomorrow i will start adding doses again every second day. I also have 2 heaters thanks to nick (awesome mate- lifesaver) and i will be insulating as well. Definitely get it all sorted before i buy another 100 SP!

Besso, just been checking things mate.

Am I correct that your tank is the blue tank in your photos?

It looks to be about 300-500ltrs .... is this correct?

Your growbed is the converted bath/spa correct?

Hard to tell the dimensions, but appears to be about 2m x 1m x 1m at the most.... about 200ltr.... at the max..... probably more like 150ltr



What made you decide to buy 100 SP fingerlings for that sized tank.... were you advised by someone that you should stock that many?

That is a 500 ltr tank that beezo has there...the blue one.
Muzza

Yeah Beeso, if you get your temps sorted out with the heaters, I'd only look at stocking around 20 SP next time. You're definately going to have troubles with 100 of them in only 500L..

nah was never going for 100 thats what i was going to buy as fingers and hope to off load 50 or 60, but is on hold this week till i'm sure my ammonia experiments settled down and also looking at putting in an offer on a house so will wait to see if i have to move