Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Bummer

Did you fill it up with straight tap water or rain water? I hope your system was cycle BEFORE this happened...

These things happen... Its called trial and error. I am guessing your going down to buy some hose clamps right about now.

tap water

I didn't even have any declorinator ... They're goldies though, so should survive fine. I've done worse

You have to keep eating bok choy et al or it will go to seed and taste bitter. So long as you keep picking the leaves and/or the bud tips off it it will keep growing you sweet edible leaves.

Oh that reminds me, I threw some shallot bases in it the other day and they're shooting quite well... do they multiply themselves with extra shoots, or is it just one per plant and then seeds of some sort to propogate when it grows big enough ... ?

Bad luck UT, but the bacteria won't suffer from such a short period...your nitrate levels will drop so you might look at spraying seasol on the plants to give them a lift for a few days (and feed the fish plenty - for the nitrates)

I was more concerned about the chlorine in the new water killing off the bacteria than starving it while broken...

Master Test kit arrived yesterday ... Here's my levels...



I'm guessing I should cut back on my feeding for a day or two to let the Nitrites work their way out ? Also the PH seems a bit high? It's got 4 goldfish and 4 convicts in it. I know GF like higher PH, but not sure about convicts ?

salt is a good bet for high nitrite readings. i've posted the exact minimum multiplier of the nitrite you need to use for it to be effective. If anyone knows where it is please link or cut and paste.

Ensuringing DO saturation when you have high nitrite will also help a little, but not anywhere as good as the salt or low Nitrite to begin with.

Not on here Steve

hence the cut and paste comment tell me, i'll pass it on in the interim

Convicts prefer a lower pH. They are a cichlid--Central or South American. A 7.6 pH would be OK, but you should have a High-Range pH test in that kit, too. It would be interesting to see just how high your pH really is.

Yes, cut the feed. At the higher pH you need to be careful of your water quality.

i'm with JP, if its at the far end of the scale then use the high range as well.

we should be getting royalties from aquapharm. test kits

Yikes! Good call. But what do I do when it's off the scale on the high range as well?

I'm pretty much out of any chemicals as our aquariums have all been rock solid for years ... How do I get an 8.4+ PH back down quickly without chemicals? I'm tempted to do a 1/2 water change, but I stupidly still haven't replenished my stock of dechlorinator

Can't remember what size tank you have UT..... but if I remember it's an aquarium tank so it's not to large.... water change would help .... but an alternative is try lemon juice.... say half a lemon, then retest a couple of hours later ....

Hard to advise without the tank size...