Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

The larger ones were snacking on the dead ones. I removed the dead ones.
Ok, so I feed them on sunday. When you say only feed them lightly. How much is lightly?

DD - the main issue is that the fish will survive on very little (or no) food. So while you are cycling, it is a good idea to err on the side of caution and feed little, just ensuring that there is some ammonia in the system to get the nitrosomonos going (though not enough to be toxic at your temp and pH level) and then nitrite to get the nitrobacter going.

Turnover is the measure of how many times per hour (or day) that the volume of your fish tank is circulated through your growbeds. The more frequently you turnover your water, the more chances the bacteria has to snack on the ammonia and nitrite. Growbed volume, turnover and fish mass are all inter-related. The more fish mass you have the more growbeds and/or higher turnover you need.

Folks on the forum have quite a range of turnover. On the low end, I would say some are running 1x/hour. I was running at 3x/hour which I think is a good target. At this point, I run on the high end at 5x/hour (I just re-did the looped auto-siphons with non-crushable tubing to increase flow), but as I've mentioned, I'm a little overstocked.

Feeding lightly--this is subjective, but I would say just a couple small thumb-and-index-finger pinches for the fish you have. Crush it a bit and spread it around so they all get a chance.

I'm in the 1:1 group, but I only have 30 fish in about 1500 litres (sump and tank combined), which is a low stocking density. Each grow-bed added will mean another turnover of the tank per hour.

I figured out this morning that I'm running 1x per hour for 250 gallons and 60 fish. 100 gallons of beds just as biofilters, no plants. This is not recommended.

That helps me out. Thank you guys.

I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but I could not wait for my book to arrive from AU before starting I really do appreciate to answers!

Here is todays test:
pH 7.17

Ammonia


Nitrates are 0 today.??

There were still some of the dead little ones in there so they have been the snack food I guess.

.5 NH3, .25 NO2? Maybe?

Still need to maintain the "P" reading at high levels Dandee....

That's "P" for patience.....

Todays test:
pH 6.98

Think you getting your nitrite spike in the cycling stage Dandee....

This (and ammonia) should both drop off to zero and you should start to see your nitrates increasing.....

Have you tested for nitrates yet?

I guess I need to get a nitrate test kit. I hope they sell those at the pet store.

Don't stress too much about the NO3 kit, its nice to see how well balanced your feed to plants are, but nothing going to die because of it.

Once the nitrites have come back down to zero you can assume you've cycled.

I found some duck weed today! Yea!

It was exposed where someone is clear cutting their land. Thats one more item off my check list