Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am guess you are not a proponent of pee-ponics then Trentski?

You need another option - "Janet's level"

yeah taste testing a urine cycled system is not something I'd like.

"Janet's Level -before- the RSG", Les. That was 1000+. Now I run at 0-5.

I still don't have my head propperly around the whole RSG thing. Are they so good, and potentially useful to the likes of me, that I should read up on it. The RSG thread was scarily large.

RSG=really smart guy?

Yes, RSG = Really Smart Guy. Or Really Smart Gal.

The idea is that you can create an anoxic environment that can be used to off-gas excess nitrates or to chelate iron. Very useful at times, although I have converted my RSG filters to add CaCO3 to the system now. I believe that over time, every system will develop at least limited anoxic environments that will off-gas some of the nitrates.

Les was testing an RSG, and I believe was seeing results. Not sure if others have, so it is new territory. Oh wait, all of AP is new territory.

Was very tempted to edit my post Janet and include your suggestion (but that is cheating [ROZ style])

My RSG is still chugging along nicely - doing a revamp on the filter and will include it with the system update.

Did you just add the CaCO3 into the filter? - I would have thought that the water flow through the RSG would not be sufficient?

Janet, it is just as well i am on another continent and we are both married. You have a wonderful way of getting a complex thing across simply, and i have a soft spot for the (well) written word.

I'm surprised you like me then. I have a penchant for wordy complicated explanations, and recently for getting ppls backs up.

How sweet, TT. Thank you! Of course, my husband doesn't have the best of health....so you never know.

Les, I actually scooped all the sand out of the RSG, and left the pipe in place in case I needed to re-fill with sand. I could have just backfilled with gravel, I suppose, but I thought it would be fun to just fill with crushed shell and watch to see if the level drops as the shell dissolves. I think it does, actually! I'm going to watch for a while. (like watching paint dry.)

Good idea J, was trying to work out how you did it and still had an RSG...that is a good way to keep tabs on the usage as well...and add into the water stream in the future

I am starting to notice a gradual decline in my pH level (down to 6. so might incorporate an RSG filter and a shellgrit holder in the next round of system updates (in the planning stage)