Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All



This is my small AP setup I built from the instructions on BYAP's website. (12/11/14)
I used a combination of blue metal and about 25L of expanded clay for the media

Here are my tests up to today.

Date PH Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate

27/11/14 7.6 0.25 NA NA
28/11/14 8.8 0.25 5 0
29/11/14 8.0 0.25 5 NA
30/11/14 8.0 0.25 5 20
03/12/14 8.0 0.25 5 40
07/12/14 8.0 0.25 5 40
11/12/14 8.0 0.25 5 40

Not much has changed over the past week which i expected.
I am assuming it will take around 3months for my pH to start dropping.

Ive been told I shouldnt have planted my tomato plants until the system has cycled but all 3 plants have started to flower


My ears are open to any tips you can advise on.


-Paul

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My AP Setup -> http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=23703

Plant away at any time with anything. You don't need to wait.

Looking good, my only suggestion is to go bigger, but I like big systems, so feel free to ignore that.

Just take some water temp reading on hot days, see how hot the system gets before adding the fish.

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My System

My Aquaponic Youtube Channel

The Black-Byron Ice Creamery Youtube Channel

Ive planted some carrot seeds last week in there and there sprouting:

I wanted to start off small while I get used to how things work. So far seems straight forward and I have a temp probe in the grow bed highest temp I have seen is 29 degrees C. Lowest around 21.

Do I add fish in when the pH drops to around 7.6 and the nitrate and nitrite levels drop down?

Cheers
Paul

_________________
My AP Setup -> http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=23703

Don't worry about the PH too much, just let it do its thing.

When the nitrites/ammonia are gone, dunk in your fish. Just follow the stocking requirements so you don't overstock.

_________________
My System

My Aquaponic Youtube Channel

The Black-Byron Ice Creamery Youtube Channel

I'd move that into semi shade, summers over here will make that too hot.

Well im trialing insulating my grow bed and FT.
See what happens.
Still waiting on my waterproof temp probe to rock up so I can monitor water temp.!
Ive also added a bit of shade cloth I had left over across the top!

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My AP Setup -> http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=23703

Its been awhile so I thought id update you all.

Tomatoes are going great! The one in the pot which I am comparing it to is way behind on the production as you can see here!



The auto siphon has stopped working(just continuous flow) for the last few days and Ive decided to modify the setup and put the pump on a timer. However im not sure how this is going to affect my lettuce production in the NFT. I also noticed the leaves on the corn and the tomatoes starting to go yellow from when it stopped working.



On the 3rd of Jan I tested the water and it was finally fit for fish! So I added 3 silver perch in. I worked out I can probably do 5 but I don't want to push it just yet! see how these baby's go!

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My AP Setup -> http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=23703

Ive noticed the temperatures exceeding 32 degrees for the silver perch I have in there on the hot 37+ degree days.

I found a 12v fan I had floating around and have temp mounted that at the front which is sucking all the hot air out which gets trapped under the grow bed.

Temperature has never exceeded 31degrees since adding it when ambient is around 39-41degrees.!

all 3 fish are still alive! =)

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My AP Setup -> http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=23703