Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi SV,

Congratulations for your first system.
Your vegies seem to be doing so well even without fish.
What have you been doing to vegies?
Did you add something to water?

Sorry if you mentioned this already.

Sejin

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My system:
- 5000L fish pond, 4 x 350L grow beds, 130 gold fish
- first system set up in Feb 2012, expansion in April

History to April 2, 2012:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=11530&start=240#p322974

I started out with about 30 gudgin (local creek fish) but I think I killed them by adding too much additional ammonia. Their dead bodies would have supplied nitrates for a little while, apart from that I have basically been adding humonia, however it is very sporadic and i guess only adding some every few days on average.
I have also been adding some seasol, about a capful every week. I have no idea how much I should add. Seasol is not a source of nitrates.

I am surprised too how good the growth is, very impressive.
Today I found out about getting silver perch fingerlings.
Getting a small amount (15) is expensive. Cost more per fish and postage is as much as the fish. Might pick them up but that's a pain too. Looking forward to getting them though..
I have no idea if the system is getting close to cycling, have bothered to test. I could be helping it a bit better though

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My System

I imagine you would be very close to being cycled if you aren't already. You have had it running for a while now.



It is awesome how stable these systems are! It seems the longer they run the more they are able to cope with too.

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Aquarium System
IBC System
Blog

Well I finally got around to testing the water for the first time
PH 7.2
ammonia LOTS (just added some)
nitrites 0
nitrates LOTS

Not sure if that means only starting to cycle or finished cycling... maybe finished but seems a bit short of a time frame, I did however kickstart it by dumping all the gunk from a mature aquarium filter in the tank and leaving the media in the GB for a week.
Who knows, who cares I have been very inconsistant with adding ammonia, thinking of getting a cheap peristalitc pump (or make one). Having a bottle of "sweet ammonia" with a pin hole in the bottom doesn't work, keeps getting blocked up. looking at a cheap peristaltic pump now..

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My System

If you've got "lots" of ammonia...

(1).... you're not cycled... because they will result (soon) in lots of nitrites...

(2) ... you don't need, or should add any more...

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>

Fresh By Nature - Distributor of Aquaponic Systems and Products in NSW
http://www.freshbynature.com.au

I should have measured ammonia before I poured some more in..
It was about 300mls and half an hour later I took measurements.
If I wait a day and then measure ammonia, maybe that will tell me if its being converted.

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My System

Growth still going crazy. Still getting a bit of yellowing through the basil leaves, buried a banana skin just because.

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My System

I have no idea about feeding. So assuming I'm going to go with 25 Silver Perch (will be adding GBs soon) I have a few questions.

1. Where do I buy food from and what brand ?
2. How much do I buy and what size ?
3. Should I buy more than one size ?

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My System

bump

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My System

grobest have an online store, but unfortunately the only sell by the 20kg bag.

I could sell you a 5l bucket of 1-2mm floating pellets for 1/2 a dozen stubbies. You just have to come and get it. I got the wrong size last time I ordered, so I could pass on some of it to help you get started.

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My system in Brisbane viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7129

without fish, you seem to have been doing successful hydroponics rather than aquaponics.

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My system:
- 5000L fish pond, 4 x 350L grow beds, 130 gold fish
- first system set up in Feb 2012, expansion in April

History to April 2, 2012:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=11530&start=240#p322974

SOLD
Ill PM you to organise a time to pick it up.

@Sejin
Maybe so but I want fish too !
I do suspect I will get signs of deficiencies before too long, the basil is already showing some sutle yellowing, although the leaves are HUGE

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My System

so 3-4cm fingerlings eat 1-2mm pellets ?
how long before you need to get the next size feed ?
then the next ?

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My System

I did that today too in my IBC system. Not sure why, i just ate a banana and buried the skin.



Something i have been wondering myself.

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Aquarium System
IBC System
Blog

Silvers have a pretty small mouth so stick to the smaller size until you are sure they are ready for bigger, my 150mm SP still are fine with the 2mm feed even though they can handle a bigger size. Just keep feeding what you have until you get close to running out then catch one and make a judgemet call based on the size of the fish's mouth.

If the feed is too big or you have a variety of fish sizes you can always slightly crush the pellets to make some bits smaller for the small fish.

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Simo

My system : http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=12922

The good thing about science is that you don't have to believe in it for it to be right.