MIDWEST IBC System

ROB_K

First water check of the season. Nothing added to help start cycle. I added water a week ago and fixed a few things.

Just whatever organic residue I guess.

pH: 7.8
NH3/NH4:1
NO2:0.5
NO3:0.0

boss

Was there some water in the beds? I didn't think that bacteria could handle drying up. Good to know.

ROB_K

Since starting AP I have noticed that the outdoors media beds can still hold a good amount of moisture if you are not cycling the water. Not helpful to the plants, but still help keep the bacteria alive. My Indoor system growbed was bone dry in about a month after neglect.

ROB_K

I took a vacation and ignored the system until this weekend. Still no fish, but do have plants. Sweet peppers and cherry tomatoes.

No readings on water test. pH went up :think:

pH: 7.8
NH3/NH4:0.0
NO2:0.0
NO3:0.0

scotty435

ROB_K wrote:

pH went up :think:

It should head back down pretty soon. Might just have been some calcium carbonate in the top up water.

ROB_K

One pipe section on my fish tank return was never glued over 2 years and broke loose overnight/today.

Topping off with tap water as it drained my sump and whatever was not in the growbeds at the time 40+ gallons I am guessing. As for dropping ph I use muriatic acid. I put in 2 capfuls. Next post will have a picture of after top off and after acid added.

When I usually top off I fill one of my 200L barrels with tap water and add a capful of the acid and let it sit overnight before adding to the system.

All that is in the tank right now is snails and tadpoles. Tadpoles I don't think would even stand a chance in the water flow, but there is a few.

ROB_K

Here is that photo. Last night was giving me issues to post it. Right is after top off with tap water and left is after adding two capfuls of muriatic acid. I am reading water on the fish tank and not the sump that the acid was added to.

scotty435

Looks like the reading on the left is maxed out on the low range test, did you check it on the high range test to find the actual reading?

ROB_K

I maxed out the Low end of the High Range, 7.4 overall maybe?

Edit - Just rechecked I'm at 7.2 (24hr later)

scotty435

7.2 sounds good :thumbright:

ROB_K

I have not decided on fish yet so I added some 2.5% ammonia. 100ml gave a little over 1ppm. pH staying stable right now, nitrates and nitrites nonexistent

I’m having spine surgery next month for the car accident back in 2015 so I am actually hesitant on doing fish this year. 3-4 month recovery and no driving the first month.

scotty435

Sorry to hear about your needing the surgery and the long recovery time. Certainly wouldn't want to be hauling buckets of water, bags of feed, rocks or whatever until your able to do it safely.

ROB_K

I guess I'll get some fish. Plants are doing OK, but I am not seeing any amazing growth like they where last year.

Adding that 100ml only lasted a little longer than a day. No readings on nitrates and nitrites just a drop in ammonia rate, but we also had a lot of rain.

ROB_K

So no surgery for now. Presurgery blood test had me with a very high blood sugar level so now I have Type 2 so that is awesome. :evil:

So I'm pissed and the body is still hurting. Surgery would have been this Friday. Work even hired a 2 more people to fill in while I'm gone. So many canceled plans that just opened back up, but too late to do anything last minute now.

On to the AP system.

There are 20 comet goldfish in the tank.....I think. They over count at PetsMark all the time. Next year I can turn them in for credit for some fancy goldfish or just dump in local goldfish pond when it starts to get too cold. I'll add a few pictures up tomorrow.

ROB_K

Well pictures I took are out dated to what I have now. New pictures will be taken tomorrow.

Quick fish video for today.

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