Clay Balls and Pump Size

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Alex
Murray

About 3 weeks ago I bought a 2300L fibreglass tank from you and saw your aquaponics system for the second time.

I noted that you had used clay balls, and was wondering where you purchased them from?

Secondly, what size pump do you use (litres per hour) for your approx 2000 litre tank?

I have installed the tank you sold me, and it is full of fish. I am having trouble keeping it from going green and murky. Today I added an 18w UV lamp and a second pump (now 2 pumps at 1500 litres per hour giving a total of 3000 litre per hour through filters). I was over feeding which didin't help the muky issue. The two seperate pumps and plumbing sytems means a pump failure will not be terminal for the fish. I fitted a home made solar panel, and the water temp is 24-25 degrees with just a blanket covering the tank. I will insulating the whole tank and filters etc over the next few weekends.

I love watching the fish!!

Thanks for your hospitality and help.

Cheers

Alex

[Aquatic Oasis]

Hello Alex,
I have also purchased one of Murrays kits, we have the small Balcony Kit. I agree that it is fasinating watching the fish. We sell the clay beads at our store. Please contact me if you would like further information.

[nick]

um you may have already covered this, but if you have only had the system running for a little while and have it full of fish, it may be an idea to test the water for the amonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. They may be negatively affecting the life of your fish.

The pea soup stage is normal and can be avoided by covering the tank to occlude the light and if you can see water when your beds flood, lower the level of the water in the bed as this can be a source of algae as well.

I would check some of your water parameters and get back to us,

Nick

[Murray]

Hi Alex,
I have clay pebbles, if you want some. Also Aquatic Oasis (Stephen) has them if you are closer to him at Capalaba.
I only use clay pebbles in the very small systems for ease of transport for persons who just cannot get gravel for one reason or another. Clay pebbles are very nice to use and would be my first choice in any system. The only downside is the cost.
In the 2000 ltr systems I use a 15, LPH pump as a max and commonly use a 7,500 LPH as a minimum. The more grow beds you install the more you will be happy that you have a pump that can shift the water quickly.
In our smallest system, we install a 3000 lph pump.

It is very easy to over feed that is for sure.

24 deg is very nice, when it gets down to 16,17 deg then it becomes a worry.

Direct sunlight on the water will give you algae problems every time.

As Nick suggests, conduct some tests and get back. Ammonia, Nitrates and pH. It will be most interesting to see where they are at.
Do you have grow beds hooked up yet, or are you relying on a bio filter of some sort ?

I love the fish, I must admit that I have much more interest in the fish than the growing of the veggies...... The veggies are great too....:)

This afternoon I visited a customer who installed a Balcony kit just 3 weeks ago and it has stabilised beautifully, already. Ammonia levels were good, but the Nitrates were up a bit. His plants are still a little small, so the nitrates levels will be better as the weeks go by.
He took a 20 ltr container of water from my system to start it off and filled the fish tank with water from his dam. I suspect that the dam water is loaded with good bacteria.
The water in his fish tank is now crystal clear, Very satisfying when it all works so well.

Regards Murray