Bushboys new system

[Murray]

Tom, when you said you would dig the fish tank into the ground...you were not kidding. Smart way to go, only one pump needed.

[bushboy]

Thought I had better check for advice - my system was cleaning up nicely
but is now becoming progressively more murky. Whereas the fish were just visible a few days ago
now they have disappeared into the gloom!

The fish tank is covered 80% solid, 20% shade cloth (probably 50%+ block)
I have not feed my fish for 2 days (thought I was overfeeding)
I have dacron foam under the outflow pipes on the grow beds and rinse this daily
4 tube aerator on 24hrs
There is no canister type filter (yet)
(3 * 250l gb - fish tank 1250l)

Chemistry ph 6.4, NH3 0.25, N02 0, N03 20 Temp =24.5
-these readings haven't changed much in several days

I guess I am going through an algal bloom?

Do nothing at this stage?

[Hamish]

I have not experienced this - although my water is not crystal clear - sort of like weak tea.

One thing - when you rinse your dacron - do you use tap water? As that will sterilise the bacteria.

I always use fish tank water to rinse filters then tip the mucky water out on plants.

[bushboy]

Only tank water Hamish . It is surprising how much muck
gets caught in 1 day

I have been reading up on algal blooms -there is quite alot on BYAP forum
- it seems most systems go through them but I thought I would avoid it
with covering my tank pretty well completely. Hope it doesn't get worse
or last too long

[nick]

my thought is that you will still experience it but not as bad. Sometimes it can go completely greeen and you cannot see further than a few cm's.

The other thought is make sure that you do not have you growbeds flooding to high as this will not be helping your algal bloom. you should ideally have it an inch below the grravel surface.

[bushboy]

thanks Nick - I'll drop my gb flood levels back a bit -the top
stays dry at present but it certainly isn't 1"

[Hamish]

thanks Nick - I'll drop my gb flood levels back a bit -the top
stays dry at present but it certainly isn't 1"
Or just add a little more media.

[bushboy]

Another update - the water is still a bit murky and I cannot see the fish but the chemistry is stable so I am ignoring it for now .

I decided to have a go at making a grow bed (needed a challenge!)

Using the basic dimensions of Murray's 250l gb I constructed a similar plywood box then fibreglassed the edges/corners etc ,
epoxy painted the rest and "decorated " the outside with some old corro.

Photo attached

Cost - around the same price as Murray's but not nearly as good
ie Murray's are really good value!!


Also attached is a photo of my fruit fly station that I started my thread with a few months ago

[Hamish]

Nicely done - the grow bed looks great. But yes you are right - Murrays Growbeds are pretty damn good for the money.

[gtpratt]

This section refers to lead inthe plastic...... I am wondering if they would be ok to use with ornimental fish - as I am thinking of breeding some for sale in the future.
I reckon they would be right if you give them life preservers as the lead absorbtion might make them sink (grin).