Yellow Leaves - New System

[GaryD]

:rolleyes:

I said we had planted 'saplings' in a previous post below... I had a mental blank for 'seedlings' !!! and no-one picked it up and corrected me publicly... now that's polite!!... I used to run a forum for pet owners... boy you should have seen some of the stuff there...


Bugger.....must have missed it.

The bad behaviour arising out of this forum is relatively little and is usually limited to the emails that Murray and I send to each other over the various things about which we disagree.:D

Gary

[Brian & Kaye]

Haa haa haa... yes I thought there might have been the odd issue - Administrators can be stroppy at times eh?!:)

Well I can't believe my Strawbs - they've run amok already..
OK - some first photos of our small but hopefully productive system.

* Started Fishless Cycling on 10th Dec.
* Added Seasol and in the absence of Urea/Clear Ammonia, added my own personal 'brew :)
* Added several green prawns in a stocking which we have just taken out.
* Ammonia went from 0 - 8 in a matter of days after adding prawns.

First photos below.... Hold mouse over thumbnail for dates....
For some reason the parsley has hardy budged.... Also not really shoing the largish Tomato as it started almost this size :D

The brick in the tank is to 'soften' the water sound for the neighbour. I'll take this out as I'm sure it is leeching stuff :-)

[Murray]

Yes we do disagree from time to time. We are both cranky old ****s.....but it is all good in the end.
After we have scratched and strutted around in the chook pen for a couple of hours...we get on with it.
Not like some other places we have both been where the other rooster/s get all cut and precious and take the chook feed away, "wont let you play in my chook pen"

Makes for an honest forum (chook pen) I feel....a diversity of opinion.....;)

B & K... the AP garden looks great.

[Brian & Kaye]

Happy Christmas AP's... hope everyone had some quality family time.... and continues to do so no matter what time of year it is!!

I realise our system is quite small (150ltr fish tank) but certainly it's been a relatively easy way for we newbies to start... especially while we design, plan and dream a much larger 'whole of garden' approach in the next year or so!!..

All the plants seem to be doing exceptionally well - especially when compared to Kaye's 'dirt' control group of same (original) size plants, but I am still coming to grips with the water stuff...

I think we're getting there though... Would I be right in saying that after 2 weeks of fishless cycling (and having reduced Ammonia to 0.5 (from 8.0 six days ago) that we are getting close to putting in some fish? I've estimated a total max of 3Kg when fully grown for our tiny tank...

20/12/2008 Ammonia 8.0
20/12/2008 Nitrite 1.0
20/12/2008 Nitrate 20.0
20/12/2008 Ph 7.0
Did 50% water change to try and lower Ammonia etc…

26/12/2008 Ammonia 0.5
26/12/2008 Nitrite 5.0
26/12/2008 Nitrate 8.0
26/12/2008 Ph 6.0

I've also tried to read as much as possible on this forum re water quality etc... I have an old (new actually) filter from one of those $80 swimming pools that was intended to filter 3,000ltrs or so... It's a tiny pump but seems to work.. It has never been exposed to chemicals or water for that matter. Is it ok to use that as well as the bio-filter to help keep the water clean once fish are in there?

Thanks for any help - happy to wait 'till '09 for a reply!!

Brian & Kaye

[GaryD]

Hi Brian,

You seem to be heading in the right direction.....just exercise some patience while your system reaches a point of balance/

Gary

[Brian & Kaye]

Ahhhh yes Patience!... the 'secret ingredient' of Aquaponics eh?...I've worked for myself for so many years I'm so used to 'NOW'!...

But this is great fun and very educational on many levels... I guess I'll just have to learn to slow down and smell the flowers... well basil and lettuce and tomatoes anyway :)

Thanks Gary - Brian

[Brian & Kaye]

Are we there yet???... Are we there yet???
OK!... I've been 'patient' as suggested by GaryD - 3 days now...THREEWHOLE DAYS!!! :D

These are the readings for New Years Day '09
01/01/2009 Ammonia 0.0
01/01/2009 Nitrite 5.0
01/01/2009 Nitrate 20.0
01/01/2009 Ph 7.0

Unless I did a mis-read on 26/12/2008 when Nitrate= 8.0, it seems to have shot uo to 20.0 again! otherwise Ammonia is finally zero!

Question is - happy to wait another week - how will the plants go 'waiting'?... is there enough in the water for them?... Tomatoes seem to be doing very well at the moment...

Hope you have all survived any 08/09 parties and can now get back to the serious(fun) of AP!!

Thanks - Brian
BTW - Yellow leaves problem solved - adding a little more Seasol seemed to do the trick

[GaryD]

Hi Brian,


From your readings, the next thing to happen will be for your nitrites to drop to zero over the next day or so.....and your system will have cycled......then it's time for fish.

Don't worry about the plants.....your existing nitrate levels and the bit of Seasol that you're adding will see them right.

Gary