Started Cycling Today

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Hello there,today is a good day finally started cycling, I'm not to sure if all was done in the right order i'll just wait and see what happens.firstly i added some bacteria in a bottle(does it or does'nt it work)1/2 a kilo of prawn heads and about 3 to 4 hundred mills of sea sol,i guessed the sea sol so if anyone can tell me how much for 2.5 thou L of water i should need.I planted tom's,corn, lettuce,snow peas,watermelon,cucumber,capsicum,broccoli,celery,hope they go ok if anyone has any advice etc please help me out,i'm a bit anxious,might have to sleep out with the plant's tonight.
bye Brett

[Outbackozzie]

It will be fine - I would not touch the system for a week or two and see what happens. You have provided plenty of nutrients, so the plants will be fine.

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Thanks outback,all i have to do is connect grow bed 5 and 6 tommorrow and all is done.The river pebble has turned the water an almost bright orange i think it will take a long time to settle ,would it be ok to put some gold fish in while i wait for some jade perch?. bye Brett

[Hamish]

all i have to do is connect grow bed 5 and 6 tommorrow and all is done.

Its NEVER all done!

The river pebble has turned the water an almost bright orange i think it will take a long time to settle

Try putting some filter wool under the outlets in the grow beds to catch the small particles.

would it be ok to put some gold fish in while i wait for some jade perch?

I did and the gold fish are still happily swimming around with the jades months later...

[Ravnis]

I wouldn't worry about the muddy water. It will tell you when the important biofilm develops and the film on the rocks in the grow bed will filter the water. If you are really that concerned about it you could add a large aquarium type filter to your tank as extra filtration and remove when the water clears. I have noticed this multilple times when I have fiddled with my autosiphon to get the levels right(have to shallow a grow bed) and the water gets all muddied up and clears within a few hours of circulation.

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Hi Hamish and ravnis ta for the advice,no worries with the water rav it's just not real pretty at the present,its good to know how the system clears it up.I have been up all night toying with my timer and ball valves on the grow beds to get the right flow,they are a bit tempremental at the moment.I also have to lengthen the return pipe to the fish tank because at the end of the pumping cycle it is above the level of the tank water and makes an horrendous sucking noise,might upset the neighbours.Hamish what have i got myself into here I'm being consumed.
bye Brett

[Hamish]

Your gone now mate - there is no turning back.

[Marilyn]

Hi Brett the stone that you are using is it what they call Emerald gold. It looks like reddy orange quartz and when washed is just a quartzy stone. If it is the same stuff can I ask what price you pay for it and where do you get your supply, Here in the Bay they charge $220 a cu m but Tony when he gets to Emerald with turf has seen the same stuff for $90 m. He has heard that it is cheaper though straight from the quarry. Also have you heard of a place near Emerald that mines scoria.

Thanks for any info Marilyn.

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Hi Marilyn,I am not to sure about it being emerald gold,to my knowledge it is just river pebble but saying that it does come from emerald quarries.I buy it from the concrete plant a couple of hundred meters down the road from me for $40 a bucket (front end loader),about1.5 tonne,very cheap,the owner even dumps it over my fence for me.As far as the scoria goes I will find out for you so look for a thread in the next couple of days. regards Brett

[BARRAMUNDI BRETT'O]

Hi all,I got sick of looking at an empty FT(2500L) so i put 10 two inch goldish in,the ammonia production is next to zero.would it be ok to use another ammonia source for cycling,urea in grow beds,prawn shells in FT,to hurry it along.I did add some of the bacteria powder stuff to the grow beds,should i just be patient or add the extra ammonia source.
Thank's Brett