System Cycling - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T15:41:29Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/categories/system-cycling/listForCategory?categoryId=4778851%3ACategory%3A9181&feed=yes&xn_auth=noTest levels constant - Not sure what it meanstag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2018-08-01:4778851:Topic:6534762018-08-01T17:54:09.008ZBastian Tockhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BastianTock
<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p></p>
<p>I have just started a 45 gallon system and am trying to use fish-less cycling. The system has been running for a few weeks now and my levels are all constant. I dont really know if I need to adjust something or if my system is just to a point where these are the levels it will produce.</p>
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<p>Everyday I test ammonia and Nitrites, they test out to be roughly 1-2 ppm and 5+ ppm respectfully. I test the Nitrates every now and then and they are always at…</p>
<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p></p>
<p>I have just started a 45 gallon system and am trying to use fish-less cycling. The system has been running for a few weeks now and my levels are all constant. I dont really know if I need to adjust something or if my system is just to a point where these are the levels it will produce.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Everyday I test ammonia and Nitrites, they test out to be roughly 1-2 ppm and 5+ ppm respectfully. I test the Nitrates every now and then and they are always at the same 20 ppm. I currently have no plants in the system and have a ph of 8.4 which I was to understand is fine for a new system to have and will naturally fall over time.</p>
<p></p>
<p>My concern is that the ammonia levels never change and are constantly too high for me to put fish in. If I just wait long enough will the system eventually burn through the ammonia or do I need to do something to the system? Also I doesn't seem like I have a very high amount of Nitrates which worries me that I won't be able to plant as many crops as I hoped, will that level go up as my system gets older?</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thank you for the help!</p> Cycling issue- nitrites crashedtag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2018-06-30:4778851:Topic:6524452018-06-30T21:00:20.223ZJasonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Jason89
<p>at 3 weeks, my cycling was going good.Then, my nitrites went from 4-5 down to 0 one day and my ph went to 6.0ish, but my ammonia stayed at 2-4 and my nitrates stayed at 10-20. Been like that 3 days in a row. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>at 3 weeks, my cycling was going good.Then, my nitrites went from 4-5 down to 0 one day and my ph went to 6.0ish, but my ammonia stayed at 2-4 and my nitrates stayed at 10-20. Been like that 3 days in a row. Any thoughts?</p> Managing pH during start up cycling?tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2018-04-30:4778851:Topic:6502172018-04-30T16:17:40.110ZRobert Lawlesshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobertLawless
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>Just started my AP garden last week and I cant seem to keep my pH down during cycling. </p>
<p>I started out w/ water thru a dechlorinating filter into the tank that was at 7.8 pH. I added half of a bottle pH down and it seemed to bring it down for a few days but now it just keeps climbing up. I've added now a full quart bottle of pH down to my system over a week and its back up to 7.8pH. BTW, I ignored the 2% citric acid because a local guy told me he uses it all the time…</p>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>Just started my AP garden last week and I cant seem to keep my pH down during cycling. </p>
<p>I started out w/ water thru a dechlorinating filter into the tank that was at 7.8 pH. I added half of a bottle pH down and it seemed to bring it down for a few days but now it just keeps climbing up. I've added now a full quart bottle of pH down to my system over a week and its back up to 7.8pH. BTW, I ignored the 2% citric acid because a local guy told me he uses it all the time and never kills his bacteria in cycling. I also added media from a local aquaponics system to help w/ bacteria growth.</p>
<p>Anyways, at 10 days I've got 4ppm Ammonia, 0.5ppm Nitrite and 10ppm Nitrates! But my pH is still high and I'm supposed to get fish in three days.</p>
<p>I made a CHOP2 system. I have one 275 gallon fish tank, a 275 gallon sump tank (both filled) and three 4x3x1’ grow beds w/ bell siphons. I built this w/ more water capacity to expand the garden and give me a better buffer for the fish. </p>
<p>Any ideas on how to keep my pH down w/ out constantly adding a ton of pH down? Or is this normal and I should just buy another bottle and keep going? </p>
<p>Appreciate the guidance! Cheers!</p>
<p>Lawless in San Diego</p> Should I lower pH before I start cycling?tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2017-06-15:4778851:Topic:6420212017-06-15T20:44:08.042ZLoretta Uriartehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/LorettaUriarte
<p>Hi All, I'm Finally ready to start cycling. I've been testing the water daily just to get in the habit and my pH is consistently 8.2. Should I lower it before I start cycling?</p>
<p>Hi All, I'm Finally ready to start cycling. I've been testing the water daily just to get in the habit and my pH is consistently 8.2. Should I lower it before I start cycling?</p> Too much seaweed?tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-12-08:4778851:Topic:6376462016-12-08T01:11:01.465ZAlexhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Alex232
<p>So I bought the small cycling kit for my first aquaponics setup. It's a small system - 10 gallon tank. The instructions said that I could plant my plants at any point during the cycle so I bought some herbs and leafy greens and transferred them into my system. Problem is, the instructions just said to 'add the contents of the seaweed bag'. Not really thinking about the fact that the small cycling kit was for up to 100 gallons I didn't realize that this might be too much seaweed so I have…</p>
<p>So I bought the small cycling kit for my first aquaponics setup. It's a small system - 10 gallon tank. The instructions said that I could plant my plants at any point during the cycle so I bought some herbs and leafy greens and transferred them into my system. Problem is, the instructions just said to 'add the contents of the seaweed bag'. Not really thinking about the fact that the small cycling kit was for up to 100 gallons I didn't realize that this might be too much seaweed so I have a few questions:</p>
<p></p>
<ol>
<li>The instructions say that the darkness will clear after a week (it's been 3 days) - will it take much longer since my system is so small? </li>
<li>Any recommendations for getting accurate water test readings with the seaweed in there? the color is distorted so it's hard to tell my readings. Best I can tell is leaving the tubes out until the next day when some of the seaweed settles out.</li>
<li>Will too much seaweed hurt my plants and/or the cycling process?</li>
</ol>
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<p>I'm hoping I don't have to replace my water and start over.</p> My first systemtag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-07-25:4778851:Topic:6330592016-07-25T15:21:09.290ZJoshua Ellishttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JoshuaEllis
I just started my first fill and drain system. Everything seems to be working except the bell siphon. I'm using a 3/4 pvc up pipe and a 2" pvc pipe around that. I have slits cut at the bottom of the 2" pipe. It will drain when the water reaches the up pipe but the siphon won't start. Can I get some help.
I just started my first fill and drain system. Everything seems to be working except the bell siphon. I'm using a 3/4 pvc up pipe and a 2" pvc pipe around that. I have slits cut at the bottom of the 2" pipe. It will drain when the water reaches the up pipe but the siphon won't start. Can I get some help. High Nitrite problemstag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-05-05:4778851:Topic:6299272016-05-05T00:49:26.602ZHeath Lambethhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HeathLambeth
Hello I'm new to Aquaponics and still going through my cycling period. Well for two months now. I chose to do the fishless cycle. But I can not get my nitrite down. I'm running a 275 fish tank and two ibc 150 grow beds. I just recently added liquid seaweed to my system bc my plants were doing poorly I have drained and refilled three times already. Anything I can do?.<br />
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Ph: 7.9<br />
Ammonia: .25<br />
Nitrite: 5++<br />
Nitrate: 40<br />
Temp: 72
Hello I'm new to Aquaponics and still going through my cycling period. Well for two months now. I chose to do the fishless cycle. But I can not get my nitrite down. I'm running a 275 fish tank and two ibc 150 grow beds. I just recently added liquid seaweed to my system bc my plants were doing poorly I have drained and refilled three times already. Anything I can do?.<br />
<br />
Ph: 7.9<br />
Ammonia: .25<br />
Nitrite: 5++<br />
Nitrate: 40<br />
Temp: 72 No Ammonia, No Nitrite, No Nitrate, 7.4 phtag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-04-29:4778851:Topic:6292582016-04-29T20:07:01.736ZBrian Rayhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BrianRay
<p> Ok so I am working with my first AP system.</p>
<p>275 gal IBC as fish tank.</p>
<p>2' X 4' X 12" (11" media) times 2 Grow Beds.</p>
<p>2' X 4' X 10" (10" media) single bed.</p>
<p>4 air bubblers in fish tank.</p>
<p>10 constant flow terrace bucket system. (bucket half full of clay pebs, water falls in top washes pebbles exits bucket thru bottom, No Standing water ((not nft or raft))).</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>So I tried to use Murry's technique of adding water MaxiCrop 1 qt into 250 gallons…</p>
<p> Ok so I am working with my first AP system.</p>
<p>275 gal IBC as fish tank.</p>
<p>2' X 4' X 12" (11" media) times 2 Grow Beds.</p>
<p>2' X 4' X 10" (10" media) single bed.</p>
<p>4 air bubblers in fish tank.</p>
<p>10 constant flow terrace bucket system. (bucket half full of clay pebs, water falls in top washes pebbles exits bucket thru bottom, No Standing water ((not nft or raft))).</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>So I tried to use Murry's technique of adding water MaxiCrop 1 qt into 250 gallons and added plants.</p>
<p>Waited two weeks and introduced 1 catfish 2 red ear perch.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Cycling tested via API Master Freshwater, showed cycling as expected, all be it slower than expected. Water was at about 60F. Ammonia showed then subsided to the nitrite. Had an algae boom as spring started. Nitrite climb into 5ppm. One perch died. Stopped feeding and nitrite subside to nothing but no nitrate readings. (I have plants in system) Elected to add 25 small Tilapia hoping to bring my system to about 1/2 fish capacity (but fingerlings).</p>
<p></p>
<p>Now it is two weeks after adding Tilapia and I have no readings of anything (other than ph 7.2). However the fish feed almost entirely on the Algae that grows sparingly on the inside of the IBC. I cant measure intake or weight gain. Visually they appear to have put on no mass. They will not eat and half lie lethargically at the bottom of the tank while the other smaller ones stay very near the surface. The ones at the surface might be gulping air, not real obvious though seems if the just like to hang there. (have air in tank) Several fish appear to be Dying with a single Tilapia dead.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Known system possible problems.</p>
<p>Close to not being able to turn over 275 gallons in an hour. (600 gallon pump running two 15 minute intervals per hour.)</p>
<p>55 gallon sump barrel has lots of clay and general gunk in it from System (looks expected, broken clay ball, red sand etc.)</p>
<p>BLUE unidentified pool liner, lining the grow beds.</p>
<p>Tried multiple types of food to encourage fish to eat. (Excess removed*, what I could)</p>
<p></p>
<p>Any ideas or encouraging words?</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>I guess it is OK to not see the Nitrate if the plants are eating them but I fear something else is amiss. Since test are good I am leaning towards bacteria if it is a problem I can do something about. Just hesitant on salting the tank as I feel now I am blindly guessing at problems and throwing a solution at it that might be multiplying the problems.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks in Advance</p>
<p>B.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Cycling status - need some feedbacktag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-03-21:4778851:Topic:6265822016-03-21T17:53:38.770ZKhanaponicshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AslamKhan
<p></p>
<p>Some information about my IBC based system </p>
<p>Fish Tank = 175 gallons</p>
<p>Grow Bed = 80 gallons with automatic siphon working well. 1/2" tube with valve for water circulation with 300 gph pump setting. (cracking the valve half open LOL) Pump is rated for 594 gph.</p>
<p>Hydroton media</p>
<p>Air pump with 2 outlets working well.</p>
<p>Water Temp maintained at 76F with immersion water heater.</p>
<p>Chlorine already removed before putting fish in with chloramine.</p>
<p>Also…</p>
<p></p>
<p>Some information about my IBC based system </p>
<p>Fish Tank = 175 gallons</p>
<p>Grow Bed = 80 gallons with automatic siphon working well. 1/2" tube with valve for water circulation with 300 gph pump setting. (cracking the valve half open LOL) Pump is rated for 594 gph.</p>
<p>Hydroton media</p>
<p>Air pump with 2 outlets working well.</p>
<p>Water Temp maintained at 76F with immersion water heater.</p>
<p>Chlorine already removed before putting fish in with chloramine.</p>
<p>Also put API brand nitrifying bacteria 8oz.</p>
<p>All this was accomplished 2 weeks ago.</p>
<p></p>
<p>PH=8.2</p>
<p>Ammonia = 4.0</p>
<p>Nitrite = 2.0</p>
<p>Nitrate = 40</p>
<p>GoldFish are doing well - active, hungry and finish whatever little I put in within 2 minutes.</p>
<p>Additional comment - water seems clear - starting to see brown lining around the edge of the grow bed.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Nothing seems to grow - some seedlins sprouted but seems to be not growing. Put a couple of small flowering plants after washing with rain water a week ago. Seems to be withering.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I know it's driving me nuts not to see any growth. But I know patience and time needed. How long should I wait before changing anything. I don't want to make too many changes (learnt this from tuning PID controllers) for slow responding systems.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Any comments and feedback are welcome and appreciated.</p>
<p></p> 12 week cycling no nitrites/nitratestag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-03-21:4778851:Topic:6267012016-03-21T00:25:47.230ZKelly Boylehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KellyBoyle
<p>I am setting up a 2nd system and cannot get either bacteria to appear. 100L hydroton flood/drain barrel system. Fishless cycling, ammonia @ 2ppm PH keeps falling. PHdown to the rescue. Still no results for weeks. Tried boosting to 4ppm and 5ppm but still no results. Ammonia keeps falling and so does Ph. South forida system so temperatures are in the mid-70's to mid 80's. Plants are growing like crazy. tomatoes everywhere but will not turn red. Ugh! I read everywhere to just be patient these…</p>
<p>I am setting up a 2nd system and cannot get either bacteria to appear. 100L hydroton flood/drain barrel system. Fishless cycling, ammonia @ 2ppm PH keeps falling. PHdown to the rescue. Still no results for weeks. Tried boosting to 4ppm and 5ppm but still no results. Ammonia keeps falling and so does Ph. South forida system so temperatures are in the mid-70's to mid 80's. Plants are growing like crazy. tomatoes everywhere but will not turn red. Ugh! I read everywhere to just be patient these things take time. I set up the system just before new years, and still no fish. Most posts about cycling seem to be the generic instructions for cycling not too much troubleshooting. Maybe if the Nitrites showed up I wouldn't be so impatient. Anyways, I was looking for any insight anyone might have as to my situation.</p>
<p>Current PH: 6.3 Ammonia:4ppm Nitrate/Nitrite: 0ppm Temp: 77degrees</p>
<p>Got another test kit to make sure that wasn't the culprit. </p>