Cycling status - need some feedback - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T04:48:16Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?feed=yes&xn_auth=noUpdate April 27, 2016.
System…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-04-27:4778851:Comment:6292382016-04-27T21:52:18.136ZKhanaponicshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AslamKhan
<p>Update April 27, 2016.</p>
<p>System running on all cylinders. Lone Catfish survived. Goldfish all fine.</p>
<p>Grown tomato, lettuce, hot pepper, cauliflower, eggplant, strawberries, cucumber, mint, and coriander.</p>
<p>Added some iron chelate as new leaves were turning yellow.</p>
<p>Now I can't check PH with regeant from API. Have to buy a PH tester.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Once the system cycles, life gets easier for sure. LOL.</p>
<p>Update April 27, 2016.</p>
<p>System running on all cylinders. Lone Catfish survived. Goldfish all fine.</p>
<p>Grown tomato, lettuce, hot pepper, cauliflower, eggplant, strawberries, cucumber, mint, and coriander.</p>
<p>Added some iron chelate as new leaves were turning yellow.</p>
<p>Now I can't check PH with regeant from API. Have to buy a PH tester.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Once the system cycles, life gets easier for sure. LOL.</p> Status update - April 10, 201…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-04-10:4778851:Comment:6281962016-04-10T12:21:57.000ZKhanaponicshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AslamKhan
<p>Status update - April 10, 2016.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Yayy! I think my system has completed the proverbial and mystical "cycling". LOL.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Nitrite(almost zero) and nitrate around 40. Ammonia around zero.</p>
<p>Pesky pH still 7.8 - had prematurely dozed system with potassium bicarbonate and KH arund 14. Yeah insert newbie joke.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But overall plants growing well and fish doing great. Trying to slowly reduce pH by adding 30ml of 29% phosphoric acid daily to 110 gallon fish…</p>
<p>Status update - April 10, 2016.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Yayy! I think my system has completed the proverbial and mystical "cycling". LOL.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Nitrite(almost zero) and nitrate around 40. Ammonia around zero.</p>
<p>Pesky pH still 7.8 - had prematurely dozed system with potassium bicarbonate and KH arund 14. Yeah insert newbie joke.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But overall plants growing well and fish doing great. Trying to slowly reduce pH by adding 30ml of 29% phosphoric acid daily to 110 gallon fish tank level.</p>
<p></p>
<p>No complains - system seems healthy - algae showing up a little.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Just a BIG THANK YOU to ALL who answered questions and supported me.</p>
<p>Again a healthy dose of gratitude from me.</p> George said:
If you don't m…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-04-03:4778851:Comment:6277652016-04-03T15:34:26.748ZCris Meekshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CrisMeeks
<p><br></br> <br></br> <cite>George said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A627969&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment627969"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>If you don't mind, how does a sponge filter add oxygen to a system?<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Cris Meeks said:…</cite></p>
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<p><br/> <br/> <cite>George said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A627969&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment627969"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>If you don't mind, how does a sponge filter add oxygen to a system?<br/> <br/> <cite>Cris Meeks said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A626582&page=2#4778851Comment627862"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A627839&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment627846"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Seeing as how you run a sponge filter using an air pump you kind of have to add O2 to the water when you use one. It's just basically an air stone wrapped in a sponge. It uses the Venturi principal to pull water thru the sponge & filters it producing a bunch of bubbles in the process. They are excellent bio media & can be moved into a new tank to cycle almost immediately. You can get them in varying sizes up to (I think) a 200 gallon size & they're very easy maintenance. I've never used one in a really heavily stocked tank but with normal stocking rates you just put them in & forget them for a few months, then just rinse them out & forget them again. </p>
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</blockquote> If you don't mind, how does a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-04-03:4778851:Comment:6279692016-04-03T01:07:56.569ZGeorgehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Geoge
<p>If you don't mind, how does a sponge filter add oxygen to a system?<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Cris Meeks said:…</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A626582&page=2#4778851Comment627862"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"></div>
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<p>If you don't mind, how does a sponge filter add oxygen to a system?<br/> <br/> <cite>Cris Meeks said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A626582&page=2#4778851Comment627862"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A627839&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment627846"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>a sponge filter is an excellent backup that adds oxygen to the system. T</p>
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You shouldn't…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-04-02:4778851:Comment:6278622016-04-02T23:45:05.644ZCris Meekshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CrisMeeks
<p><br></br> <br></br> <cite>George said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A627839&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment627846"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>You shouldn't need a sponge filter anywhere in your system. </p>
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<p>I disagree George, a sponge filter is an excellent backup that adds oxygen to the system. They're old school (so am I) and very reliable. All they do…</p>
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<p><br/> <br/> <cite>George said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A627839&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment627846"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>You shouldn't need a sponge filter anywhere in your system. </p>
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<p>I disagree George, a sponge filter is an excellent backup that adds oxygen to the system. They're old school (so am I) and very reliable. All they do is take up some extra space, I've got one in each of my tanks. Khanaponics, in my opinion, you're right on to include it.</p>
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</blockquote> Sponge filter - it is piece o…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-04-02:4778851:Comment:6277462016-04-02T11:32:10.473ZKhanaponicshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AslamKhan
<p>Sponge filter - it is piece of foam filter and I call it the sponge filter. $3 in walmart on sale. LOL.</p>
<p>I wanted to get the bateria happy. Also in Arkansas the temperature seems to be fluctuatng a lot. Withion one wieek we have seen a high on 81 and a low of 41. Just want to keep the temp stable. Once system is cycled completely - I will use it for winter time only.</p>
<p>Thanks George for your comments.</p>
<p></p>
<p>System update:</p>
<p>All the catfish are gone. All goldish are…</p>
<p>Sponge filter - it is piece of foam filter and I call it the sponge filter. $3 in walmart on sale. LOL.</p>
<p>I wanted to get the bateria happy. Also in Arkansas the temperature seems to be fluctuatng a lot. Withion one wieek we have seen a high on 81 and a low of 41. Just want to keep the temp stable. Once system is cycled completely - I will use it for winter time only.</p>
<p>Thanks George for your comments.</p>
<p></p>
<p>System update:</p>
<p>All the catfish are gone. All goldish are good. water is yellow, all seems good - plants doing well. Lettuce was sorta limping now blooming good.</p> You shouldn't need a sponge f…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-04-01:4778851:Comment:6278462016-04-01T22:54:34.718ZGeorgehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Geoge
<p>You shouldn't need a sponge filter anywhere in your system. </p>
<p>The bacteria which consume nitrite take longer to establish than those which feed on ammonia. as you are experiencing.</p>
<p>You did well to build a system with twice as much media as water in tank. Once cycled, you probably won't have much to monitor much, other than PH.</p>
<p>Do goldfish need water that warm? Heating water is expensive.</p>
<p>You shouldn't need a sponge filter anywhere in your system. </p>
<p>The bacteria which consume nitrite take longer to establish than those which feed on ammonia. as you are experiencing.</p>
<p>You did well to build a system with twice as much media as water in tank. Once cycled, you probably won't have much to monitor much, other than PH.</p>
<p>Do goldfish need water that warm? Heating water is expensive.</p> Update on April 1, 2016. All…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-04-01:4778851:Comment:6278392016-04-01T15:24:32.536ZKhanaponicshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AslamKhan
<p>Update on April 1, 2016. All test results using API test kists</p>
<p>1. Nitrite stays high between 2-5 on the API test</p>
<p>2. Ammonia is around 0.25</p>
<p>3. PH around 7.8</p>
<p>4. Starting to see algae on the sponge filter. Good sign I guess. Tank water color is yellowish. </p>
<p>5. Put in few plants, tomato, strawberry pepper and lettuce. Growing well. Nitrate now dropped from 80 to 20.</p>
<p>6. Temp = 74 maintained with heater.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Catfish still dying about 1 a day.…</p>
<p>Update on April 1, 2016. All test results using API test kists</p>
<p>1. Nitrite stays high between 2-5 on the API test</p>
<p>2. Ammonia is around 0.25</p>
<p>3. PH around 7.8</p>
<p>4. Starting to see algae on the sponge filter. Good sign I guess. Tank water color is yellowish. </p>
<p>5. Put in few plants, tomato, strawberry pepper and lettuce. Growing well. Nitrate now dropped from 80 to 20.</p>
<p>6. Temp = 74 maintained with heater.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Catfish still dying about 1 a day. Goldfish healthy. </p>
<p>Comments appreciated!</p> OK - 15 catfish became floate…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-03-28:4778851:Comment:6270732016-03-28T23:43:12.175ZKhanaponicshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AslamKhan
<p>OK - 15 catfish became floaters.</p>
<p>ph=7.8</p>
<p>ammonia - 0</p>
<p>nitrite - 2.0</p>
<p>nitrate - 80</p>
<p>kh=10</p>
<p>gh=7</p>
<p>temp - 74</p>
<p>i guess - I am following the typical cyling curve where the mmonia is close to zero and nitrie and nitrite are up.</p>
<p>At least plants are not withering away. Starting to lower ph slightly 7.8 down 0.2.</p>
<p>will slowly bring it down over a week around 7.2.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Hopefully remaining catfish…</p>
<p>OK - 15 catfish became floaters.</p>
<p>ph=7.8</p>
<p>ammonia - 0</p>
<p>nitrite - 2.0</p>
<p>nitrate - 80</p>
<p>kh=10</p>
<p>gh=7</p>
<p>temp - 74</p>
<p>i guess - I am following the typical cyling curve where the mmonia is close to zero and nitrie and nitrite are up.</p>
<p>At least plants are not withering away. Starting to lower ph slightly 7.8 down 0.2.</p>
<p>will slowly bring it down over a week around 7.2.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Hopefully remaining catfish survive.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Ciao.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks to all for gcing feedback and support.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> There were a couple of surviv…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-03-28:4778851:Comment:6271232016-03-28T02:02:53.301ZGeorgehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Geoge
<p>There were a couple of surviving catfish but I eventually killed them by setting a timer wrong (10 seconds on instead of 10 minutes per hour). Very simple mistakes can kill fish. My third fish kill was in my fifth year of aquaponics this recent winter when I stopped pumping to media beds at night in an effort to retain warmer water in my fish tank, which is in the ground. I also stopped my air lift at night so no pumping or aerating was being done at night. I thought it would be ok…</p>
<p>There were a couple of surviving catfish but I eventually killed them by setting a timer wrong (10 seconds on instead of 10 minutes per hour). Very simple mistakes can kill fish. My third fish kill was in my fifth year of aquaponics this recent winter when I stopped pumping to media beds at night in an effort to retain warmer water in my fish tank, which is in the ground. I also stopped my air lift at night so no pumping or aerating was being done at night. I thought it would be ok because the fish were on the bottom at night and inactive. Wrong. All of the bluegill and largemouth bass died but the tilapia all survived. What I didn't think through that time was nitrifying bacteria cover every surface in the tank and also consume oxygen - it's not just the fish which consume oxygen. Anyway, good luck and when you make changes, be careful.<br/> <br/> <cite>Khanaponics said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-status-need-some-feedback?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A626582&page=2#4778851Comment626980"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Thanks George - it gives me some sense of comfort knowing that i am following the footsteps of people who walked the path ahead of me.<br/></p>
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