New system started from a newbe

[Gabriele Barocci]

Hello guys,

first off all i don't have any practical experience in Aquaponics:

Before starting testing the water i run the system for tree days.

No fish in the tank (18G)

day 1 after the test i added some liquid ammonia 

day 2 after the test i added "Cycle" to start the cycle (added for three days)

what do you think?

thanks fo your help

Gabriele

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Wait until your nitrite levels go back to zero before adding more ammonia to continue testing. The time that you add ammonia to the time you end up with zero nitrites should be 24 hours before you add fish. At least that is the rule of thumb. I must say that I didn't wait that long because I initially stocked a 100L tank with 3 small goldfish and my system was processing the ammonia in 36 hours.

[Gabriele Barocci]

thanks Jonathan,

but actually the nitrite have been at zero since i began.

Jonathan Kadish said:

Wait until your nitrite levels go back to zero before adding more ammonia to continue testing. The time that you add ammonia to the time you end up with zero nitrites should be 24 hours before you add fish. At least that is the rule of thumb. I must say that I didn't wait that long because I initially stocked a 100L tank with 3 small goldfish and my system was processing the ammonia in 36 hours.

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Ok, miss read the chart, you are showing nitrates which may have come from your bottle of "Cycle. Don't be surprised if it takes a while for the nitrites to show up... took me 40 days, but for most it takes about 3 weeks. The mistake i made was that I was running my system on a timer so it was only on for 7 minutes an hour. On day 35 I ran continuously. Our small systems have more variance in how things go. Just grab yourself a bottle of patience and lets life take its sweet time.

[Gabriele Barocci]

thanks

what bout the PH, looks like is high?

gabriele

[Wil Miles]

Hey Gabe i am by no means a pro in anyway as of aquaponics but im about to start a 1100 gl system my supply water s hard and ph around 8. im just going to fill this pool dump half gallon of muratic acid let it cycle for 4 days then start checking water if its anywhere near anything i like i will just dump 30 gold fish let them cycle it for a few weeks then get them out settle the water and add my tilapia but thats just me im hard core just get it up ,also thats with no fish.but its just a thought figured id add my 2 cents see how others would do it love learning new tech

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I've been told that PH is not a major inhibitor for the bacteria. As they process the ammonia they will naturally cause the PH to fall. Since my system cycled I have to buffer (raise) the PH every other day. Will, your fish will like the high PH although plants won't like it. At about 7.5 and above certain minerals get locked out and plants cant use them. That is why we want to achieve an equilibrium of about 7

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Guys I'd really like to suggest NOT (lowering) adjusting your pH during or before cycling. It's actually pretty counter productive. Unless you have pure liquid rock for water :)

@Wil..there is no reason to lower your pH  from 8 whether you are cycling with fish, or fishless. The bacteria really dig the higher pH and will probably colonize easier/faster at a pH 8, than a more acidic one. The fish dig it too.  And by the time your done cycling your pH will be declining on it's own, and like Johnathon and everyone else, you'll then need to buffer it back UP every once in a while. 

You need to understand that there is a HUGE difference in what is going on and in a cycling system, and what is going on in one that has cycled, established a working biofilter and running. 

[Gabriele Barocci]

hello guys thanks for your help, 

i upgraded the chart with the last 2 days

so i understand the high Ph is not an issue at the moment,

what about the other test?

ammonia: should i add some or is fine?

nitrite?

nitrate?

do you think they are "normal"?

thanks a lot

Gabriele

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Gabe, if I'm reading your chart correctly your ammonia is at 1ppm, yes?. IMHO, that's fine, but you might want to go up to anywhere between 2ppm and 4ppm. At any rate try to keep it below 6ppm as you may start to create an environment which could inhibit (toxic) the bacteria that you are trying to establish.

Everything appears to me to be about where it should be at this point. Other than of course the fact that you already have nitrates, but I'm guessing that is because you added your 'cycling' product. Don't expect that product to actually do a whole lot...just be patient...and keep everything running constantly 24/7. 

[Gabriele Barocci]

this is the chart updated,

yesterday :

I added some ammonia to the system as Vlad told me, now i'm at 2ppm... i will add a little bit more today to reach 3 or 4 ppm.

I added hydroton to the thank almost a gallon , hopefully i will create a better environment for the bacteria.

water temp is around 17.5 Celsius

please add comment if you feel 

thanks 

Gabriele

 

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Hi Gabriele,

If you have some way to get the water temperature somewhere between 25-30 Celsius, that would help alot  to establish your bacteria colony quicker. They are about less than half as active at your temp (well according to conventional wisdom anyways) and may be quite slow to establish. One of those cheap glass aquarium heaters should do fine for a system that size. Just run all your air pumps and water pumps constantly, and if you can get the temperature higher it should help. 2ppm-3ppm ammonia is probably a really good sweet spot IMO. 

Good luck.

[Gabriele Barocci]

Day 9:

yesterday i added some liquid ammonia ,but i cannot see on the test today.

i added an heater , now the water temperature is around 25 Celsius

no nitrite yet.

the system is running 24/7.

thank for the help

Gab