To filter or not to filter, that is the question... - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T08:20:34Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/to-filter-or-not-to-filter-that-is-the-question?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A624041&feed=yes&xn_auth=noOkay, so I'm coming at this m…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-09:4778851:Comment:6240432016-02-09T22:37:56.131ZCris Meekshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CrisMeeks
<p>Okay, so I'm coming at this more from the aquaculture side (and as a practicing veterinarian) and there are some species such as tilapia & bettas that can tolerate more nitrates than others but the key word here is "tolerate". Nitrate levels over 50 ppms can damage kidneys, liver, nervous & immune systems. It reduces the slime coat that helps the fish ward off infections & impairs what immune response it can make when that infection gets through. It will kill invertebrates…</p>
<p>Okay, so I'm coming at this more from the aquaculture side (and as a practicing veterinarian) and there are some species such as tilapia & bettas that can tolerate more nitrates than others but the key word here is "tolerate". Nitrate levels over 50 ppms can damage kidneys, liver, nervous & immune systems. It reduces the slime coat that helps the fish ward off infections & impairs what immune response it can make when that infection gets through. It will kill invertebrates like crawfish, snails & shrimp pretty much outright. Don't let anybody tell you that nitrates don't affect fish...it's just not true.<br/> <br/> <cite>Jeff S said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/to-filter-or-not-to-filter-that-is-the-question?xg_source=activity&id=4778851%3ATopic%3A623159&page=1#4778851Comment624042"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Nitrates don't particularly affect the fish, or so I've been told. Mine seem OK. </p>
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</blockquote> Thanks for the clarification…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-09:4778851:Comment:6239332016-02-09T21:53:07.422ZCris Meekshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CrisMeeks
<p>Thanks for the clarification George. That would be pretty easy to accomplish with something like a swirl filter in a larger system. Right now my largest is a 30 gallon & I'm thinking something like a canister poly pad to handle the job. I'm curious to find out if Jeff S' smaller systems are filtered. It makes sense that the higher the stocking rate and the larger the system the more impact that filtering would have.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>George said:…</cite></p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification George. That would be pretty easy to accomplish with something like a swirl filter in a larger system. Right now my largest is a 30 gallon & I'm thinking something like a canister poly pad to handle the job. I'm curious to find out if Jeff S' smaller systems are filtered. It makes sense that the higher the stocking rate and the larger the system the more impact that filtering would have.<br/> <br/> <cite>George said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/to-filter-or-not-to-filter-that-is-the-question?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A623836&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment623836"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>When solids are removed post fish tank, they contain nutrients. Sometimes those solids are drained to another container and aerated, then allowed to settle and the water is pumped or drained back to the aquaponics system. This is referred to as mineralisation. It's a way of removing the nutrients from the solids and keeping them in the system. </p>
<p>Usually, the solids are drained off the filter and used in soil gardening, especially if the system is heavily stocked and has a nitrogen surplus. In this situation, there is no concern for keeping all of the nutrients in the system. </p>
<p>However, when a system is new or lightly stocked, it's important to keep the nutrients in the system.</p>
<p><br/> <cite>Cris Meeks said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/to-filter-or-not-to-filter-that-is-the-question#4778851Comment623714"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>please explain what you mean by a "mineralisation step"?<br/> <br/> <cite><br/></cite></p>
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</blockquote> Nitrates don't particularly a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-09:4778851:Comment:6240422016-02-09T21:39:05.717ZJeff Shttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffSullivan
<p>Nitrates don't particularly affect the fish, or so I've been told. Mine seem OK. While water changes shouldn't be necessary with aquaponics when water levels are questionable I don't waste water but use it on compost bins and soil gardens. I should just add more plants and less fish.</p>
<p>Nitrates don't particularly affect the fish, or so I've been told. Mine seem OK. While water changes shouldn't be necessary with aquaponics when water levels are questionable I don't waste water but use it on compost bins and soil gardens. I should just add more plants and less fish.</p> Jeff, I've seen several comme…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-09:4778851:Comment:6240412016-02-09T21:22:21.961ZCris Meekshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CrisMeeks
<p>Jeff, I've seen several comments like yours referring to high nitrate levels in their tanks. I've always felt that any level over 20 ppm is unacceptable for a healthy fish tank. I don't hear about water changes very often in this community but I just joined up. I realize that most of the time you are dealing with very large tanks & that the idea is for the plants to consume the nitrates but when they are not doing that wouldn't you want to take steps to protect the fish and bring down…</p>
<p>Jeff, I've seen several comments like yours referring to high nitrate levels in their tanks. I've always felt that any level over 20 ppm is unacceptable for a healthy fish tank. I don't hear about water changes very often in this community but I just joined up. I realize that most of the time you are dealing with very large tanks & that the idea is for the plants to consume the nitrates but when they are not doing that wouldn't you want to take steps to protect the fish and bring down the nitrates? <br/> <br/> <cite>Jeff S said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/to-filter-or-not-to-filter-that-is-the-question?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A623836&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment624021"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I have a 600 gal., (2) 45 gal., and a 100gal systems. The large one has 2 IBC (3 1/2 x 4') grow beds. I also have a swirl filter pre GB to take out a lot of the solids mainly because the tank is very heavily stocked with fish. The worms do a great job breaking down the solids. My nitrates are real high because of low plant count.</p>
<p>I recently cleaned my smaller systems and had no solids build up so I assume the larger beds are the same. The 2 smaller systems have cloudy water and the larger ones are clear. I attribute this to not having any plants in the smaller systems to absorb the nutrients but I'm only guessing.</p>
<p>I also have worm bins that I intend to empty into my soil garden this spring because I've found nothing that grows worms like an aquaponics grow bed. I can easily remove worms from the GBs any time I like. </p>
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</blockquote> When solids are removed post…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-09:4778851:Comment:6238362016-02-09T03:34:41.282ZGeorgehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Geoge
<p>When solids are removed post fish tank, they contain nutrients. Sometimes those solids are drained to another container and aerated, then allowed to settle and the water is pumped or drained back to the aquaponics system. This is referred to as mineralisation. It's a way of removing the nutrients from the solids and keeping them in the system. </p>
<p>Usually, the solids are drained off the filter and used in soil gardening, especially if the system is heavily stocked and has a nitrogen…</p>
<p>When solids are removed post fish tank, they contain nutrients. Sometimes those solids are drained to another container and aerated, then allowed to settle and the water is pumped or drained back to the aquaponics system. This is referred to as mineralisation. It's a way of removing the nutrients from the solids and keeping them in the system. </p>
<p>Usually, the solids are drained off the filter and used in soil gardening, especially if the system is heavily stocked and has a nitrogen surplus. In this situation, there is no concern for keeping all of the nutrients in the system. </p>
<p>However, when a system is new or lightly stocked, it's important to keep the nutrients in the system.</p>
<p><br/> <cite>Cris Meeks said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/to-filter-or-not-to-filter-that-is-the-question#4778851Comment623714"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>please explain what you mean by a "mineralisation step"?<br/> <br/> <cite><br/></cite></p>
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</blockquote> I have a 600 gal., (2) 45 gal…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-09:4778851:Comment:6240212016-02-09T01:25:17.862ZJeff Shttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffSullivan
<p>I have a 600 gal., (2) 45 gal., and a 100gal systems. The large one has 2 IBC (3 1/2 x 4') grow beds. I also have a swirl filter pre GB to take out a lot of the solids mainly because the tank is very heavily stocked with fish. The worms do a great job breaking down the solids. My nitrates are real high because of low plant count.</p>
<p>I recently cleaned my smaller systems and had no solids build up so I assume the larger beds are the same. The 2 smaller systems have cloudy water and the…</p>
<p>I have a 600 gal., (2) 45 gal., and a 100gal systems. The large one has 2 IBC (3 1/2 x 4') grow beds. I also have a swirl filter pre GB to take out a lot of the solids mainly because the tank is very heavily stocked with fish. The worms do a great job breaking down the solids. My nitrates are real high because of low plant count.</p>
<p>I recently cleaned my smaller systems and had no solids build up so I assume the larger beds are the same. The 2 smaller systems have cloudy water and the larger ones are clear. I attribute this to not having any plants in the smaller systems to absorb the nutrients but I'm only guessing.</p>
<p>I also have worm bins that I intend to empty into my soil garden this spring because I've found nothing that grows worms like an aquaponics grow bed. I can easily remove worms from the GBs any time I like. </p> Thanks for the info George. …tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-08:4778851:Comment:6237142016-02-08T17:41:49.288ZCris Meekshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CrisMeeks
<p>Thanks for the info George. After years of cleaning fish tanks I have to admit that this was sounding just way too good to be true. Can you please explain what you mean by a "mineralisation step"?<br></br> <br></br> <cite>George said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/to-filter-or-not-to-filter-that-is-the-question?xg_source=activity#4778851Comment623810"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I've run a media system with composting worms for five…</p>
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<p>Thanks for the info George. After years of cleaning fish tanks I have to admit that this was sounding just way too good to be true. Can you please explain what you mean by a "mineralisation step"?<br/> <br/> <cite>George said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/to-filter-or-not-to-filter-that-is-the-question?xg_source=activity#4778851Comment623810"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I've run a media system with composting worms for five years and have decided to add a radial flow filter, simply to capture the minute solids which remain suspended in the system. Also, solids build up in media beds and rafts and I've noticed that many who start with no filtering other than media, later add mechanical filtering - see Bigelow Brook Farm as one example, where the flow was from media to DWC and solids were building up in the raft.</p>
<p>Those planning a new system may as well design in mechanical filtering, if they have room Any nutrients removed by mechanical filtering can be added back in, if you wish, with a mineralisation step.</p>
<p>Chris, good luck</p>
<p>Don - NFT = Nutrient Film Technique.</p>
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</blockquote> George,
I stand corrected. I…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-08:4778851:Comment:6238212016-02-08T14:47:52.385ZDon Colehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DonCole
<p>George,</p>
<p>I stand corrected. I did google the acronym before I posted but google isnt always correct either.</p>
<p>"It was on the internet so it must be true. ;-)"</p>
<p>George,</p>
<p>I stand corrected. I did google the acronym before I posted but google isnt always correct either.</p>
<p>"It was on the internet so it must be true. ;-)"</p> I've run a media system with…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-08:4778851:Comment:6238102016-02-08T02:15:06.488ZGeorgehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Geoge
<p>I've run a media system with composting worms for five years and have decided to add a radial flow filter, simply to capture the minute solids which remain suspended in the system. Also, solids build up in media beds and rafts and I've noticed that many who start with no filtering other than media, later add mechanical filtering - see Bigelow Brook Farm as one example, where the flow was from media to DWC and solids were building up in the raft.</p>
<p>Those planning a new system may as…</p>
<p>I've run a media system with composting worms for five years and have decided to add a radial flow filter, simply to capture the minute solids which remain suspended in the system. Also, solids build up in media beds and rafts and I've noticed that many who start with no filtering other than media, later add mechanical filtering - see Bigelow Brook Farm as one example, where the flow was from media to DWC and solids were building up in the raft.</p>
<p>Those planning a new system may as well design in mechanical filtering, if they have room Any nutrients removed by mechanical filtering can be added back in, if you wish, with a mineralisation step.</p>
<p>Chris, good luck</p>
<p>Don - NFT = Nutrient Film Technique.</p> Yes, I have two systems curre…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-03:4778851:Comment:6230722016-02-03T21:06:46.134ZDon Colehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DonCole
<p>Yes, I have two systems currently one very small 50 gal FT and one 900 gal. FT. I have worms in the small one that have been there for about 5 months. No real noticiable difference at this time with the plants. No worms in the larger one yet as it has only been on line for about a month and a half. I am raising tilapia (30) about 6" long at this point.</p>
<p>Yes, I have two systems currently one very small 50 gal FT and one 900 gal. FT. I have worms in the small one that have been there for about 5 months. No real noticiable difference at this time with the plants. No worms in the larger one yet as it has only been on line for about a month and a half. I am raising tilapia (30) about 6" long at this point.</p>