Water levels

[Michael sanders]

I looked around the net today looking for real answers for water conditions for an aquaponics system.  I really did not find anything that I needed so I am going to ask the experts here.  I am sorry if it has already been answered. I have about 300 gallons and 35 1.5lbs tolopia, and about 120 fingerlings. I have checked the levels and they are the following:

Ammonia: .6
PH: 7
Nitrite: .5
Nitrate: 30
Temp: 68

I have (2) grow beds, (1) 4x5 by 10inch high, and (1) 4x7 by 10 inch high


I have seen that some say this these levels are fine, but really... what does it mean????


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[TCLynx]

Yea, like Rupe said.

About the only thing that really bugs me about having nitrates over 40 ppm is that I just can't read the results accurately if it is 40 or above so I can't tell if it's 80 or 1800, it just all looks the same to me. So to avoid having to run occasional dilution tests, I would like it if I could keep my nitrates down below 30 ppm just for readability sake.

[Michael sanders]

Ok come back down to the newbe world. in 3rd grade english, what told you that the fish fry is necessary?



Sylvia Bernstein said:

Well, I am convinced that I should stop worrying about Nitrates. You guys have made a convincing argument - thanks for enlightening me ;-). OK Mike, no more worrying about your system, except the need for that fish fry.

[Sylvia Bernstein]

We are concerned about the stocking levels for your tank. Ultimately you are looking for about a pound of fish for every 5 gallons of water or about 60 lbs of fish. You are at 52.5 lbs with the mature (1.5 lb) fish you have, and you have a young bio-filter so I would want you to stay there for a while...but you said you now have 120 fingerlings in there as well. If you harvest your mature fish you will get down into a stocking density range that is much easier to manage.