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Comment by Matt Miskinnis on April 29, 2013 at 8:21pm

Got a question regarding water testing and Nitrite/Nitrate production.  Background:  I have a fully cycled system and I have added about 30 fish (average goldfish size).  I am using a 275 IBC tank for the fishtank and have two growbeds 4x4.  For the past few days I have been testing the water twice a day - morning and evening.  Since the fish aren't that big, I have been adding ammonia still (cap full).  I have noticed in the past couple days that in the morning, I'm at zero on all my readings (even ammonia - the fish aren't that big).  I'll add the cap full of ammonia go to work and then test again, now for the past 3-4 days I have noticed my readings are back to zero when I get home from work (8-9 hours).  I guess my question is, is my system with all the plants just eating up all nitrates that the system can produce?  The plants are healthy and fruiting but it's just tripping me out that I can go from adding ammonia to having zero readings in an 8 hour period.  Today, I actually added another cup full of ammonia when I got home from work and saw the the readings are zero again.  I guess my question is, is my system just chugging away and waiting for my fish to get bigger so the ammonia/nitrate/nitrite ratio even's out?  I'm just puzzled if anyone else has had a system that has done this.... 

Comment by Jim Fisk on April 29, 2013 at 7:00am

Here's a starting point at least for nitrates. Not much out there. 250.00 range for nitrates HERE

DO's start about there and go well over 1000.00.

Comment by Jim Fisk on April 29, 2013 at 6:40am

Hi Randy, Mary made that clear but Matt did not and Bob seems to be talking about API style as well as no aquarium shop I know of has 1000.00 meters as many of the reliable electronic meters are in that price range. Most are junk that would be in my price range. I go to Ebay, do a search and set up an automatic search that will email you if one comes up for auction. Otherwise get out the FAT ck book Like I've posted before I got a used DO meter that way for 45.00. A steal.

Comment by randy proctor on April 29, 2013 at 6:26am

Jim, I think the discussion was about "ELECTRONIC" digital water test instruments, that you stick in the water that gives you a readout of what your water quality is, if I am not mistaken.  Thanks, Matt for your input.  Maybe "SOMEONE" can invent a nitrate/nitrite/ammonia ELECTRONIC digital meter.  These meters would help if you have alot of systems.  That way you do not have to mess with test tubes and chemicals to get your perimeters.

Comment by Jim Fisk on April 29, 2013 at 6:07am

Matt, you can purchase the kit right here from Sylvia and support our forum. Her staff ships fast and her price is good.

Moderator Comment by Bob Terrell on April 28, 2013 at 7:20pm

Matt, any aquarium shop, pet store, (petsmart) and even online, search for water tst kits

Comment by Matt Rosso on April 28, 2013 at 6:20pm

Thank you all for sharing your experience. obviously there are test kits for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates..  I have looked for sometime now (yrs)  I've never found one. If anyone has a source for this, that would really help. again thanks

Comment by Robert Rowe on April 28, 2013 at 2:27pm

@Comment by Fabrizio Borrello

I am just curious. Do you know how much discharge you lost on the recycle of your RO System?

Your results look great to me except I am not familiar with norms for FE and NO4

Comment by mary proctor on April 28, 2013 at 1:48pm

we are looking for electronic testing meters for nitrite/nitrates also for Ammonia testers.  we have just bought an PH tester. We have the liquid master testers already.  We would like to find a reasonable priced combination electronic tester for the above, or if needed to get at a lower price individual electronic testers.  Also what their official names are?  We looked on E-Bay and found the PH tester but didin't know what to ask for the others. Would appreciate any help out there!  Mary

Comment by Fabrizio Borrello on April 28, 2013 at 11:12am

Hello everyone, I just set up my indoor aquaponics system.

Today I saw for the first time Nitrites to appear and almost in the same time the Nitrates go up to 20 ppm. This must be the sign that the system is 100% working, the Nitro-cycle is started.

As you can see in the link I posted above, I'm using LED lamps to provide almost 24 hours of continue light to my seeds, sprouts and little plants.

I'm feeding my gold fishes three times a day.

I added a CO2 supplier made with a glass container, where yeasts produce Carbon Dioxide, from here the gas is send to the venturi aerator.

My next step will be to produce compost tea, in this way I hope to be able providing all the elements necessaries to feed properly all my veggies.

I use lava rocks as growing media and I still have some issue to keep the Ph in the good range (6.8-7.0). In fact it tends to rise to 7.5.

The system started to cycle almost 2 weeks ago.

Do you know if this is normal?

I can see trace of mould around the tiny roots of my plants, what's wrong with them?

This is my last water analysis result:

Ph 6.8

NH4 1ppm

NO2 5ppm

NO3 20ppm

Fe 0.5ppm

PO4 1ppm

I'm using water supplied by my home osmosis system.

Could you please tell me if all is going well?

Thank you for your kind attention and your help and any further comment.

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