Comment

Comment by John Malone on January 1, 2013 at 9:20pm

@Matt,

You need to buy an API Freshwater Master Test Kit so that you can know what it going on in your water.  You and the Test Kit are going to become very good friends over the next 6 months.   Without testing, you have no idea what is going on in your system.  This is important both during your fishless cycle and then after you add fish.

Opinions vary, but I'd recommend dosing your water so that you have 4ppm of ammonia.  From my experience I think you've gone way over that.   I have a 600 gallon system and only needed 1/3 cup to dose to 4ppm.   You've got about 1/2 the volume of water and have dosed three times as much (8oz = 1 cup), so my guess is that your ammonia reading is off the charts.   The only way to know is to get a test kit and find out.  You may have to dump out a lot of your water to get it down to a reasonable amount.

Some people say that having too high a concentration of ammonia slows the cycling process.   I put in way too much to start with also and my system was cycled in 30 days.   The cold weather is going to slow the process down too, as the bacteria like it a lot warmer.   

I'd recommend that you read the following links carefully.  They're not solid gold, but for a beginner they're pretty close:

AP Rules of Thumb

Fishless Cycling

Now is also the time to get your pH under control.  If you are like everyone else in the Phoenix area you will have very hard water with a pH in the mid 8s.   Buy some muriatic acid, also known as swimming pool acid, and dose the system with 1/2 cup a day until the pH comes down to 7 or just below.    pH takes a while to settle after dosing with acid, so wait for 1/2 a day after you've dosed to test the water so that your readings are accurate.   It will seem that you're not getting anywhere for a while, but be patient and keep dosing.  As soon as the pH starts to move be very careful on your dosing amounts so that you don't overshoot the target of 7.   

There's a couple of pointers.  There's lots to learn, but it doesn't happen in a hurry so you've got time to pick it up.

Congratulations on getting your system together and have fun.

P.S.  Cycling a system has GOT to be one of the most patience testing experiences I've ever been through.   

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on January 1, 2013 at 6:01pm

Hey John thanks for the tip on the Ammonia, I have an ACE a few blocks away from me and was able to pick some up yesterday.  I wanted to let everyone know I'm starting my journey  , got my two leaks fixed and added 8oz of Ammonia to the system.  I wasn't sure how much to add so went the conservative route.  Anyone have an opinion on how much I should be adding?  The fish tank is 175 gallons and the sump tank is a 100 gallons, I want to make sure I'm not going to slow (or to fast).  

Thanks for the tips on the fish to tank ratio that has really helped.  Like everyone who does this hobby, I plan on expanding when I know I can keep the system up and running. I was thinking of doing vertical towers - those things are so cool! 

Comment by John Malone on December 31, 2012 at 9:21am

@Matt
The fish stocking limit is ALWAYS dependent on how much filtering capacity you've got. If you want more fish you'll need more filtering capacity, and so starts the continual addition of grow beds to your system...

Comment by John Malone on December 31, 2012 at 9:16am

@Matt
The only ammonia I could find in the stores that was pure ammonia without surfactants or additives was from Ace Hardware. See this link: http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1272325
As to how many fish, I'd recommend approx 1 fish per square foot of grow area, which is probably conservative, but since you are just starting out and don't have any plants yet, conservative is where you want to be. In your case, with 16 square feet of grow bed, I'd recommend 15 fish and no more than 20.
Others will have different opinions, but 15 fish will produce more than enough fertilizer for your plants and shouldn't overtax your biofilter.

Comment by Bob Campbell on December 31, 2012 at 9:01am

@Kris Pauly - I built my first AP system about a year ago.  When I built my second system I thought I had it all figured out.  It sounds like you have ambitious plans, so I would advise you to go slow. What I have learned from my first two systems has made me want to start all over.

For example my ambition to grow out of season crops has proven possible but expensive. I have experimented with four different media each time convinced I had found the best. I'm raising a variety of fish and now wish to go fishless.  I've built two different light systems two green houses I still find myself redesigning my ideal greenhouse, but I'm running out of room.

You may be one of those people that gets everything right from the beginning, but there are so many ways of doing AP that it takes time to find what works best for you.  

Green house design is probably the most difficult thing you will do.  I'd definitely suggest looking into Rocket Mass Stoves,  This is something you will probably have to plan for before you build the AP system.

Comment by Kris Pauly on December 31, 2012 at 8:33am

Good Morning all - I thought I would post a quick intro / hello.  I am up here in Prescott AZ with a new 2in layer of snow on the ground this last day of 2012.  I started my first system about a 5 weeks ago, and finally hit great water levels a week ago.  I am planning on setting up 1500 sq ft system this winter and run it this spring, then building a green house over it during the fall, to keep it going next winter.  I am interested in learning more about creating a complete system of inputs and outputs that minimize external requirements, while being as efficient in the space.  My first system is a 55 gal fish tank with 2 half barrel grow beds in my kitchen window.  My sump tank is a full barrel which is about 40 gals.  I look forward to learning and sharing as I go.  

Comment by Kris Pauly on December 31, 2012 at 8:00am

@Matt - Fish ratio depends on grow bed size and plants active in them.  I would start with 16-20 fry and plant a few small plants.  As far ammonia, not to be crude, but you can always pee in a bottle, let it stand for a few days - wal-la  Ammonia (aka - peeponics ) 

Comment by Bob Campbell on December 30, 2012 at 10:30pm

@Matt - Bulk heads often leak when they are over tightened.  What happens is the washer gets pushed out.  Screw down finger tight then use a wrench to turn it 1/4 turn more. 

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on December 30, 2012 at 8:49pm

Does anyone know how many fish my system can handle?  The tank is 170 gallons, not sure what the fish ratio should be.  I also need to start the fishless cycle to get my good bacteria going, but don't know where to pick up ammonia.  Thanks!

Comment by Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. on December 30, 2012 at 7:01pm

Very nice Matt. Simple and effective. No freeze issues, too much latent heat. Just as an fyi, I think this aquaponics thing is making me impatient. I am having trouble waiting for my traditional soil garden to grow.

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