I had a few things come up and didn't make it...heard it was a great meetup over 35 people attended.@Leisa I'm glad things are finally rolling along.I'm installing a new sump today and rearranging my indoor system.We will see how that goes...Lol.Anyone have a meetup place this weekend?
I haven't heard anything for this weekend. We've got 15 million projects going but we are open for visitors on Saturday after 2 would be best. It's kinda a Lon drive for most of you. Sorry Nicolette, I'm working on Sunday. Let me know if anyone is interested and we will firm up details.
Woohoo!!!! Trace ammonia today. Ph still 7.6, nitrites 2-4 ppm, nitrates 5ppm. Plants look awesome. Even the two tomato suckers are taking root. Amazing. The goldfish randy bought are still alive and now moving around. Looks like it would be ok to get fish soon. How many fish do y'all recommend for ~700 gallons?
@ Leisa the flowers you have out front are Vinca's, yes they like full sun, but I still believe they are buried to deep. @ Alex nice pic's of Randy's Handy work.
I have never measured an IBC Tote, does it have a 4 X 4 foot surface area?
close its 48"x40" Anthony.@Leisa my wife was smiling from ear to ear. I'll post the pics on FB.Thanks again, and tell my new best friend Randy he need to call me when he goes out to the range,lol I'll bring the liner with me to the next meeting, so make sure you have room for it in your van.You can probably get another 4x8 Growbed out of it.
Oh Lordy. Don't encourage him especially if it takes him away from doing my projects. Lol. Put some more plants in today but still working on getting the extra beds put it. I'll pass on the message to randy.
all of ya too funny...hope to have a wife like that soon...lol 2 the max...range sounds Awesome too...Alex count me in for the 20th, would love to met the other group...Gracias Alex, Liesa and Randy, and more
Hey Anthony, I have a bone to pick with you..... Remember saying 3 inches of rain would overflow our sump. I think mother nature took that as a challenge and it hasn't quit raining since. LOL.
Rain= attach an overflow in the sump.Sun=shade cloth 50% or higher and install your tank in the ground. freezes=Install a heater and install your tanks in the ground.Wind=??? Maybe a lip around the GB or use a heavier media on top to keep it from blowing all over your yard and if possible build your system low to the ground .LOL
Great, I'm glad Anthony and Jonathan attended to help with all the newbie questions. My wife left a gift for you here...I'll bring it to the next meetup.
Might be easier to just steal them from my Facebook page. I have gotten out my laptop to work on some other stuff so I might try it from there. What's your water temp inside and out?
inside 76-80outside 78-84 depending on time of day.Were having another meeting on Sunday at Jonathans place out in Boerne PM me for address.My fish have been breeding like rabbits.Not in the breeding tank like I planned,lol.. all it took was my son dropping a pvc pipe in my tank.I can probably download the pics to my phone and repost.
I am brand new at this and need some advise. I just finished a 200 gallon IBC system with a foot deep GB filled with rinsed red lava. I am just starting the cycling but have to be out of town for the next week and a half. I am using a little talked about way to bring the ammonia levels up...one large shrimp. As it decomposed it is suppose to slowly increase the ammonia in the FT. We will see. Any ways...with the particulars established, time for my question.
The ebb and flow cycle in the GB is approx 13 min to fill and 2 min to drain. Is this cycle too rapid to grow bacteria? What about plants?
From what I've been told its not gonna matter for cycleling up Travis,Just as long as the waters moving, you have aeration and a ammonia source... nature will do the rest.The flood/drain timing is more for the plants and willl vary depending on what your growing.
Thanks for the add Alex. I am new to Aquaponics and just now building my system (2 - 330gal IBCs. I'll build out some grow beds in the coming week but just using the cut tops of the IBCs to get my system started.
I live up here in the Kerrville area. My next purchase is the GB media. Local suggestions on material and where I can get it?
We used hydroton and have liked it well enough. It's expensive. We tried lava rock and have even mixed it with hydroton. Didn't care for the lava rock at all. You can get the small size expanded shale in bags here but the 3/4 inch is better. You can get that in bastrop/dripping springs and close to Dallas. We'd like to get some of the 3/4 in shale but need more people wanting that before we make the trip.
3/4 expanded shale is Houston and runs around 130 a yard .In Dallas it's 70.If weight isn't a factor I'd use 3/4 gravel and maybe some hydroton at the top few inches .You can also try pea gravel or river rocks and do a vinager fizz test for limestone.Whatever you use make sure it's Ph neutral to avoid future headaches.
Thanks for the info. I have some lava rocks in a yard bed that I've been wanting to get rid of since I bought my house 5 years ago. I was thinking about putting the lava rock on the bottom of the grow beds and the gravel or hydroton on top. I thought the lava might be tough on the roots. Where can I get hydroton if I go that route?
We get ours at tx hydroponics off Copland/35. Just google them for the number. There is also Sol hydroponics off Callaghan and Babcock but I prefer to drive all the way across town. I've only been to sol once. We tried lava rock on bottom with hydroton on top and lava rock alone. Didn't care for either. What side of town are you on?
Nicolette Moore
@ Leisa- *lucky*!!! Congrat's! Hopefully I can report good news ONE day!
Apr 30, 2012
Anthony Marsh
@ Leisa that is good...let us know the out come. @Nicolette do ya all still wish to move some of ya all's fry or fingerlins?
And did anyone goto Austin this past weekend?
I am talking with Rob Nash about other types of Tilapia that are outlawed here in Texas...will keep ya all posted
May 1, 2012
Patti Taylor
May 2, 2012
Leisa McPherson
May 2, 2012
Anthony Marsh
@liesa txt me if ya all have one
May 2, 2012
Leisa McPherson
May 3, 2012
Patti Taylor
May 4, 2012
Patti Taylor
@ Leisa place
Randy getting er done.
May 5, 2012
Patti Taylor
May 5, 2012
Anthony Marsh
@ Leisa the flowers you have out front are Vinca's, yes they like full sun, but I still believe they are buried to deep. @ Alex nice pic's of Randy's Handy work.
I have never measured an IBC Tote, does it have a 4 X 4 foot surface area?
May 6, 2012
Patti Taylor
close its 48"x40" Anthony.@Leisa my wife was smiling from ear to ear. I'll post the pics on FB.Thanks again, and tell my new best friend Randy he need to call me when he goes out to the range,lol I'll bring the liner with me to the next meeting, so make sure you have room for it in your van.You can probably get another 4x8 Growbed out of it.
May 9, 2012
Leisa McPherson
May 9, 2012
Anthony Marsh
all of ya too funny...hope to have a wife like that soon...lol 2 the max...range sounds Awesome too...Alex count me in for the 20th, would love to met the other group...Gracias Alex, Liesa and Randy, and more
May 9, 2012
Leisa McPherson
May 14, 2012
Anthony Marsh
LOL...Hope the rain is helping everything else...just got done draining 3 inches off my tank...and it looks like I'll be doing the same tonight.
So...to the group there are some weather related questions: Rain, wind, sun, and Freezes?
*****if you know what I am talking about, please post your counter measures*****
May 15, 2012
Patti Taylor
Rain= attach an overflow in the sump.Sun=shade cloth 50% or higher and install your tank in the ground. freezes=Install a heater and install your tanks in the ground.Wind=??? Maybe a lip around the GB or use a heavier media on top to keep it from blowing all over your yard and if possible build your system low to the ground .LOL
May 15, 2012
Anthony Marsh
AAA = Awesome Answer Alex
May 17, 2012
Patti Taylor
Anthony you still coming to the meeting tomorrow? Ill try to reserve some VIP parking for ya...lol
May 19, 2012
Patti Taylor
Thanks to everyone that came out today.Had a great time... see ya at the next one.
May 20, 2012
Patti Taylor
May 20, 2012
Leisa McPherson
May 20, 2012
Patti Taylor
May 20, 2012
Leisa McPherson
I need to lower my pH and have muratic acid like we talked about. Any recommendations about how often or how much to add?
May 25, 2012
Patti Taylor
May 30, 2012
Leisa McPherson
Jun 2, 2012
Patti Taylor
Send them to me in an email.... ill post them for ya.
Jun 12, 2012
Leisa McPherson
Jun 18, 2012
Patti Taylor
inside 76-80outside 78-84 depending on time of day.Were having another meeting on Sunday at Jonathans place out in Boerne PM me for address.My fish have been breeding like rabbits.Not in the breeding tank like I planned,lol.. all it took was my son dropping a pvc pipe in my tank.I can probably download the pics to my phone and repost.
Jun 19, 2012
Patti Taylor
Jun 19, 2012
Leisa McPherson
Jun 20, 2012
Patti Taylor
Jun 23, 2012
Jonathan Jennings
Thanks for driving out here today. It was great seeing everyone.
Jun 24, 2012
Leisa McPherson
Jun 25, 2012
Patti Taylor
Hope my kids didn't traumatize your chickens,lol
Jun 25, 2012
Jonathan Jennings
We had to have chicken therapy after everyone left
Jun 25, 2012
Travis Teboe
Hey Alex and Aquapods,
I am brand new at this and need some advise. I just finished a 200 gallon IBC system with a foot deep GB filled with rinsed red lava. I am just starting the cycling but have to be out of town for the next week and a half. I am using a little talked about way to bring the ammonia levels up...one large shrimp. As it decomposed it is suppose to slowly increase the ammonia in the FT. We will see. Any ways...with the particulars established, time for my question.
The ebb and flow cycle in the GB is approx 13 min to fill and 2 min to drain. Is this cycle too rapid to grow bacteria? What about plants?
Thanks, Travis
Jun 30, 2012
Patti Taylor
From what I've been told its not gonna matter for cycleling up Travis,Just as long as the waters moving, you have aeration and a ammonia source... nature will do the rest.The flood/drain timing is more for the plants and willl vary depending on what your growing.
Jul 2, 2012
Patti Taylor
Jul 4, 2012
John Michon
Thanks for the add Alex. I am new to Aquaponics and just now building my system (2 - 330gal IBCs. I'll build out some grow beds in the coming week but just using the cut tops of the IBCs to get my system started.
I live up here in the Kerrville area. My next purchase is the GB media. Local suggestions on material and where I can get it?
Thanks again,
John Michon
Aug 3, 2012
Leisa McPherson
Aug 3, 2012
Patti Taylor
Aug 4, 2012
John Michon
Thanks for the info. I have some lava rocks in a yard bed that I've been wanting to get rid of since I bought my house 5 years ago. I was thinking about putting the lava rock on the bottom of the grow beds and the gravel or hydroton on top. I thought the lava might be tough on the roots. Where can I get hydroton if I go that route?
Aug 8, 2012
Leisa McPherson
Aug 8, 2012
Patti Taylor
Raft update
Aug 8, 2012
John Michon
Leisa, I'm in the Kerrville area. What did you not like about the lava rocks? Lava rocks/hydroton combo?
Aug 9, 2012
Leisa McPherson
Aug 9, 2012
Leisa McPherson
Aug 9, 2012
Patti Taylor
Aug 9, 2012
Leisa McPherson
Aug 10, 2012
Patti Taylor
yup
Thanks
Aug 17, 2012