Swimming Pool System

[Pat James]

I have finally got around to start to work building my AP system. I bought two 55 gal barrels and eight 275 gal IBC totes a few weeks ago and then the weather got cold and wet- progress stalled. At least we have had a few days

The system I now plan to build is quite a bit different than the one I originally planned. That is due to the help and advice of some of the people here.. Thank you.

I will buy the piping itself at one of the big box stores, but I can save a bundle by buying the fittings online.

Today I will begin cutting the IBC's.

[Jim Fisk]

Hey Pat, did you by any chance get some pics of the fish arrival? Fun to document. I took a vid of our trip to the fish farm that I should post one of these days.

[Pat James]

No dead catfish this morning, although I did find 4 minnows in the skimmer.

The pH yesterday as I acclimated the fish was 8.4. The temp was 62.2. No measurable ammonia,nitrite, nor nitrate.

[Pat James]

Got my fish today... 300 catfish and pound of fathead minnows. At least that is what I paid for.... The driver weighed the fish figuring 2 pounds per hundred càtfish.

One was dead on arrival. I saw another as he was packing the fish and threw it out right away.

I csrefully acclimated the fish,but a couple cats were sluggish and swam at the surface for a while then disappeared.

No sigNs of a problem later. (Of course the bottom of the tank might be littered with dead and dying fish and I will not know until later.....)

Some of the fish were snapping at the surface at the pollen and whatever floated. Threw n a handful of feed, even though I knew it would not make any difference. only a little of that food was eaten.

It is now 8 :D hours since I introduced the fish...nothing floating...so far so good..... :D i

[Jim Fisk]

Hey, I meant to mention how well the worm bin is doing and, by mistake really, I noticed the tarp under it had collected half a gallon of wc tea. So now I have it set up to do just that and I use it on the AP plants. Everything is looking great and we will be burried in new veggies shortly. Already harvesting the new Chard and Kale. So thanks for your encouragement on das virms

I'm sticking with worm pee

[Pat James]

Jim, I'm thinking the fish will do better than the plants have. The fathead minnows I put in there last Nov are doing well. Well at least some of them are. I'm not sure how many are still in there, but the ones I see are active and have grown substantially. And until the last couple weeks, they have had no supplemental feed at all. Just the algae, insect larvae etc that were living in the pool.

I am also quite aware that the sudden increase of bio-load can change things overnight. But I have also been adding almost all the urine I produce while at home to that pool as well for a while now. guess I will have to find another place to pee :D :D Well, my onion bed could use some extra nitrogen...

[Jim Fisk]

So Pat, the carnage begins on Friday!!!!!

Hey, fish fertilizer is great in the dirt garden. You may get over run with cats but you can always sell the cats to local Chinese restaurants so everything should work out fine Not to worry

Best of luck, keep us informed and I know exactly what you mean when you play back your vids. You may have noticed I don't post many myself. Not everyone has a broadcaster's voice or time to do pro edits.

[Jon Parr]

Pat, I sure appreciate your effort here and compiling of data. High pH will be a long term issue in a pool, in my opinion, though there are many on this forum who would disagree. I guess your pH log will help settle the question. Anyway, in my experience, I have infinitely better plant results with low pH, and I try to keep in the 6.0 to 6.4 range while in the plant growing season. In the off season, not much other than watercress and lettuce grow here (and they do well above 7), so I don't fret or adjust, just make sure pH doesn't drift below 6.0. 

Personally, I would go buy a 55 gallon drum of HCl, and set it on a drip that will drain in in a month or so. My source water is different than yours, no doubt, but it took me over 2 gallons of 15% HCl to bring 2200 gallons of 8.6 water to 6.8. so if your water is similar, and your pool is say, 22K gal (?), then you will be in for 20-25 gallons of acid, and possibly a steady drip to maintain if nitrification is not enough. Whatever you do, change pH very slowly, and don't expect the number to budge at all for a couple of weeks. It takes time for the acid to react with the precipitated and exposed Calcium Carbonate. 

[Pat James]

My fish are due Friday morning. I have 300 3-5 inch channel cat fingerlings and a pound of fat-head minnows set to arrive. total cost $86.

My wife and I each got I-pads this past weekend. Once I figure out how to take pics and even make a video, I'll post them. I tried yesterday , but it did not work., and i can honestly say I sounded like a moron...even to myself,

[Pat James]

Wendall, if you look through this blog, you will see all the pics I currently have.

I am also dealing with the issue of creating enough nitrogen to  feed a decent amount of vegetables. For now it seems that the algae in the pool is consuming the nitrates as fast as they are being produced, That may change in a couple weeks when my catfish arrive.

I am thinking right now that my Ap endeavors will be to grow fish primarily with plant growth a secondary consideration. (As long as my filtration stays ahead of the game) NOT a bad place to be. I have enough dirt garden area to produce what I need.

[Wendell Ford]

Pat, I would like to see some photos of your swimming pool system. I am interested in your FT to grow bed ratio? I have a large FT and I am concerned about creating enough waste for my garden.