Aquaponic Gardening

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I just started getting into aquaponics so i figured id start small. ive got a ten gallon tank and i started cycling my tank and my water level dropped by almost fifty percent over a week. i havent noticed any wet spots on the floor so i dont think im leaking. could it be evaporation? please help im so confused

 

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Depending on the temperature and the moisture level of the air surrounding your system, you could be losing 1 - 2% of your water volume per day.  50% in a week sounds a bit steep if it is not fully planted and in the middle of summer.  I would have wondered about a leak or perhaps the water not draining out of the grow bed completely. 

Hi Timothy,

If you're cycling continuously (24hr/day) and water is spread over a wide area of Grow Bed, at only a 10 gallon reserve you can easily deplete the missing 5 gallons. Smaller systems are much more critically affected by evaporation, that's why I quickly upgraded from a 50 gal reservoir  to a 200 gallon FT, because the regular top ups were much too inconvenient for me.

If you have any plants in an indoor systems that small, the plants can use up lots of water just trying to humidify the air around themselves.

 

Now 50% in a week is still a bit much unless you have a big tomato plant growing.  Are you sure all that is loss or is there some water level fluctuation due to the bed flooding and draining?

 

I would guess my indoor 10 gallon aquarium set up probably looses more like 5-10% per week due to the house plants liking to add humidity to the air (I will actually see drops of water forming on some leaves.)

 

 

yeah i would leave it cycling for a fw days then turn it off for a few days because i read that if i just let it sit there the bacteria wouldnt get enough oxygen. guess i should just upgrade to a bigger tank because im not around enough to keep a good eye on it



Harold Sukhbir said:

Hi Timothy,

If you're cycling continuously (24hr/day) and water is spread over a wide area of Grow Bed, at only a 10 gallon reserve you can easily deplete the missing 5 gallons. Smaller systems are much more critically affected by evaporation, that's why I quickly upgraded from a 50 gal reservoir  to a 200 gallon FT, because the regular top ups were much too inconvenient for me.

Either that or you need to install a top up valve and a way to automatically add water when you are not home enough.

Hi Timothy,

The media bed which contains the bacteria needed for converting ammonia will die off without moisture/ammonia. Do you leave the beds without water for extended periods? Your profile suggest  that your set up is Flood and Drain, how long are your cycles between  F & D? Top ups are an alternative but are an extra component. To remove the chlorine from tap water you need a carbon filter or a sump attachment with float valve, it may be easier to simply upgrade the FT.

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