Cornucopia Aquaponics

Bcasey2703

Hi everyone! New to aquaponics, but have always loved amateur vegie growing and keeping aquarium fish! After 12 months of "Googling" the bejesus out of the hobby, I have setup up (very early stages, no fish or plants yet!), my first system. Basic to start with, will end up with a separate sump tank, and a few more grow beds. I realise pool pumps have high power consumption, but I get free power in my living situation, so will hold onto this beauty. Doing this on a budget as I am currently on a sabbatical so no work, have spent $100 so far, and already have 3 full IBC's plus a half top in spare, so ready to expand!

Lots of foam from (I'm assuming) way to much pump litres per hour, and dirtiness of gravel, which I am hoping will dissipate.

Next step is a couple of plants, seaweed extract, and 10 free (read expendable) fish, then three more grow beds (one more Flood and Drain, and two floating raft), add a filter (using an old worm farm), add sump tank, etc etc.

If you are interested in someone who is kicking goals and a fantastically knowledgeable amateur, check out https://www.facebook.com/Bitsouttheback?ref=stream, he's the guy that has kept me motivated!

(Struggle to add pics, will have another crack!)

Matthew Russell

Hi mate, welcome to the forum!

Sounds like it's coming along for you. However the foam is a concern. Regardless of pump capacity, nor dirtiness of gravel, you shouldn't have foam in your system. It sounds as though there is some form of soap or detergent in the water.

jayendra

Ahhh he's in your town

Love Rob's youtube channel.

Good to see your so excited.

Bcasey2703

Photos! Maybe"..........

Bcasey2703

Yeah foam is a concern, only came about since I added gravel (system running for three days prior)but, so I am confused. Though I have had similar issues in past in my aquariums when adding new media so I must admit I wasn't too stressed! Yeah Rob Bob's awesome, funniest thing was after following him on Facebook for six months, I didn't realise he was in the same town the entire time until recently....

jayendra

SO you haven't started cycling with a source of ammonia? I would change that water maybe.

Matthew Russell

Wow, that's a lot of foam! It looks to me like its definitely some form of detergent. Whatever it is it's probably detrimental to the cycling of your system. I'd do a 50% water change and see if that fixes the issue, if it doesn't, then change another 50%. What's in the middle of your FT?

Bcasey2703

Yeah it's definitely confusing! No cycling, literally just started! Middle of fish tank is an old worm farm, I am using this to help speed up up the filtering of the dust particles a little!

Just emptied three quarters of tank and filling as we speak, will let you know how it goes! (Got to love having a pump that pushes 15000LPH!)

Tank now refilled, less bubbles, but then again clarity is much better, so who knows?!

Matthew Russell

Haha, that was quick!! Who knows what it was, good thing your doing a water change though. All the best mate. Keep us all updated with pics of your progress

jayendra

Maybe put a return to sump pipe with a tap so that the amount of flow through the rocks is decreased

like this:

Bcasey2703

Yeah I will end up with a valve on the return valve that is pumping water from sump/fish tank to sump/fish tank, just working on a budget ATM. Already have a valve on water going to grow bed, so that's sorted.

Bcasey2703

Photos of fish I've added to cycle, some mullet and spangled perch

Hezzy89

looks good mate but i would deffenitly be getting rid of foam
keep pics coming

Bcasey2703

Yeah foam is pretty much gone, certainly died down a lot.

Above is one of mullet.

Above is system today.

Going to buy a coupling of seedlings tomorrow, and use some seaweed extract to get started whilst waiting for cycling to finish. I've got a 200 litre fish tank I'm going to steal some water and media from to help kick start system, so the waiting game begins!

jayendra

So get some plants in asap and then also cover your tanks.
testing the water for cycling info?

Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics