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Old 05-18-15, 01:00 PM   #111
pinballlooking
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The system has to cycle it can take 4 weeks or more. I added some Nitrifying Bacteria to jump the cycling. Another way to jump start the cycling is to get water or rock from another system. A aquarium sponge or filter from a healthy system.

I am thinking about buying some water from the local system I visited. Once cycled and I see nitrates I can add my fish I can’t wait to get fish. I have to test the water every day until it is cycled.

But yes I will need to add more Maxicrop I am not really sure how well the plants will do without fish.

I need to add a shade cloth over the plants it really is too much sun. Our sun is pretty intense here in SC. At Clemson U they keep a shade cloth over the green house all year around.

I wrapped the silver tarp two layers around the fish tank and wire tied the tarp around it. Then I put one tarp over it so when the time comes to feed the fish it will be easy.


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Old 05-19-15, 08:04 AM   #112
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Here are the test after one week cycling.
The first tube is PH it is about 7
Second tube is ammonia is about 3 ppm
And the last test is Nitrite it is just starting to show up this is good news.
Tomorrow I will have to add Nitrate testing.

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Old 05-19-15, 09:01 AM   #113
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Here is a blog someone is cycling their system.
Articles | GreenAquaponics.org
This tells about system startup.
Cycling Aquaponics

This chart does a good job showing what is happing.
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Old 05-20-15, 08:12 AM   #114
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This is after 8 days cycling
PH it is about 7
Ammonia is about 2 ppm
Nitrite is up to .25 ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 10 ppm
This looks like good news to me.

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Old 05-20-15, 01:47 PM   #115
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What should the levels be at?
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Old 05-20-15, 01:55 PM   #116
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I need to see the Ammonia going down while the Nitrite continues to go up.
I want Nitrate to keep going up.

When the Nitrite and Nitrate cross on the graph above while Ammonia goes down then I can add fish.

But seeing Nitrites increase and Nitrate show up is great that meant both good bacteria are in my system and it is just a matter of time now.

PH it is about 7 : This is good

Ammonia is about 2 ppm : if this gets lower and it should I will add some more Ammonia to bring it back to 2-4 ppm

Nitrite is up to .25 ppm : This is good and I want this to rise even more.
Nitrate is showing up at about 10 ppm : This is great and I want it to keep going up.

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Old 05-21-15, 08:16 AM   #117
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This is after 9 days cycling
PH it is about 7
Ammonia is about 2 ppm
Nitrite is up to .50 ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 10 ppm
It is good to see Nitrite increasing. Ammonia has a slight decrease.



It all looks good and we are heading in the right direction.

I know this is the boring part but hopefully someone finds it useful when they cycle their system.

5/22/15 test

This is after 10 days cycling
PH it is about 7
Ammonia is about 2 ppm
Nitrite is up to .75 ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 20 ppm
It is good to see Nitrite and Nitrates increasing.
I would like to see Ammonia decrease more.



5/26/2015 I added a small amount of Ammonia.
It looks like we are getting closer.
PH it is about 7
Ammonia is about 2 ppm
Nitrite is up to 5 ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 35 ppm


5/27/2015 I added a small amount of Ammonia.
It looks like we are getting closer.
PH it is about 6.8
Ammonia is about 1 ppm
Nitrite is up to 5 ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 35+ ppm


5/28/2015 I added a small amount of Ammonia.
PH it is about 6.6
Ammonia is about .50 ppm this came down from yesterday.
Nitrite is up to 5+ ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 80+ ppm


5/29/2015 I am not going to add Ammonia I want the Nitrite to come down.
PH it is about 6.6
Ammonia is about .35 ppm this came down from yesterday.
Nitrite is up to 5+ ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 80+ ppm


5/30/2015 I am not going to add Ammonia I want the Nitrite to come down.
PH it is about 6.8
Ammonia is about .0 ppm this came down from yesterday.
Nitrite is up to 5+ ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 80


5/30/2015 I am not going to add Ammonia I want the Nitrite to come down.
PH it is about 6.8
Ammonia is about .0 ppm this came down from yesterday.
Nitrite is up to 5+ ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 30


I tested nitrites about 13 hours later. and they were coming down.


6/1/2015 I am not going to add Ammonia I want the Nitrite to come down.
PH it is about 6.7
Ammonia is about .0 ppm this came down from yesterday.
Nitrite is up to 0 ppm
Nitrate is showing up at about 20

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Old 05-22-15, 09:16 AM   #118
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They recommend planting leafy green plants to start with. We really like tomatoes and planted a lot of them so I am not sure how this first planting will turn out but here it is anyway. You can already tell I have a few Nitrates the plants are greening up. I posted todays test in the test photo above.

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Old 05-22-15, 12:14 PM   #119
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Tomatoes are voracious consumers. Either go fishing this weekend for blue gill or grab a box of miracle grow for tomatoes. That will keep you going until they get a set of roots. Pour on the cal mag and Epsom salt, the tomatoes will reward you generously later on.
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Old 05-22-15, 12:21 PM   #120
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I added Epsom salt yesterday.

I need to see the Ammonia go down before I add the fish.
I think I am going to get tilapia for the summer. I am thinking about adding 25 medium size ones. Then wait a couple weeks and get 25 more.

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