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.

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.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1432040686

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.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1432044077

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.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1432127527

What should the levels be at?

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.

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.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1432214154

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.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1432303258

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
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1432651096

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
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1432731535

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
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1432815160

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
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1432914594

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
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1433167207

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
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1433167279

I tested nitrites about 13 hours later. and they were coming down.:)
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1433167359

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

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1433167397

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.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1432304177

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.

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.