gregswimm
Fish Addict
So I started an above ground pond made out of an aluminum pot lined with a heavy duty black trashbag. I set it up a few weeks ago, poured some old flourite/gravel mixture in the bottom. I planted some local plants from a nearby lake, mostly vals, some sort of banana tuber Lilly, some of what I can only describe as bacopa, and some frogspawn that tagged along.
I tested the water today to see how high the ammonia has gotten. There are leafs and other tree bits that have fallen in. It is also teaming with mosquito larvae. So I tested the ammonia and there were 0ppm in it. So I tested the nitites and they were off the charts at 30ppm or so. The nitrates were just barely there at under 0.5ppm. Mind you I have no pumps of any sort. Just a bucket with plants. I am astounded that this thing is cycling itself!
Also, the bucket gets filtered sun light. It is placed at the edge of a bunch of trees. The most light it gets is about 1/4 coverage of direct sun for a few hours. Mind you, I am in Florida, very intense sun. The temperature isn't horrible either, the maximum temp I have seen is 80f maybe but this is based on pure guesswork.
Once(if) I get nitrates, I'll put some fish in. Either a few female betas or something native, like mosquito minnows, least killifish. I am really not sure how to stock something like this.
I'll get pics up when the sun is back up. \o/
I tested the water today to see how high the ammonia has gotten. There are leafs and other tree bits that have fallen in. It is also teaming with mosquito larvae. So I tested the ammonia and there were 0ppm in it. So I tested the nitites and they were off the charts at 30ppm or so. The nitrates were just barely there at under 0.5ppm. Mind you I have no pumps of any sort. Just a bucket with plants. I am astounded that this thing is cycling itself!
Also, the bucket gets filtered sun light. It is placed at the edge of a bunch of trees. The most light it gets is about 1/4 coverage of direct sun for a few hours. Mind you, I am in Florida, very intense sun. The temperature isn't horrible either, the maximum temp I have seen is 80f maybe but this is based on pure guesswork.
Once(if) I get nitrates, I'll put some fish in. Either a few female betas or something native, like mosquito minnows, least killifish. I am really not sure how to stock something like this.
I'll get pics up when the sun is back up. \o/
