How to Maintain Fish Water Quality for Aquaponics by John Musser of Aquaponics and Earth

How to Maintain

Fish Water Quality for

AquaponicsWith John Musser

John Musser has been raising and breeding Tilapia fish for over seven years. Some of the leading experts in the field all agree that they are among they finest they have seen in health, thickness, and even looks.

John Musser was taught by one of America’s leading Tilapia fish scientist.

John says, “if you can learn how to raise Tilapia fish and keep water quality you can use the same principles for Aquaponics and your system will flourish.”

Special enhanced breed John is fighting to hold!

IntroductionWater Quality for Tilapia

Aquaponics and Earth, 314 W. Belt Line Road, DeSoto, TX 75115 ● 469-275-8652 ● www.aquaponicsandearth.org

Water QualityWater TestingWhat Fish Need in Water

Aeration and Oxygen

Water Quality for Tilapia


Water Quality for Water Quality for TilapiaTilapia Fish breath oxygen and

give off carbon dioxide. You can’t smell carbon

dioxide. Fish without enough

oxygen, or too much carbon dioxide gulp air from the surface of the tank.

Make sure there is plenty of aeration and that there are not too many fish in a tank.



Water Quality Testing

We test for several different chemicals or conditions in the water. Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate pH Chlorine Temperature



Ammonia

Fish give off ammonia in their urine. Ammonia is toxic to fish Ammonia levels of

more than 5 ppm can be deadly to most fish.

Tilapia can tolerate higher ammonia levels, but it is unhealthy.

Ammonia is broken down into Nitrite the bacteria in the bio-filter.

Ammonia (NH3) is a gas under standard conditions and is highly soluble in water.

It's also excreted as a waste product by fish and other aquatic animals.

Three-fourths of the excreted ammonia leaves the body respiration and the remaining fourth is excreted in urine.

Ammonia is highly toxic in very small quantities and a concentration of 0.25 parts per million (ppm) is sufficient to compromise the immune system of some species of fish.



Ammonia levels should always be 0!

Nitrite

Nitrite is the product of ammonia being digested by bacteria in the water, on the skin of fish, and in the bio-filter.

Nitrite is poisonous to fish at levels of 2.5 ppm.

Nitrite is broken down by bacteria to form Nitrate



Nitrite levels should always be at 0 ppm.

Nitrate Water Quality for Tilapia

Nitrate is formed by bacteria in the water, on the skin of fish and in the bio filter.

Nitrate is a natural fertilizer, used by plants to make protein.

Nitrate is non toxic in levels up to 80 ppm.



Nitrate range is best at 40 ppm or below!

pH TestingpH Testing

pH indicates how acidic (sour) or basic (bitter) water is. pH ranges from 1 to 14. Pure water is pH 7 1-7 pH is acidic (sour) 7-14 is basic (bitter)

In general, tilapia can survive in pH ranging from 5 to 10 but do best in a pH range of 6 to 9.



7.6 - 8.3 range is good!

pH Testing

pH above 10 or below 6 can be harmful to the fish.

pH is changed by several factors: oxygen, carbon dioxide waste in the water and the quality of

the source water.



Chlorine

My advice is either use well water or RV filters if you need to put water in right away!

Otherwise let chlorinated water aerate in 55 gallon food grade barrel for a few hours. I prefer to do it over night.

Chlorine is a killer of fish!


AESL sells almost everything seen in this presentation.

If you need help please call or e-mail Jonathon at: 469-275-8652 [email protected]


Temperature

Tilapia are tropical fish and require warm water. Ideal temperature is

around 85° Fahrenheit, 29.4° Celsius.

Breeding occurs above 72° F (22.2° C)

Death can occur below 55° F (12.8° C)

Growth, health and breeding are all tied directly to temperature.

KEEP YOUR FISH WARM!



What Fish Need in Water

Clean water Remove the waste Oxygen Light Food Movement



Clean Water Clean water is not necessarily clear Clear water is not necessarily clean

Carbon Dioxide, Nitrite and other polutants do not discolor water.

Green water, while not clear is very healthy for fish, particularly Tilapia.



Waste Removal

Solid waste can foul the system, consume oxygen and change pH.

Liquid wastes can be poisonous to the fish.

Remove the water, either physically or automatically through plumbing



Oxygen Tilapia prefer Oxygen levels above 5 ppm Can survive at less than1 ppm, but they will not thrive

under constant low oxygen, and will eventually become sick and die.

Ideally Oxygen levels will never drop below 3 Oxygen is introduced through several processes.

Plant life Aeration Waves and cascades Degassing columns …

All or a combination of these methods can be used to increase Oxygen levels.



Light

Tilapia require light to grow.

Will not breed with less than 12 hours a day of light.

Will not eat when there is no light.

Light is also necessary for healthy green water and algae populations.



Food Natural foods are algae,

plants, small fish, and insects.

Commercial floating pellets are balanced for maximum growth.

Uneaten food can become waste and hurt the fish.

Don’t let too many people feed fish. In fact it’s best to have one person in charge or a check list!

This will ruin your system faster than anything and foul up your aquaponics system in a hurry.



Water Movement Stagnant (still) water will become unhealthy. Moving water can help remove waste. Moving water increases Oxygen and removes

Carbon Dioxide. Fish prefer moving water to still water.



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More trainings available!

John Musser is considered a global expert in developing micro gardens using Tilapia fish waste and byproducts as the primary fertilizer.

John Musser has requests from over 40 countries of the world including leading universities and major humanitarian organizations asking to help with food systems. Entire cities have requested his help.

Teachings include: Developing cinder-block gardens Making homemade substrates and

fertilizers in your back yard that will bring bumper crops.

Backyard Aquaponics Breeding and caring for Tilapia

fish And much more….Aquaponics and Earth, 314 W. Belt Line Road, DeSoto, TX 75115 ● 469-275-8652 ● www.aquaponicsandearth.org

Self Improvement

How to Maintain Fish Water Quality for Aquaponics by John Musser of Aquaponics and Earth