Plant Pictures and Water Data

Here are a couple of pictures of the growbeds today.  The lettuce in growbed #1 had stopped growing and started wilting right after it sprouted.  I think this is because of a heat wave we had.  That was the same time the mature lettuce we had outside had turned bitter and started bolting, which is what lettuce does when it gets too hot.  I was about to give up on the lettuce, but once the weather cooled down this weekend, it started to grow again.

Growbed #2, which had tiny pea sprouts on Sept 1, now has lots of peas and beans, and I think even some tomato sprouts.



Growbed #1-beans, peas, lettuce and basil



Growbed #2 - beans, peas and tomatoes

I had to add a little bit of ammonia last week because the nitrate levels dropped.  I need to keep the nitrate levels up until I get the fish.  Once the fish are introduced to the tank, their waste should produce enough ammonia to keep the nitrate levels up.  Here is the data I've collected since starting the tank.  Note that our tap water pH is about 6.5. 

Date	pH	Ammonia	Nitrite	Nitrate
17 Aug 2011	7.2	0	0	0
18 Aug 2011	7.6+	4 ppm	0	0
23 Aug 2011	(not taken)	2 ppm	0	0
24 Aug 2011	7.6	1 ppm	0-.25 ppm	5 ppm
27 Aug 2011	7.4-7.6	0.5 ppm	5 ppm	8 ppm
31 Aug 2011	7.8	0 ppm	0+ ppm	2 ppm
NOTE: added about ½ tsp ammonia powder on 31 Aug 2011
06 Sept 2011	7.4-7.6	0 ppm	0+ ppm	30 ppm

Room and water temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit -

Date	Room Temp	Water Temp	Notes
16 Aug 2011	70	56	This is fresh from outside tap
21 Aug 2011	70	65	9:30 am
24 Aug 2011	75	68	8:00 pm
25 Aug 2011	68	65	7:14 am
25 Aug 2011	75	68	6:00 pm
27 Aug 2011	75	66	1:00 pm
30 Aug 2011	72	64	6:00 pm
06 Sep 2011	66	62	9:30 pm – closed window at 7am when room temp was 62