Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Would you guys and gals please help me to concoct a list of plant nutrients and micro nutrients contents and needs?

I believe that would make a wonderful tool for designing and exploiting AP systems

all info is welcome, but should be divided in two subcategories: contents and needs
and would if possible describe also plant height, growing speed, light and surface needed
temperature, moisture, etc... needs for best performance would also be welcome

I will put it all in an Excel worksheet and regularly post updates

open to all suggestions to make this list even more attractive and reliable

greetings

Frank

I would really be interested in this info too.

I also have another question about nutrients and fertilizers in the fish water. Mainly what's toxic and what's okay. Chemical fertilizers versus natural fertilizers- what's safer? Is there a difference.

Also, is there a difference in fertilizer requirements for grow beds (ebb + flow) versus continuous flow systems (nft, raft/deep flow beds)

Hope this doesn't distract from the original question. I think that's more important as far as priority. I was just wondering since you brought up nutrients.

Perhaps everyone should begin by reading the many posts within the forum... it's all there...

And probably in threads with very similar names...

Quick note here (yes it is elsewhere in the forum too but just to catch anyone before they set up a system to kill fish.)

Copper and zinc (like in galvanized tanks) can quickly build up to dangerous levels for fish. These two materials need to be very carefully monitored in fish systems. Yes zinc and copper in small amounts are needed by fish people and plants but the use of copper plumbing or galvanized tanks could provide way too much for fish safety especially if the system swings to the acid side.


As to trying to compile a list of all the nutrient/micro nute contents and needs of all the plants and perhaps feed sources. Yes this info might be nice to have but I know I don't have any of the equipment or testing supplies or knowledge to measure even a fraction of these things. There are hydroponic manuals out there that might be able to tell you what nutrient mixes are optimized for growing certain crops in certain situations. I'm not sure these sorts of things really apply to growing AP veggies and fish on a backyard scale. Heck, often the formulations are very specific for growing a very specific variety of some plant in a particular location/season/type of hydroponic system.

Good luck with collecting what info you can.

Here are a few supplements I have found safe to add to my system. These are all things that have been used in my system at the amounts I have added them. I have never dosed anything more often than weekly, more usually about every 3 weeks.

Shells, buffer pH and provide calcium (they are mixed throughout my grow bed media, I do not recomend this though)
pealed bananas, several burried in the grow beds. (I did this once early in my system)
murate of potash (potassium chloride) I think I've used as much as a couple tablespoons at a time per 1200 gallons of Gravel beds. (I used this before I got my hands on Maxicrop)
Iron sulfate as much as 2 pints in 1200 gallons of gravel beds at one time Or spray on plants according to the lable directions (I used this before I got my hands on Chleated Iron)
Maxicrop original 0.1-0-1. About a quart per 1200 gallons of gravel beds at one time (every one to 4 weeks)
Chleated Iron. about a tablespoon at one time in 1200 gallons of gravel beds (every 2 to 6 weeks)