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Learning and failing my newly set up aquaponics system
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Author:  shelleysplace [ Jun 30th, '13, 03:07 ]
Post subject:  Learning and failing my newly set up aquaponics system
I am getting brown spots on my leaves on my tomato plants and cucumber plants. The heat is about 100 deg. every day now. I put some lattice above the plants to partially block the sun. The squash has yellowing leaves also. any suggestions?

I have several tilapia in my tank but they are very small. So the fish are not producing enough waste to help the plants yet. I didn't read that you were not supposed to plant flowering plants in aquaponics until the fish were bigger and system had cycled until after I had planted them and the plants were about 6 inches tall. (My Bad) Still learning....

My lettuce is coming up ok but all is growing very slow. I added ph down today for the first time. My PH was running about 8.5. And I added chlorine reducer today also (for the first time.) I didn't even think about it until now. Been trying to do all my homework on this but missing so much. I am hoping joining here will help me do better! My nitrites spiked today and went up to the top of the chart. They were reading 0 in the past. My nitrates are 160 ppm also. Ammonia is low.

I have a bell syphening system that rises about 1/2 inch above the gravel and then drains to 3 inches left on the bottom. My gravel is about 8 inches deep. I bought some composting worms but they haven't made enough waste to put on the beds yet. I have added about 1/4 cup epson salt to a 250 gal tank, and some pot ash and lyme and also added iron (about 1/4 cup each time) x 2.

That sums up where I am right now. Can someone help me get on the right track. I so want to succeed at this although my efforts don't look to promising at the moment.
Author:  Slowboat [ Jun 30th, '13, 13:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning and failing my newly set up aquaponics system
how big are your grow beds?
how long has it been running?

can you post some pictures?

When you say "rises about 1/2 inch above the gravel"

should the max water level be 1 or 2 inches below the gravel?
Author:  shelleysplace [ Jul 3rd, '13, 09:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning and failing my newly set up aquaponics system
I lowered the water level to 1/2 inch below gravel
Author:  shelleysplace [ Jul 3rd, '13, 10:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning and failing my newly set up aquaponics system
Im not sure how to post pics. If I can figure it out I would gladly post some
Author:  shelleysplace [ Jul 4th, '13, 03:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning and failing my newly set up aquaponics system
This is a pic of my cucumbers

Attachments:
File comment: cucumbers
Plants-7.jpg
Plants-7.jpg [ 81.32 KiB | Viewed 6145 times ]
Author:  shelleysplace [ Jul 10th, '13, 21:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning and failing my newly set up aquaponics system
Plants are doing so much better now! Added liquid seaweed! Amazing stuff!

Attachments:
grow beds 7-8-13-5.jpg
grow beds 7-8-13-5.jpg [ 87.75 KiB | Viewed 6071 times ]
Author:  Mr Damage [ Jul 11th, '13, 01:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning and failing my newly set up aquaponics system
Quote:
My lettuce is coming up ok but all is growing very slow. I added ph down today for the first time. My PH was running about 8.5. And I added chlorine reducer today also (for the first time.) I didn't even think about it until now. Been trying to do all my homework on this but missing so much. I am hoping joining here will help me do better! My nitrites spiked today and went up to the top of the chart. They were reading 0 in the past. My nitrates are 160 ppm also. Ammonia is low.

I have a bell syphening system that rises about 1/2 inch above the gravel and then drains to 3 inches left on the bottom. My gravel is about 8 inches deep. I bought some composting worms but they haven't made enough waste to put on the beds yet. I have added about 1/4 cup epson salt to a 250 gal tank, and some pot ash and lyme and also added iron (about 1/4 cup each time) x 2.

First bit of advice... STOP treating your aquaponics system like it's a chemistry set!

You don't need Epsom salts, potash, lime etc at this point... and the Iron will only be of benefit it's chelated... and only a level teaspoon per 1000L is required.

Seasol or Maxicrop at 2 caps per week, per 1000L would be sufficient.

2nd... adding pH Down and Lime are contradictory!

3rd... set the water level to about 40-50mm below the surface of the gravel.

4th... the worms go in the grow bed.

5th... Dechlorinator wouldn't be required if your water had already been in the system for 24hrs or more... and isn't recommended for use in aquaponics, it can be harmful to plants supposedly... simply aerate your tap water in a separate drum for 24hrs prior to adding to the system.
Author:  earthbound [ Jul 11th, '13, 10:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning and failing my newly set up aquaponics system
+1... :)
Author:  shelleysplace [ Jul 21st, '13, 20:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning and failing my newly set up aquaponics system
Mr Damage, thank you for all your help. My plants all seem to be doing great but the squash. It is yellowing with white spots on the leaves. The veins are dark though. This just started about 3 days ago. The plants are not very large for apprx. 10 weeks of growth and have buds all over them but only male flowers. They are only approx. 1 ft. tall. I desperately want to save them. I will post a pic on next comment. All my plants are flowering well but no vegetation! :(. I have put worms in the grow beds and added some worm tea to them yesterday also.
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