Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well it’s been a while since my last update. This summer went really well! Lots of tomatoes, strawberries, green onions, and beans. The cucumber started strong and then after a few nice ones it puttered out. The cantaloupe, squash, and pumpkins did the same but did not have a long enough growing season to really produce. All in all I would have to say I am VERY impressed with the results. My family and friends really enjoyed it as well, I have had 3 requests to help others build one!

With fall here and cold weather upon us I took the system inside. That was a bit of a chore! The only plants that came inside with the system where the strawberries (they currently fill one full side of the growbed). I did my best to remove any root balls and leaves that were in the system but ended with a considerable amount of loose smaller roots and root hairs floating around in the GBs. I do not have any filtration in place apart from red wigglers for some solids removal. I picked up some things to start a swirl filter and plan to get that installed as soon as I deal with the HUGE fungal gnat infestation I have (mosquito dunk and mosquito bits are on the way thanks to Amazon)!!! My guess would be they have been in the system for some time but I did not notice until I brought the system inside and the adult gnats had nowhere to go. I had never looked for larva in the water till I noticed the gnats in my basement. I did put a few cuttings from a philodendron in the system and after seeing what the larva have done to the philodendron cuttings I think I know why the cantaloupe, squash, and pumpkin vines started to fall short of expected growth.

I have a 400w HID, HPS grow light running 12 hours a day and already have half a dozen strawberries coming in, most of them are from runners. I have put a rosebush cutting, a few philodendron cuttings, and a couple of spider plants in the other GB (all before I noticed the gnats). Last night I couldn’t help myself and had to plant some tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and lettuce seeds as well as another cantaloupe. I plan on adding an eggplant and green pepper plant as well. As this is my first time growing under artificial light I expect this to be a learning process.

So does anyone have a tip on a good way to clean out the GB?

Also any pointers on growing indoors under artificial light? Maybe I can avoid a rookie mistake.

On a side note, as I will be doing all my gardening inside for a while, I have decided to start a Portobello mushroom patch… My wife is thinks I’m nuts… she may be right