Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

@bcotton duckweed offers the same (or better) growth as commercial food? I have had different results...

no



They will live but i wouldnt consider it happy or healthy. There's just not enough balanced nutrition in those sources alone. Duckweed is a good food supplement

The systems can putter along quite nicely with 0 nitrates. Don't worry about it too much. Just do the sums and stock to your filtration capabilities. The fish will grow, you don't want to have to worry about it later on.

I've only seen nitrates in my system twice, and it didn't last very long. But the plants are still growing nicely.

I need some help. I drained my duckweed and found these things crawling out of the rocks like spiders. WHAT THE HECK IS THIS? I live in central California so it is a warm tropical like environment. I need to know what is is so I know if I need to get rid of it. Thanks!

Hiya Nick, looks like a dragon fly larvae to me.

Thank you very much! I think you nailed it, the google images look exactly like what I have living in my GB. I love dragonflys and I am happy to give them a nice home. I just hope there is enough food for them in my system!

Greenhouse (tent) issue, we have been having low greenhouse temperatures (not tank, just greenhouse) in the mornings. Morning temps outside have been 57 degrees and the greenhouse will be 60 degrees. I expected more than 3 degrees of difference from the outside air, otherwise when we hit the 35-40 degree stretch of winter, we are in trouble!

Issues I see:

The biggest one, is that I never finished the greenhouse. It sits on cinder-blocks every 5 feet and is allowing air to pass in and out of the greenhouse to easily.

Humidity, while good to prevent the air from transferring hot and cold as quickly it also holds the cold on the thin plastic walls and how will I deal with mold in the winter?

I have dealt with #1 I think see the pictures below. We will see how tomorrow morning looks. #2 is something I need some help on!

Hopefully you're right, but never say never! I've had at least 3 "my own stupid fault" Fishkill's over the years, and have not yet recovered completely from the most recent one. Hang in there and don't give up!

Thank you, I still check my tank everyday expecting a massacre that is only my fault. Take away's:

- Above all, Patience.

- Only change one thing at a time.

- Consult multiple sources before adding something to your ecosystem.

- Test daily, test both sources before adding, cycle a little and test again, then test after at intervals.

- Enjoy every day that all you have to do is harvest and feed the fish.