Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi there, I have set new aquaponic system with ft 1000 lt 1 sump 650 lt amd 3 grow beds 250 lt each. I have planted from the seedlings and they were fine for couple of days but new I have seen some strange discoloring on the leaves and they fall as well. I don't have fish ATM just using seaweed extract. I have attached the pics. Is there anyone to help me with the leaves falling and what am I doing wrong?






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The last two photos look like the leaves might be dying or dead because of spider mites. They are very difficult to see without a magnifying glass.

Earlier images are more likely nutrient related but could be bacterial and you should try to prevent splashing on the leaves if possible.

Nutrition isnt enough or too much nutrition ?

Thanks for the response,
cheers

Hi Flying Metal.
I am suspicious of the accuracy of your pH meter. New systems are often quite alkaline for the first few months and the rock in your GBs look to me like Dolomite, also alkaline. This would cause iron deficiency in the leaves similar to the yellowing in some of your plants. The others, like Scotty mentioned look like insect attack.
Is there anyway you can check the calibration of your pH meter?
If I am right, it would be beneficial to add a foliar spray of chelated iron to the plants, and a little to the sump tank as well.
My system is nearly 18 months old and still the pH hovers around 8, but is gradually dropping. (I used scoria in the grow beds...also quite alkaline and my plants looked similar to yours for the first few months. My pH was then 8.2 to 8.3).

Have you cycled the system ?
Do you have any Nitrates ?
If you have cycled why haven't you added fish ? Without fish and quality feed you will have precious title nutrients as your plants show.
Your PH at 7.8 is locking out any benefit from the seaweed,so at the moment your trying to grow plants in water.
Drop your PH,without fish it's straight forward,add fish start feeding and things should change,it's most probably to late for the plants you have,they will recover but will never reach there full potential.
There are other factors that will come into play but they can be addressed as things get going,as was mentioned by Scotty about the spider mites sick plants are magnets to all bugs and pests.
One thing you could try is to foliar feed the plants,the will help them but I would rather swap them out when I know I am building nutrients.