Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Planted herb in pouch.-used cut-out bucket to help planting

Plants won't take up nitrite. 0 degrees will mean that you have limited if not zero bacterial activity so that might cause the spike in nitrite.

Pouches look awesome - you could even bury them so the bottom just touches the water line and let them wick up the soil.

Temperature in greenhouse averages 12 to 15 C with heat- outside temperature just freezing 0 C. sorry for misunderstanding.Concerning the pouches- that sounds a good idea to put the bottom of pouch on the water line I filled them with coconut coir then planted .I noticed the coir top layer is damp ,not sure whether the top should be dry or not ?

lettuce have planted seeds in aquaponics system using pouch method lettuce seen in picture hope to add to the D. W.T system

In the United Kingdom you need licence to keep trout ,not for Tilapia .

Reference Lettuce- seem to be doing alright ,just pictures showing insulation in workshop as part part of the roof I replaced with see through Perspex - plan to start plants /seedlings then transfer to aquaponics system .The beer doing a good job keeping down slugs -weather quite mild for this time of year although they predict a bad winter ? .The greenhouse I keep temperatures at about 10C to 15C -the grow light makes quite a difference by about 5 to 7 C . The herbs are doing well in the grow pouches -have purchased some very small pouches- plan to use them in the D W T system -I would say they would do very well -just need grow lights for W D T system . The bottom picture shows cut out bucket round herb pouches- good way to plant herbs etc. Just push down bucket into hydroton stones makes it easier to remove stones before planting

Reference .Planted lettuce in pouches -I am finding they are doing quite well comparing the lettuce in the grow beds ,Coconut coir might be the way forward for small aquaponics systems ,trying out plants in the DW T system again- they are doing well .although I need some more grow lights .At the moment it is just below -2 degrees ,keeping greenhouse at 10 C .Well at last I have a ripe tomato plant

looking good John.

Happy New Year, I had a bug problem putting beer down seems to have cured the slugs The temperature is about minus 2 at the moment- I keep the greenhouse about tem degrees C plants doing alright -looking forward to the new year good to hear from you -your system looks great I wish I had a bigger garden rather limited to two small greenhouses ,now it's a question of making the aquaponics system work producing small amounts of food on a regular basis ,Cheers

Hey John - have you researched the coir? I think you're meant to rinse it thoroughly as it has salt in it.

Lettuce, spring onions and silverbeet are a stable here in the aquaponics system during winter.

Thanks for information I rinsed the coir before use .The lettuce are twice the size than the lettuce growing in the hydroton stones .I wonder whether they will make long pouches to accommodate lettuce ? to help create some sort of rota system ,the good thing about the pouches they seem to keep out bugs .I found a good spray recipe on YOUTUBE one cup of tomato leaves infused in a cup of water for several hours -then mixed in a food processor add one cup of water strain through a muslin cloth add to a spray gun- spray plants to kill aphids etc.

Hi well have some lettuce at last lettuce leaves rather open -need infrared light will purchase in the summer time .heating in fish tank 69 F bacteria seem to be doing quite well ,looking forward o a better growing season-" I had two aquaponics systems on the go ,the first small system I have shut down transferred fish to main system summer will recycle system to grow root vegetables .Have been using choir ,good idea to wash salt from choir before using ,planted tomatoes in pouches from seed .Going back to lighting infra red light makes the lettuce close up as opposed to open leaf ,read about it somewhere ? needs citation

Hey John,
I've been searching for low light plants. Here is my list of edibles so far:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BNP ... sp=sharing

Thanks for information ,have been growing small type lettuce they seem do be doing quite well To day planted tomatoes in choir pouches ,the bacteria are coming in now colonising the system so will make a great difference this coming spring and summer .I added more fish by closing down the first system no heating in fish tank so the bacteria are next to nothing -hopefully recycle in the late spring -I plan to buy large pouches and grow potatoes beet carrots .looking into heating water in aquaponics system I use electric glass thermostat heaters ,are there any better systems .the gas heater in greenhouse I have gone back to oil filled radiators much cheaper to run- gas bottle to replace cost about £28.00 pounds ,lasted about a month ,not worth the cost will keep gas heater on one degree c for emergency only .Winter here nights about 3 below freezing on average not to bad touch wood . when planting pouches I find by placing a bucket with bottom cut out pushed into the hydroton stones ,makes it easier place pouch inside bucket pull up stones go back into place job done easier than trying to push pouch in to hydroton I did wash the choir Cheers