Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

The feed D.E. will work, but not the pool DE. It's milled too fine, and doesn't work nearly as well. It's also heat treated so that the silicon dioxide is converted to crystalline silica, a harmful abrasive to the respiratory system. Don't pay extra for "food grade" DE. I wouldn't eat DE...food grade or not. people try to us eit for fleas on their pets, and it dries their skin out. Duh...it's a desiccant. Colum is right..once DE gets wet, it's worthless as a pesticide.

East, Spinosad is a safe for your fish as Bt, from my research. I've used it for over 9 months with no issues. It works very well with soft bodied insects. not as effective on scale and whitefly.

Well guys I finally found a feed store around here that carried the Spinosad and it works very very well. Thanks for the input, seems to be keeping everything at bay now

Just a small update, thought I would snap some pics while checking on things today.

Everything is booming. The grape toms that didnt die off have made a huge comeback and pepper plants have exploded especially with recent cooler temps. Only thing still not producing are the ghost peppers. They constantly just drop their buds. Thinking maybe it is still a little warm for them.

Wont be long and will be preparing for winter.

Sorry for poor pic quality









Some trimmings from toms are starting to grow

Your plants look like they are cranking along pretty well East. Might be good to check that plant in the second to last picture - maybe it's an optical illusion because of the back-lighting but the veins look much darker than the spaces between (nutrient deficiency maybe?).

Well into Fall already here in Oregon but haven't had to pull out all the tomatoes yet, keeping my fingers crossed on the weather though.

Cheers

I believe its just the weird lighting that going on with the shade cloth, that plant has been producing some nice bells.

It will be a bit before it gets real cold here, but I plan on trying to keep the GH heated all winter. The glass heats it up pretty good during the day, but at the night will have to run a heater. I used a little space heater last winter. It did well, and I didnt notice a dramatic difference in electric bill, but those things worry me as a fire hazard. I though about maybe running some heat lamps this winter, but do not know if they would produce enough heat to keep the inside in the high 40s low 50s during the night....

anyone have any experience with heat lamps?

Not sure about the heat lamps. I share your concern with the space heaters. Having some safety features is a good thing. I know the one I use shuts off if it tips over and I have it hooked to a GFCI outlet. Mine is slightly raised on a stepping stone as a precaution - I'd place it higher but the greenhouse size and layout won't allow for that and it can't do it's job as well. My greenhouse is close to but not attached to the house so this helps put aside some of my concerns. I'm also only heating to keep the temps above freezing so it doesn't run all the time.

I like your fans.. I am looking to get some as well for my greenhouse... I would like to find some 12v ones that I can hook up directly to a solar panel since they only need to run during the day when it is hottest anyhow.

Glad the Spinosad worked for you. There's another OMRI rated bacteria based fungicide that's supposed to work on most fungal and bacterial diseases coming out. Promises to be very good, and it's cheap. It's ordered and will be available in a week or 2.

Spinosad is very, very bad for bees. Don't put it on anything flowering they are hitting.

Just a little winter update. The green house is doing well at retaining heat on sunny days, and the space heater helps on over cast days. There are still alot of peppers I need to pick.

I think the peppers are starting fizzle out being they have producing for close to 4 months now.

Will start some new seeds inside soon then transplant to GH. Toms are growing great during the winter, and jap and bell plants are still going strong. Did a little pruning.

First big tom of the winter coming in



Jungle





Last nights harvest. Ready for the big toms to come in

Hey guys been a bit since been on. Trying to get back on gear for warmer weather but have a question.

I have one GB that won't break siphon. I think it's cause the bed as settled and there is an upward elevation on the drain pipe. I have tried 3 different siphon designs. Could this be why?

Here's a pic for reference. Just want some opinions before I start cutting

have you checked for root obstruction?

Was it working before?

yes, that could be why and is likely the problem.

10-4

Yes no root obstruction and all fallen gravel cleaned out. I imagined thats what it is, just didnt want it be lol.

Going to suck, but luckily its easy to access