Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

A conclusion I have reached for nutrient deficiency with cucumbers... My system needs IRON!!!! Is there any way to supplement iron without using clelated iron? The only reason I am asking is the availability in Province maybe limited.

inter venal chlorosis of older leaves is normally associated with potassium/magnesium deficiency. The light green in the new growth may be due to low iron.

What is the best way to fix the problem? seaweed extract?

if its potassium, and your ph is well below 7, you can use potassium bicarbonate or hydroxide to adjust it back up and add potassium.

Otherwise seaweed extract will work, or if you are really lacking lots of K, then you could use potassium sulphate when the ph is > 7. if you have not dosed with seaweed extract and its a new system I'd try that first.

Well my system is at 7.4 pH currently. I couldnt find pure seaweed extract here in my capital city but found this instead. Its really hard to find things here in the Philippines.








Soooo i hope this will do the trick! Thoughts?

Might need to be careful with that due to the zinc content - not sure of toxicity levels, but metals and fish sometimes don't mix well - would be worth doing some searches.

Also it has N and P so you may also need to watch for Ammonia spikes depending on the form of N it is (especially if the system is not fully cycled), and algal blooms depending on how much P your plants are using and how shaded your water is.

What are some other forms of supplements? Bone meal? I have access to a slaughter house, would dried bones work?

what if they bubble ???

Hey cowkicker if the stones bubble in vinegar it means that they contain limestone. Limestone will cause your pH to climb no matter how hard you work to bring it down. It is one of those long term losing battles. So you stear clear and get pH neutral media to dodge that issue.

Regards, Martin.

Can i use ground up bones to fix Potassium and Magnesium? it is very hard to find things here in the Philippines, i need to find alternatives...help...haha

That is similar to what I am using in my system for the last year. I use it sparingly and have not had any problems with the fish yet.

The bone meal or the organic shtuff that contains zinc?

Bone meal will provide phosphorous, not potassium. Banana skins have potassium in, you could also google making your own potash. eg
http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-grow ... onate.html - you would need to have low ph to use it though.

The organics stuff, mine is a different brand but similiar

How much per liter of water did you use?


It also says I can use as foliar spray but contents would still reach the fish i believe....