Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

This thread has been set up for board member Termite who needs some help with his system. Tell us about your problems Termite - but first give a full description of your system.

I am using a continuous flow system. I got myself a blow up pool 2,500lit last October and have now about 80 Jade Perch happily swimming around growing madly and doing fine they are about 6inches long now. I pump the pond water into 2 200lt barrels cut in half, via a pipe with 3x 6mm holes for each bed at the back of the barrels. The water then filters through the gravel and out the front of the barrells into a gutter and returnes back into the pond. I have 3x6mm holes drilled in the front of the barrels, about 5mm from the bottom and a larger hole at the top of the barrel at the front about 12mm below the level of the gravel as an overflow if needed. The system seems to work fine. Now for the problem. I have planted capsicums, Roma Tomatoes and Lettuce and they all grow extreemly well, much faster and stronger than the garden stock, that is until following flowering when the plant fails to set its fruit then quickly wilts and dies, the lettuce leaves go brown while the plant is still young then die. Upon inspection of the plant the roots haven't grown much at all.
I forgot tho mention that the entire system is under cover, the pond has a solid roof and the grow beds have clear laserlight.
What am I doing wrong?

I don't think it sounds like you have enough spread of your water over the gravel Is it possible that the roots just aren't getting enouigh contact with the water?

were the roots brown and mushy?
think not enough potasium.
How long ago did this happen?
and how old were the romas? and lettuce?
C1

Pictures!!!! (please?)

setting of fruit id say lack of potassium and or phoshorous, but none of us have any problem with that, and you are not removing solids so maybe thats not the actual problem.

Roots not growing much at all, i've seen pics of lettuce roots (from the AP talks in melb) and high temps can inhibit root growth for lettuce anyway........what are your water temps?

might be a lack of oxygenation in the growbeds how long is the pumping time and then the non pumping time? If its running continuously then id lay my money on lack of onygenation. Again IF this is the case then you can try one of two things, if you are running a relatively small pump, then convert the growbeds to flood and drain ala lkb's autosiphon system or a looped pipe like simmo. this will give the gravel water and roots 100% oxygen every drain cycle.

I'm hoping that you are running the pump continuously, as i'm all out of other possible causes!

have you measured the PH? if not then please do and post it.

Welcome, we'll sort ya out, then you can post lots of nice piccies!

Steve

I was waiting for a few answers but I think a combo low pot and wet feet.
figure you have nit & Ph as you have growth but was curious about the time line as I have some tommies that are doing a similar thing...
thing is those ones I don't expect to get fruit off 'cause its to late in the season for them.

Hi termite, I'm at Burpengary and may be able to drop in some time, off doing holiday stuff this weekend - I have Pm'd ya

Wow thank's for the interest.
After reading your comments I have got some things to try but just to answer some of your questions; PH is 7.6 , roots were brown and mushy,The pump I am using is a 200watt pond pump and I think it runs at about 1,000 litres an hour I have been running the system continuously 24/7 the water level in the grow beds is just under the top of the gravel say about 10mm maybe wet feet is the problem. I planted the caps, tomatoes and lettuce in December by February the lettuce were had it and the tomatoes were'nt far behind the Caps flowered in March and are now on their way to the happy hunting ground. I live in Queensland just north of Brisbane maybe it is just still too hot for them.
Steve if I should'nt run a continuous flow system continuously what do recommend.
Thanks
I will send some pics when I can steal my Daughters camera.

Flood and drain perhaps would work better.

Are the roots brown and mush on all the plants Termite? or are some of the plants not getting much water, while others are getting copius amounts? This can be a bit of an issue with some continuous flow systems, the water goes straight to the bottom of the bed and flows along the bottom to the outlet so some plants can't really get to the water..

Is the bed continuously flooded termite as opposed to being continuously wetted by water taht is draining through the bed?

Figure tmite has gone to flog the camera and take some shot.
C1

hey termite.

I bet that with the pump running 24/7 you have water exiting the bed via the TOP drain hole as well as the bottom?

IMHO whats gonna be happening is that once filled the majority of the water is going to "track" down a certain path, causing serious areas of low oxygen. The plant root probably look much the same as if the plants were sown into a boggy non draining soil, yeh?

THE FIX: take Les up on his offer and get yourself converted to some type of autosyphon or timed flood and drain.

Termite?