Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

System details (indooors) based in Ireland
FT: 300L (Goldfish)
pH 6.5
Temp 20degC
Nitrate around 5-10ppm

See attached Pictures.
I cant figure this out, looks like iron but I am adding about 60ml of natural Seaweed extract every week which seems very excessive?
Is it just low Nitrates?
The plants (4 of them) are making regular fruits that mature fully and are very tasty but just the leaves dont look right at all. I should mention that the plants have been producing 24/7 since about 3 years. Could they be just old?

Also this kind of upwards curling of the leaves could that be a hint of something?

The LED's are serious I wonder is it too much? About 30W per plant

Hmm, I think you've got a couple of things going on. The lower leaves with the dead tips indicate a potassium deficiency. The yellowing between the veins is probably an iron deficiency although usually this only affects the top of the plant. Seaweed extract doesn't necessarily contain iron, you have to have one that specifically contains iron in sufficient quantities to supply what's needed if your food source for the fish isn't getting the job done. Hope this helps.

Cheers

PS: I think the upward curling has to do with the way that strawberry leaves un-curl as they flatten out. I'm just working from memory but I think most of the healthy ones here seem to have something like this so I believe it's probably normal.

I’m just a beginner, but my strawberry plants looked like that in the spring, and greened up when I supplemented with EDTA chelates iron.

Thanks Guys.

So the product I use literally just says 100% Natural seaweed extract and has no ingredients. So maybe it doesnt have enough iron to make a dent.

Will order some proper chelated Iron and try. I know an aquaponic shop that sells it just would have preferred a more natural way.


Thanks for that. I am adding potassium bicarbonate daily to hold the 6.5pH. amount 2gr/350L system water.
Is there any other way to add potassium without affecting pH?


Thanks for that, little snippets of info like that are just worth gold!

Other ways to get potassium
1. Your seaweed extract probably has some so you could spray apply it. It might be more available this way since it won't have to compete with nutrients that are in the system water.

2. Potassium nitrate - Bassically fertilizer and this probably isn't organic so wouldn't be approved but it can be spray applied according to the directions on the package. If there aren't any dirrections then do a search on the forum. I think Dasboot did this at some point.

3. You may be able to spray apply the potassium bicarbonate. Again this would avoid the potassium having to compete with other ions for uptake.

Thanks scotty never thought about it that way with it having to comete, makes sense, will try