Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So i'm trying out some microgreens but i keep seeing some of the seeds have this strange mold. I made sure that the area the microgreens are on doesn't pool with water yet i still got mold growth on some of my seeds. i added a picture to show what it looks like

Are you using fish water? I would think that for microgreens you would just need plain water without any nutrients..

yes we are using aquaponic water

are you aiming for sprouts or microgreens? sprouts only need plain water as they use seed nutrient only, whereas microgreens benefit from an external nutrient source.

I grew sunflower sprouts in a coir F&D bed sat in one of my AP growbeds for a while and didn't have any mold issues - how are you watering/what is the substrate you are using?

I'd like to hear what the issues are, as well. I'm about to start a microgreens endeavor myself.

Oh well i think that i am watering them too much. I only need to water them once a day but i have been watering them 8 times a day. I'm also gonna add in a fan to keep them nice and dry

If you are starting micros in a sterile media there should not be any fungi, mold or algae unless you are adding and outside nutrient. The seed itself carries enough nutrients to spout and then relies on your input of nutrients once true leaves appear as stated. I just made that up...lol. But in theory this is true. IMO there is need for nutes for backup and future nutes. Initially there is a tap root that follows the water trail to it's source. When the media is sterile and has no nutes it branches into hair-like roots to see which one finds the best source, I just made that up too!

Also some of that can be a gel from the seed it's self. Especially with basil. Part of the germination process. This was our microgreens effort. It produces fine without anything but good old H20.

Oh for sure i've seen that gel like mold substance on basil before. The mold in this case is just for sure due to over saturation of the seeds i think.