Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've got a new beginner setup; aquaponicals. It is now 2 weeks old. I thought I would try to have a go with a miniature system first and the kids love having their own goldfish.

I'm having a small problem with my seeds that I scattered. They keep migrating towards the syphon, I'm finding all these little sprouts inside it. I've tried pulling them out and replanting, but they keep coming back.

I'm not sure how you can scatter seeds in a flood and drain? Should I just leave it and see what happens or try transplanting some larger plants into the system? Do I need smaller media to seed size ratio (I'm planting herbs).

(sorry for newb question. I tried a search, but couldn't find anything on sprout migration). At this point all the herbs are mixed in together. So much for my nicely sewn sections.

Have any pictures of the grow beds as you are currently running them? You really want the seeds to stick to the damp layer above the flood level for the water. Some will usually get washed away but it sounds like most of them are for you. Try raising the water level to wet the media higher up and then lower it and seed right after this. More of the seeds should stay above the water level but you might have to mist at first if they get too dry.

If you're using expanded clay the media may be floating and for this you'd need to lower the water level (The media usually stops floating after a while). You may not realize this is going on, whole plants just disappear beneath the media or move around very slowly, all very mysterious . This would probably deposit your seeds into the water and move them toward the siphon so it could be what's going on.

You could also remove the siphon and Run Constant Flood for a bit while the seeds get established.

@scotty435 - If i am not mistaken, i think Ezzo is running a commercial premade system. Not sure how much leeway she is allowed to tinker with.

@Ezzo - +1 with scotty435 on the pictures, try posting up photos of the system and problematic areas, it will help to advice you better.

Regards

With the size of your grow bed, I'd just said over sow, and then thin them out when they grow. Some might move, but once they take off a bit, they'll be stuck there.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CABzyWkUUAAnPib.jpg:large is basic diagram of the set-up.

ding, we have a winner on floating media.

From all the floating media I have, the water didn't go and drain, which would mean that the pump would run dry, so I would add another cup of water like I was instructed to. Whoops. Basically the grow bed is a bath when flooded. And the floating seems to be getting worse.

I'm wondering also if the auto syphon is too high in comparison to the media? I may need to buy some extra media anyway, so could get a heavier one to weigh it down.

I had a search on-line and saw some people say it got better, but mine doesn't seem to be, despite the soaking it has had.

This is the reason you'll sometimes see me (rarely in recent history though) recommend making the standpipe removable - it allows you to interchange standpipes and put a shorter one in (and some other things), and that lowers your water level. If you can't change the standpipe height try removing the siphon and running Constant Flood. It seems like with siphons the water will be a bit higher than without. Adding more media might help as well.

The hole in the standpipe looks quite small as well.

You could always put the seeds in a single layer of toilet paper. That will help them stay in place and they will grow through the paper.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk