Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have 1/2 barrel beds with clay balls that I scatter seeds in. I've done this many times in the past with great results. This time when the spinach sprouted to about an inch or so, with one or two leaves the next morning they were eaten to a single stalk. I have a product called That's it! that is killer on snails and slugs,nothing there the next day. But everytime a seed sprouts, they get eaten. I've sprinkled Seven no dice, re-washed the bed in place by flooding with a hose, nada. Now this bed also has 4 pepper plants in it that are untouched as is the next bed with young cabbage with no signs of pest. Nice green leaves and wot not. Ideas anyone? Starting to drive me a little crazier than I already am!

Look at the base of the plants that were eaten and you may find a cutworm or armyworm. There are also some semi-aquatic insects that go through a stage where they like to do this sort of thing. Crane Fly larvae are a good example (normally they just chew up your lawn but they'll get into the AP and do the same). The larvae feed at night and crawl up the stem to do this.

You might be able to tell what's eating the plants if you go out with a flashlight - I usually find an hour after dark and around 10 or 11PM to be pretty good times. Here in Oregon I find lots of snails, slugs and crane fly larvae. I also get cutworms and armyworms at certain times of the year. If you find one crane fly larvae you've likely got many more in the bed.

If your fish are actively eating they will chow down on crane fly larvae and armyworms . Here's what they look like although their color is sometimes darker -

http://bugguide.net/node/view/380559

Check at night for slugs/snails.

They usually come out for mine.

No snails or slugs and the only worms I can see are the red wigglers I put in the beds a year ago. So for a couple of days, I raised the stand pipe, remove the bell and flooded the bed. Nothing floating on top other than a couple of seeds. Right now, the stand pipe is out and letting it dry out for a couple of days to see what happens. Btw, it may be the hydratron, I had just added 200 liters a week ago. Is that even possible? These beds are in a greenhouse and it is currently cold as in 20f at night and low 50'sf during the day. I'm at my wits end.

Post up some pictures we may recognize the damage. On another note I would avoid using things like Seven without first having some idea what you're up against and whether it will affect your fish (you may already have some idea but I rarely see this used here - pretty common for soil gardens though) .

I had mice eating all my seedlings. Had to trap them all. I found that if I leave them be I get snakes and believe it or not the snakes were as destructive to the seedlings as the mice were. Snakes don't care where they go to the bathroom and their urine is terribly strong and it destroys the grow media.