Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

My classes have 2 pretty much identical systems running. In one system, which are young 2 weeks running now but have been "seeded", the seedlings of pak choi and tomato look good. In the second the seedlings are starting to curl downwards and wilt. At this point we are running pumps 24/7. I need to pick up some timers to flood and drain the GBs. Any ideas why the leaves are curling?

Gregg

How do the systems run, trickle feed or are they continually flooded? Wilting can be from the seedlings not getting enough water or it can be from lack of O2 due to water logging. Once you get flood and drain going, hopefully things will get better.

What are the temperatures? Air/water

Do the seedlings perk up in the morning or are they just getting worse each day?

The beds are continually flooded. The water has very good aeration and the temp. is 74 F so I guess about 23 C.
The seedlings are too new to see any differences through the day. I will make better observations on Monday.

I'm thinking maybe they are water logged. Hopefully cycling the pumps will alleviate the problem.

Thanks!!!!

gregg

Yep, waterlogged.

What might make for wonderful aeration in a system that is flood and drain or trickle feed, does not necessarily constitute enough aeration for DWC (deep water culture) or NFT nutritent film technique). A continually flooded bed would be kinda like deep water culture and unless you have air stones installed under the planting area in the gravel, those seedlings could easily be suffering from lack of aeration in a continually flooded bed. The difference between the seedlings in the two beds could easily be a slight level difference in the water.