Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

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Yes, mulm nitrates can be got through roots mainly ...
I was emphasizing that aquatic plants will compete with bacteria and thus you will have a lower bacteria population which is bad for terrestrial plant AP.
So this is dangerous and you need to take care of this, that all.

I have not setup planted tanks, this is a weed, hydrilla. I don't even have a glass tank! Only plastic tubs.
Plus only 4 months of experience (including the 1 month cycle time)

So I'm really nooby. (Besides it says your're bordering on legend! There's no competition here for the noob prize between us )

Yeah sure... this gets a confirmation from Dr. Savidov's hydroponics comparision experiment.
So it may not be about just the water and whatever is in solution in it ... !

It was long help that aquaponics would only successfully grow lettuce, basil etc... not flowering, fruiting plants....

Perhaps because the majority of early systems were DWC/floating raft style opeartions...

The advent of flood and drain gravel growbeds changed that perception (as widely demonstrated by many here)... although many have questioned why such growbeds are successfull in this regard.....

Most here would in fact probably say it's for exactly the reasons you postulate Don.... the plants take up not only the nitrates but necessary trace elements directly through the extensive (deep) root structures that flood and drain growbeds encourage....

And IMHO... it's because such beds trap the solids which DWC systems, or those that employ primary solids filters/skimmers, remove..... the breakdown of the solids, which is done by bacteria, no doubt provides the "sludge" available to the roots to enable the direct nitrate uptake....

Which is why, other than NFT, (which requires it).... most of us can't really understand the desire to remove solids by pre-filtering....

don't forget the worms. Worms need a place to work and the grow beds are great for them!
Sorry just had to throw that in after reading the worms in the sump thread

i didnt check your link to the aquatic plants, but be careful about generalizations in websites.

for example, as far as i know, duckweed's preferred N source is ammoina where as Java moss prefers NO2

i think it may be plant specific.

IMHO be patient and let it work, sometimes the mystery of things is wonderful. A quote from and old friend "I measure I worry"

Oh ok Steve...

If you're bored do have skim through that page, it's not that bad.

Yay i don't need a test kit then. (just kidding.)
Yes of course too much fruitless introspection and unneccesary worrying will be of no use.

Well that's just poured cold water over fifty years of my life then ....

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Members who have a growbed volume to fishtank volume of 1:4 or lesser or around that, could you please post a link to your threads here?

I want to look at your flood and drain rates or if it is continuous.
I could also learn something useful by reading your threads as I have such a system myself.

Hopefully, you're the only one!