Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all

I had been wondering how to plant out seedlings into the grow beds, and saw that you can wash out the soil etc and then transplant the plant into the grow medium...

However, I was wondering if I could do it another way.

In the past for planting into soil I've started my own seedings in jiffy peat pellets. The pellets are placed in water to soak and swell up, the seed is placed in the small hole at the top and covered with a tiny bit of vermiculite, then all the pellets are placed on a tray with some water in the base. All the pellets stay wet and I've had a very high success rate with most germinating and growing well. Once the roots start to poke through the outer edge of the pellet, the entire seedling/pellet is transplanted into the soil, with no disturbance to the root system and minimal transplant shock. The roots grow out through the pellet and into the surrounding soil.

Do you think you could do the same thing in an aquaponic system? There would be no soil or other material to wash from the roots, and the peat stays put in the little membrane cover.

I've added a pic of a dead basil plant, which has grown, been uprooted and now it's been sitting in a pile waiting to compost so the pellet is looking a bit sad, but you can see the pellet and the root system that developed through it.

If the peat pellet wouldn't add anything (or anything nasty) to the system, I thought it might be a quick and clean way to transplant. Any ideas?

Stella,
I once was able to purchase those at the local hardware, but no more. Can you post the actual trade name for them so I can order some from the garden shop or perhaps even on eBay...(perish the thought, everything is always more expensive on eBay)
They are great. (the Juffy pellets that is)
I really can't see why they would not be just the thing for Aquaponics..... Others may know more.
Murray

I've bought them online at www.diggers.com.au as 'Jiffy pellets'.

4cm x 4cm pellets are approx $20 for 114, @ 18c each (20c each if you buy small numbers).

You can also get 100 3.5cm x Jiffy pellets from ebay, (or Jiffy Coir pellets made from coconut husk) for $19.50.

It would probably cost a bit more than growing in soil etc, however I'd find it worth it not to have to fiddle around and make a mess - plus the ease of transplanting into the grow beds when they're ready too.

The concern I have with the pellets is that I have been told that if you want to lower your ph you can use peat moss. I asked how low it would go before it stabilised and was told about it would go to about pH 4 which is really low.

the similar thing i have been thinking about is the earth/rock wool that is used in normal hydroponics to grow seedlings before plant out. They are pH neutral in my understanding but are more expensive then the jify pellets. very similar theory though

Hi,

I think both have merit.

Very true nick, peat can lower the PH and also reduce gerneral hardness of the water, but i wouldn't expect it to drop to PH 4 unless huge amounts were used.

i have previously used fair amounts of peat moss in aquariums to lower the gerneral hardness of the water with little ph drift. Having said that the water was very well buffered with carbonate.

Peat is probably cheaper than the rockwool

Stella maybe just keep an eye on the PH as nich mentioned if you want to use the peat?

Murray,

You have blasphemed against the sacred EBAY. May your jade perch turn silver

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 7772393672

For anyone who needs a 300W heater. Heats a 200 litre (maybe more)aquarium up to 27C nicely as long as its a little isolated from the great outdoors.

I've bought 4 as a stop gap for my 1000 lt tank

That's one way to make sure you pay more for them Steve

I know VB, but i'm kind at heart..............

No doubt the same guy imports them from china and has rolling auctions going

Besides if it was something that was a once off i'd not mention anything and bid 3 seconds before auction end. (i've been known to get in 1 sec before close )

By the way, the mariane aquarium i listed in the buy swap and trade section ends on ebay in about 18 hrs. 1200 page views, and 20 people watching the auction! not bad

I know VB, but i'm kind at heart..............

No doubt the same guy imports them from china and has rolling auctions going

Besides if it was something that was a once off i'd not mention anything and bid 3 seconds before auction end. (i've been known to get in 1 sec before close )

By the way, the mariane aquarium i listed in the buy swap and trade section ends on ebay in about 18 hrs. 1200 page views, and 20 people watching the auction! not bad

Who's wbf666 that buys 200 litre drums and 4 heaters? An Aquaponist me thinks

if you want good aqarium stuff, search google for the age of aquariums shop at browns plains, the heaters are $10 but shipping is only a flat $7, they also do good pump prices and all the other stuff that you need

I don't think he's into Bon Jovi at least

Warren

Thanks Nick.

Now i hope that someone out bids me

Will look at the rest of their products too.