Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

We are infested with ants in our growbeds. What I would normally use to get rid of them probably isn't good for the fish, or us later on when we eat them. I can catch a beetle or two, and even the odd crawly bug, but the little piss-ants are driving me nuts. Any suggestions?????

Beltie
TC has a current link on Fish safe plant treatments, ants get a mention

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH is supposed to be bad for all insects. You can get food grade DIATOMACEOUS EARTH that is supposed to be quite safe for people, livestock, fish and even earthworms yet still bad for insects. In fact we all probably eat some of it already as they use it to keep pests out of stored grain. It is often fed to livestock and used in many products.

I have not yet sprinkled my grow beds with it but I plan to try it out as there are ants everywhere here.

I have used the non-food grade stuff away from the AP system and it does seem effective in at least getting them to go away from an area.
Here is a link where I bought some.
https://www.earthworkshealth.com/
Only warnings I've really see about it, avoid breathing the dust or getting it in your eyes. It can be drying to the skin (it kills bugs by dehydrating them through their cuticle which the powder tends to abrade.) It is also bad for good bugs so avoid dusting where you have good bugs active.

Edit to above.

Don't use the pool Diatomaceous Earth as it is heat treated which changes the silica into a form that is dangerous.

AHHH another member just wrote about peppermint being used as a bug spray ,, it triggered my memory .
Normal mint is GREAT against ants ,, they HATE it. I remember growing mint near my back-door at previous house to rid us of this problem and it was very effective. Grow it or spray it .....,maybe this is the answer.

Ah right topic because I have ants farming aphids on some of my plants for weeks now!

Yes Chappo, the ants completely left the mint alone.

But growing mint nearby seems no use (as I have done it) - they just keep off the mint plants.
Maybe I should spray mint juice next.

If you have ants because they want to farm aphids, you can also forget the ants and try to drive the aphids away (easier) which will discourage the ants.

I sprayed garlic water today. I also put an ant bait of dough + sugar + sodium bicarbonate (cooking soda)
(I didn't have yeast, so I tried soda).
I am hoping the soda will release CO2 gas and burst the ants after they eat it. (It is supposed to be a remedy for cockroaches).
The ants are eating the bait now.


I'll report any success if any a few days later.

Like gokul i reckon crushed garlic maybe into a spray kills or repels mos insects, (In the Veggie Garden any way, recipe below from google

Make your own environmentally friendly Garlic Spray.

Garlic spray is generally an effective, short-term repellent and will kill some soft-bodied insects. Don't forget that garlic does smell, so be selective as to where you spray it.

Ingredients
3 large cloves of crushed garlic
1 teaspoon of liquid soap
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 litre of water

Method
Combine the garlic and vegetable oil and leave overnight to soak. Strain the mixture and add to the water and the liquid soap. Spray regularly.

Dilution
Use full strength. Shake before use.

Use with care
For later use, seal in a clean, clearly labelled, preferably childproof, plastic or glass container and store in a cool area.

Although environmentally friendly this home made spray can cause damage to innocent insects and bugs that just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, the same applies to fragile vegetation in the close proximity

Soap - fish ,, be VERY careful.

+1
Soap is probably only added as a wetting agent...try without soap first, and then think very carefully about whether you really need it.

Maybe the soap help mix the oil and water... but wouldn't use it with fish though.

I might try the above without soap.
But the oil and water will be separate.
What is the purpose of the oil? Does it dissolve certain substances from garlic? Maybe... whatever

DEFINATELY NO SOAP!!!

Why not block the outlet and flood the bed for a few hrs it wont hert the plants [ one of mine got ants and i flooded for 5 hrs no problem]

Might drown your worms tho ff?

Nah - mine did ok this one time.....lets just say a valve was turned off

No chance i got worms living in the flooded sump