Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Oh one thing I forget to mention, I actually got brocalli off the system too, and it grew quite well.. the only trouble was, they only were like 7cm in diameter....

Would a lack of nutrients effect broc like this?

prolly too warm Mac

maybe too late in the season...pretty sure it flowers according to changing day length, so sometime in august-september it'll head up and flower...the bigger the plant is when it starts to go, the bigger the head

that's my theory anyway

From the internets:

"Plant Forming Very Small or No Heads is "Buttoning"

The cause of buttoning (producing little “buttons” instead of a big head) is hard to pinpoint. Broccoli is a heavy feeder, so inadequate fertilizer can cause the problem. Wide variations in water availability can also cause buttoning, especially a prolonged dry spell.


Yellow Flowers Appearing Before a Head Forms is “Bolting”

The appearance of yellow flowers all over the mature broccoli head signals that the plant has begun to set seed. This may be because the temperature has suddenly gotten too hot and the cool loving broccoli has hurried to flower and produce seed, called bolting, before it succumbs to the heat. In this situation use shade cloth to ward off the heat. It may also mean that the time to harvest the broccoli head has passed and it has matured to the next stage. Next year cut off the head earlier."

Maybe a bit of both, but I would definately point the finger at nutrients first - do you add seasol / maxicrop?

Personally I think it sounds a it right. Im pretty sure I need more nutriants, and it warmed up.

My Peas are starting to flower, even though it should be a bit late for peas, the mint and another herb is running like crazy... Capsicum isnt looking too healthy, but looks the same as 2 we also planted in the ground.. so I have faith :-)

The celery has a little growth, but I really need more fish... again. Do I get fingerlings or get larger fish... hmmmmmm

Its days like this a barrier would be great in a tank wouldnt it...

Hi Mick !

My broccoli has had weak heads all Summer but I think it was because I planted when it was too warm - in the heat of the Summer actually.

Yesterday I pulled the broccoli plant but wondered if I could eat the stems instead of just composting the whole thing, googled and sure enough did that. You just have to peel the stems (peel though the fibers too), and I didn't cook it long enough but it tasted just fine. Going to do that in the future so the broccoli plant is used fully. The whole plant maybe weighed 10lbs/4kg.

The leaves can be eaten too in like stir fry. I might try that next time. It's good to know that the bulk of the plant doesn't have to go to waste just because the heads didn't form nicely.

Ok guys.. yes I live.. and im back..

Quick update!

Did'nt run pump for 5 days over the holidays because I had a Blockage in the growbeds and I was loosing water in overflow...

As a consequence.. I lost all fish but 1 big Jade perch.

So I'm looking to reboot the system basically. I probably need another grow bed solution.. any suggestions?

Is Joels grow beds available on the East coast yet..

Again apologize for my absence.... Mcphro is signing back in!

Roy

Hey good to see ya back... bummer to hear about your fish though...

I'm the agent for BYAP systems and products in NSW... (see web link at bottom)...

But freight to you might be a killer... PM me if you're interested...

Quick update,

I am in the process of cleaning out the system getting ready for when it warms up a bit. Ins been cold here and they reckon we've had a chance of frost on the odd day.

I don't suppose it would be a good idea to put fish in at the moment. I cant wait to get the system running again though at a point in the future, I would like to change it so it is more reliable (e.g. less maintenance and no overflows). My system did have a habit of running straight for 4 months in a row no issues, then one grow bed started overflowing like at 2am and id come out in the morning and have lost 1/4 of my water... (don't leave to go anywhere over the weekend). Id like other peoples input on this, but I tend to find that that more bit of pipe and the more fiddly the system is, the more chance that you will get issues or a blockage "somewhere". Ideally, I want one of Joels beds at a stage down the track, or something similar up here because transports always an issue, but it then requires having the 2 tank, 2 pump set up.



My system is that

I think I just worked out that you cant edit posts????

To continue...

My system is that as you can see, the grow beds flood from one pump set on a timer, then free drain back into the tank. My 2000ltr/hour pump seems to struggle with water flow at the moment and im not sure why and the last growbed struggles to get water, and im pretty sure ive cleaned out the pump.

I really liked someones set up where they took the top half of the growbed, turned it upside down , sat it on 2 lumps of wood and there you'd have a 700 ltr tank and a 300 ltr grow bed on top. That was pretty cool.

1. Is there any suggestions for the fish - eg. Should I put them in in winter or no? (Think no but id like to hear peoples feed back on that)

2. I can get easiest access to Barra (dont like water under 15 degrees) or Jade Pearch (seems to be hardier I think)

Whats your thoughts...



Because we are going to have a baby in 5 weeks (YAY!) nothing will be happening on the purchasing front, except to buy fish at some stage.

Hey Roy

Jades will survive through winter for you, but the barra will suffer in Tablelands cold, especially in 1000L

Love to Rossie for us please and let us know when the new person arrives

http://www.aquaponic.com.au/backyard.htm

This write up also has interesting points about the use of single vs 2 pump systems, and a few other points to boot.

But while they advocate a single pump system (and while ideally with a single grow bed you'd only need like 50cm of piping to pump to the bed to fill it up and drain it) the issue is the grow beds need to be higher then tank.

As you can see in my case, the grow beds are technically head high, and while Ive got a rock solid base it can be (very dangerous) because my base had to be redesigned when it got a bad lean on it at one stage.

The ideal I'd like is a modified Joel system with a 2000 Ltr tank (or IBC) dug 1/2 way into the ground, with grow beds only 50cm high so they are easy to reach. Then use single 2m x 1m grow beds rather then blue barrels.

What success/ failures has people had out there with 1/2 blue barrels with overflow and alike?

Jamie?

Hey Jamie...


We've got a Ceaser booked (no not the salad) and its the 20th July. Rossies hoping it will come before then though....Cant blame her its been a rotten time, harder then the last one...

How do you women do it... my hats off to ya!

Hey ...long time no read... best wishes for the forthcoming event...

I've had great success with half blue barrels... running with loop siphons and a continuous pump...


And OBO runs his system, or most of it with blue barrels cut the other way...

hey guys... im baaack...!

In addition... i lost my 27 barra during the year so got a little dispondent. As it turns out, and not my idea... Ive picked up a yr 10 science class at school next year. And they didnt want me doing something that clashes with other subjects.... and the ag Hod knew i was into aquaponics.... so im teaching 3 classes of aquaponics and biospheres/ terrariaums next year.... SO COOL...

so im donating my system to the school, setting it up there... and now into unit prep mode.

We have a fingerling society down the road that stocks the Lake Tinaroo Dam, so im hoping to get 40-50 barra from there (depends on size, but fingerlings) and after 3 terms we give the fish back to the society for release into the dam (publicity).... How are we all?