Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Mark, have you found anywhere locally to buy maxicrop? So far anywhere I've asked about it, they don't seem to know and think I'm odd for wanting seaweed as they don't seem to have heard of it.

There's a place called Wild Earth in north Florida that carries it. I'm just going to order a quart from Maxicrop direct. Let me know if you want to try it also and I'll put some in a bottle and ship it to you.

They're the odd ones TCL.... use it on your soil veges as well... then show them the results...

I've been using it for years and swear by it....

Pardon my ignorance, but is the Maxicrop a "fish-safe" additive? If so, is there a guideline as to how much is used per L of system?

Maxicrop is basically seaweed extract so I believe it is safe for fish. I've been using it for several months now and haven't had any known fish problems. I don't put it directly in the water though. I spray it on the leaves of the plants. I can't really say that I can tell whether it's a plecibo or it helps....

So my next question is:

Does anybody use an additive which is not a foliar spray? i.e. added to the sump/system water/growbeds, etc to supplement nutrition/micronutrients?

I do use an iron supplement that I add directly to my water. I don't have the name of it right now but I'll get it tomorrow if you need it. I have about 700-800 gallons of water in my system and I use 2 tsp once a week. It sure made a difference with my basil during the summer. I'm still using it. Not sure what else is getting helped. It's too cold for the basil now.

fishwrangler - Possibly not the place to ask the question and get
a broad answer...Another thread perhaps

However, some ppl swear by it, and others swear at it

I was going toask in another thread, why it is necessary to supplement with additives or folia sprays.

I think it has more to do with the fish load or subsequent feed load
and production of ammonia.

If you are a light (safe) stocker of fish, in your system, then you may run the risk of under feeding you garden

This will deplete the available nutrients and the result will be visible deficiencies and or poor growth.
It seems fair and reasonable that we have a ratio of fish to grow bed volume, as a guide to heavy stocking for an intensive system, and a lighter
ratio is chosen by most Aquaponosist here on the forum.

Is it worse to lose(kill) your fish by overload or not achieve the potential
of your vegetative growth.
This is the balancing act we DO control
All this IMHO only
C1

No one seems to be adding it to there grow beds in this thread

my question is why not ?
i have been adding mine to the grow beds and to the fish tank itself since i started my system last year
and i have had no problems with my system or the fish in it and the plants love it

but then i have a light fish load at the moment and im trying to get them to grow rather than adding more fish (again) and they are being fed 2 to 3 times a day which increases the amount of ammonia in the system for conversion to nitrates so without the maxicrop and worm wee from the worm farm ( helps bring down the ph level in my system too ) my plants would have died ages ago and i would have given up on this before it got started

Enjoy your gardening