Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Wow, 5 months since my last post. Thought I'd throw in an update.

I ended up changing out those grow beds for a stronger HDPE bin that didn't need any bracing. The bugs are still there, but don't seem to be bothering anything. Everything is growing great. I have basil, parsley, and sage in there. The basil is showing some yellowing, so I need to get some maxicrop and/or chelated iron I think.

I have found the basil grows back if you leave a couple leaves, parsley doesn't, and there aren't many recipes for large quantities of sage .

Hmm, what else...

I'm pumping directly from FT to GB, so I have to clean my pump about once a week, which is annoying. I'm thinking about using one of TClynx's no hole overflows to make a CHIFT PIST so that at least I'd have easier access to the pump for cleaning (elevating the FT isn't practical in my space).

And, of course, there are pics...

A few updates.

I removed the sage from the system because we weren't eating it, and it was growing like a vine over the basil and parsley.

I added another grow bed of the same size. It's the same one I had in one of my previous systems with a bell siphon. The siphon is oversized at 1" in diameter. It fills in 1 min 20 sec, and drains in about 1 min 10 sec. So the whole bed is cycling every 2:30 - 3 min. I'm concerned about plants not having enough dry time, but there is a lot of DO in the water so it may not be that big a deal. I'm going to start with lettuce in this bed (GB 2), which I know is done frequently in NFT. I figure it likes wet conditions. Any other plant suggestions for this situation would be appreciated.

I got some maxicrop liquid seaweed. I read on the package that I should use 1 cap full for every gallon of water when watering plants. I have about 40 gallons in the system, and I put in 5 cap fulls. WAY TOO MUCH. I wasn't thinking that the plants will only pick this up over time. My water is now seaweed green. The fish don't seem to mind though.

Mint doesn't seem to mind wet feet, it grows in swamps as well as in well drained sand. It does have a habit of taking over the place though so keep that in mind.

don't worry too much about the tinted water, it will fade with time and many fish actually like dark water better.

Good to know you are still at it.

Thanks Dan.

Love that picture of the goldies at low tide... they have that look like.... "awhh, come on please...."

Yeah, they've been troopers. When my last system crashed, they went without food or water changes. Gotta love the goldies.

Sowed some beet seeds in my slow grow bed (15 min cycle) this evening. They're a favorite of the lady's. I'm wondering how a root crop will do!

It's a hybrid seed that says it'll grow in about 45-60 days. So we'll see.

Hey Tamo

i have had problems growing beetroot in dirt and have had some more success with growing them in my setup currently only have 1 going really well and have put a dozen or so more seeds in

good luck with your beets too

The beets in the demo bed are powering.... I'll get a photo tomorrow...

The ones in the yabbie system got blasted by wind and heat.. and are struggling...

Coincidently... the demo system is timer based... and the yabbie system coninuously pumped with loop siphons...

From my experience.. in clay balls... they could hardly be called a "root" crop.... as the beet seems to grow above the surface of the bed...

Interesting. I'll keep my eye on them. I've been meaning to do a time lapse image anyways.

I have some growing in vemiculite only 4 in high so far
they look healthy

Here's some pics of the beetroot growing in the demo system with clay balls...

Wow, that looks great. Looking forward to getting some of those

Are beet stems & leaves edible? They look tasty.

Yep, either cooked or in salads...