Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have a drip system setup on my 'hydroponic' tomatoes....not aquaponic...no fish! I have some algae forming on the table where the water drains back to the drum...also its comming out of the bottom of the pots.
Anyone know of an algae treatment I can use whenever I change out my nutrient solution that wont harm the plants?

Hydrogen Peroxide might work against algae but I fear that enough to kill the algae off may also hurt your plants.

Completely shade the areas that are getting algae from light and the algae will die off, this is how we usually deal with Algae in Aquaponics since most other treatment methods would be harmful to the bio-filters, plants and fish.

I'd be interested as to the damage on plants and fish of a touch of Hydrogen peroxide, how much can they handle?
Advantage being that it will convert NO2 into NO3. I expect it will also react with NH3 to make NO2 then NO3...

Due to it's oxidisation properties though, it will hurt fish and plants, just been wondering as an emergency measure, if it would be useful.

How would you go about testing this kuda?

Hydrogen peroxide is an agressive oxidiser.... it may ultimately convert nitrites to nitrates... presuming you have any nitrites....

But will do so with the loss of oxygen from the system....

Not sure what you mean when you say ... "...also its comming out of the bottom of the pots."... Newbie.... can you post a pic??

Generally, in hydro... algae that forms around/on dripping surfaces/leaks.... isn't a problem....

But I'm a bit concerned about the comment above...

Ok Newbie... just re-read your post... you're drip feeding tomatos... and the algae is forming at the bottom of the tomato pots and where it then drips back onto the table/support....

Not much you can do about that... the exposure of the nutrients dripping through... to sunlight will in-evitably form an algae... IMO... I wouldn't worry about it too much...

Here's a couple of pics of my drain collectors on my hydro trays Newbie... you can see the algae... it's been there for over a year... pffft...



Not sure what media you're using in the pots... but any alage on the surface should just be "broken up" periodically.....

You can rinse and sterilise your pots and media after harvest...

This is a pic that I took on the 27'th of April. The algae isnt that bad in this photograph. I have also since put the end of the tubing under rocks so that it gets no sunlight in the pots, only when it comes out the bottom and runs along my table. I know its picking up the algae from the sunlight as it runs across the table. I am going to place a raised board over the water as it drains to try to cut down on the sunlight exposure. In the picture you can see some slight green on the plastic, since I took the pictures its gotten worse. I just want to keep it away from my pump. I plan to totally flush the pots and table and of course the drum when I change the nutrient solution. I suppose if I dont put anything in the pots I could just wash the table down with bleach water during water change outs. Was just curious about the Hydrogen Peroxide.
Yes thats just pea gravel or river rocks in the pots.

Thanks for the replies
Newbie

NFI, just a random idea I had, in case it could be used for emergencies... Other oxidisers would work well too, just idly thinking.

Rupe it will take oxygen out of the water? hummm I would have thought it added oxygen, and then tied it up with the nitrogens...

They add Hydrogen Peroxide to the water in hydro to keep the roots clean. Think it helps keep them taking in nutrients faster.

You been visiting sites engaging in slightly dubious activities Duff?
Agreed KP it would have to combine the unstable oxygen with something, be interesting to see what shift there would be in ph.

Now i know why we always want naked blondes swimming in our pools ,, it for dosing pourposes:)

I changed out the nutrient solution today....hosed down the algae as best as I could, leaving only stains (which will become algae) If someone decides that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, H2O + O) would work with no harm I might try it.

Think your on to something there. Will have to trial it and get back to you.

As you're a straight hydroponic system, just wiping off the stains... no problem

Adding to the nutrient mix... if that's what youre planning to do... shouldn't be a problem either... (no fish)... just use it sparingly, don't go dumping in lots in one go...