Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Now that we're at the peak of our growing season, I've noticed that most of my plants are getting a bit pale...I guess my goldies can't pee enough. I have some kelp meal somewhere around here and was wondering if there is some magic formula on how much I could (or should) add to the system to give it a little boost.

Are should I look at another way to boos the feeding.....?

Thanks.

If you're uncertain... take the recommended dosage rate... then halve it...

they have a bunch of various recommendations on the label...of course they are for dirt applications. Maybe when I get home I'll take a pic of the instructions and let the forum experts give a guess-tamation on how much to apply....

I discovered what happens when adding the kelp meal to my system: I added less than a cup full (.2 liter) of kelp meal yesterday afternoon (total water value is 500/1900 gal/ltr). This was about 1/10th the amount recommended for the area of growbeds (based on the label recommendations for applying it in a dirt garden). In about 2 hours, the water went from crystal clear to murky brown...couldn't see more than a foot through the water. Another hour later the goldies were near the surface - mostly skimming the surface looking for more air. This morning before leaving for work, the were all dead.

When I get home, I guess I'll drain the entire system. Luckly, I have a 800 gallon tank for rain collection that is full so the change out won't take long.

kelp meal is a bit different that using liquid sea weed extract.

How did you apply? Did you just tip the cup of powder into the fish tank? Or did you apply a little pile of it at the inlet in each grow bed?

Sounds like turning the fish tank into kelp meal tea is a bit strong in any case.

Sorry about the goldies. Were there any other additives in the kelp meal? I would have expected the goldies to survive that one but apparently the break down of the kelp in the fish tank must have robbed all the extra dissolved Oxygen.

If you have any asparagus plants they will LOVE that Kelp.

Trying to look for a positive.

At least they where only goldies.

Must be a lot of small organic matter in the kelp meal rotting and using up the oxygen. Best to stick to seaweed extract or let kelp break down on top of the grow bed with the poo and worms. Sorry to hear about your loss

Yea, if one needs to use kelp meal in the future, perhaps brewing a tea and then using the strained tea.