Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello, I have a question.

My system has been up and running for about 4 months with no problems.

I have an outdoor “200 gallon” pond with 3 half barrel grow beds.
I bought some fingerlings – Bass- Channel Catfish, Bluegill and 3 koi. "Everything has been fine no problems at all."

#1. I decided to add a better pump.
#2. Added some green onions
#3. Setup a drip system for a Norfolk pine that drains back into the pond.

To make a long story short -- Lost all the catfish the next day. 2nd day lost all the bluegill, 3rd day lost the bass and koi.

Water tested 6.8ph – Zero ppm on ammonia –Zero ppm on nitrites – High on phosphate.

Waited a week – added more Catfish (which are ok now)

Side Note: I have massive tomato blooms with very little fruit and my crooked neck squash has massive blooms but no fruit at all…

Any suggestions???




(Note- The first thing I thought was maybe to much suction for the fish..but that has been ruled out by the local extension office.)

They don’t have a clue either…. Thanks in advance..

PhantomWolf

The plants that you added were they from soil seed raising?

No - They were "dry bulb" green onions - I planted about a half barrel worth.

And were they treated with anything, or did you dry them?

I reckon C1 is right in the poison side of things....and sounds like you have a lack of potassium in your system. Get some mineral rock dust or maxicrop seaweed emulsion, or some sea water / salt into your system.

the fact that you lost koi scares me, I'd be looking for a poison of some sorts. It's hard to kill carp. chase down every ingredient in your system and check for what it may be treated with. silicon and many other items are treated with fungicides. Seeds are often treated with nasty preservatives...

Thank you both for the quick response. I envy not having access to Seasol. I'm working with the extension office on using the local seaweed that washes up on shore here in the Gulf. (Pensacola Fl.) I have a feeling that the answer is correct on the poison.

Bugger
But you might find out what not to do

True.. have a nice day. and thanks...

Time for work, you have a good day too
C1

Maxicrop is essentially the same as Seasol... and should be available...

And yep... fruiting/flowering/seeding plants need a potassium boost at that stage of their development....

As to your fish.... I'd suspect the Norfolk Pine... which you say drains back to your fish tank...

Many pines are known to kill anything around them... and the soil below them.... which usually becomes very acidic...

Id look out for that norfolk pine too - if it is a drip system into a plant pot the potting mix may have been treated with insecticide, snail pellets, algaecide etc scary what some nurseries put in there pots ald like Rupe says the Pine itself releases a lot of turpines and the like

the pine was my first thought too

In our experience:
Run off from wood depletes the water of oxygen.
We lost all our goldfish a few years ago when we used a wood based *plug* for the plants.
Another hard lesson learned.
Hope you manage to sort the problem.