Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, finally got my test kit, readings are pH-7.6, Am-0, trite-0.25, trate-80 ppm, 18 deg. celsius hope this is ok I have planted seeds they have germinated, Duckweed is starting to grow, (now I realised my mild water flow in the tank was moving the surface), that has been remedied, have 2 marron and one little comet in there risking his life to control the mozzie problem. and 6 Koi in the other tank, plants in the older growbed are thriving, I have a tomato plant in a pot of compost and the other in the growbed were identical when i planted them, they are the same size still but the one in the compost has lush foliage but no fruit yet, the one in the AP has good foliage but full of fruit, strawberries are full of fruit and for lack of better words breading, I have runners coming out every where taking up my limited growing space, so my next addition will have to be another tower for strawberries, lettuce in the other tower looks lovely too. It's been a while since I have grown my own vege's, only produce I've had for last ten yrs is a lemon tree, and my pride and joy mango tree, which to my dismay goes with the house when I sell it.

tested again today every thing the same except nitrates are down to 0, Aphids keep attacking my cabbage seedling only, and I've notice they are all the way down in the clay, How do you treat that, do I remove it with the contaminated clay or is there any recommendations?

Remedy for aphids is to get ladybirds in there. Ladybirds and their larvae will eat up to 400 aphids in their life time. You can also spray them off using a jet of water. If you add Seasol (seaweed concentrate) or worm juice to the spray bottle it helps to repel them as well as strengthen the plant making them more resistant to attack by pests as well as disease. Just don't spray in the hottest part of the day, wait till the cool of the evening.

As far as moquito larvae go, Pygmy perch will eat them and are safe to keep in a frog pond as well because they won't eat the tadpoles. Pygmy perch are small fish available generally from aquarium shops. Hope this helps, Faye.

Is there anything you can use to attract lady birds, also the problem is the ones I noticed in the grow media, the ones on the plants I squashed off, I spray a mix of molasses, seasol and water frequently, I have planted marigolds as well they are still juvenile at the moment, I may add a bit of chilli and garlic tea to my spray mix. Hope none off that repels lady birds.

Ladybird attracting flowers include those with umbel shaped flower heads, eg umbrella style. Examples of these include fennel, carrot, celery and parsley. If you grow these plants allow some to go to seed, the flowers attract the beneficial insects and the seeds can be saved for next season.

Bugger, I just pulled my flowering parsley plants and gave them to the chooks. Got one celery plant left in the greenhouse system so will leave it go
Thanks for the info Faye

Oops I forgot to mention sticky traps, they can also be used to trap aphids.

Any chance of a photo of your strawberry tower?

bit different now I have 25mm pvc piping for the supply pipes now no longer 19mm poly and the lettuce has grown a lot since this photo was taken, I took this photo about 2-3 weeks ago

How do you supply the pipe? Does it get flooded from the top?

yep flow controlled by a ball valve, I have a small hole drilled in the base for slow drain, it just needs calibrating so it doesn't start to overflow out the first plant up the tower.