Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yes i know the one it was on Garry's forum it was from America he was just using worms to grow veg but like the rest he just faded away

A new video with some small flood and drain trays with Mini Bell siphons.. I Cant stop!! I thought they would be easy but it took me about 12 hours of screwing around to get the work correctly! I added a few baby strawberry plants to see how they work in them.. The other plants are starting to take off..

Here is another Video update... I think 6 days after the last Video?!




I'll do water tests later in the morning..

Happy Growing!

Here is another Video Update...

Here is a pick of my level as of today! The Ammonia and Nitrites came down but the phosphates are through the roof.. Should I be worried? Is this why my tomato plants are a bit yellow? Maybe Phospho Lock?

Phosphates aren't normally tested... so not sure what levels are normal in an AP system...

But they shouldn't really be high.... what are you feeding your system????

What are your pH and nitrate values???

The pond test kit I bought only came with a Nitrite tester, no Nitrates. =( Havent searched too hard but havent found one yet..

Here is a pic of my other Levels... PH has been good!



Thanks for the help!

Here is what I found and kind of knew but what is too much in an AP system?

"Too much Phosphorus levels affect plant growth by suppressing the uptake of: Iron, potassium and Zinc, potentially causing deficiency symptoms of these nutrients to occur def in plants. A Zinc deficiency is most common under excessive phosphorus conditions,
As well as causing other nutrients to have absorption troubles like zinc and copper. Phosphorus fluctuates when concentrated and combined with calcium"

Guess I just need more plants again? lol!

Thanks again?

It still begs the question..... what are you feeding that produces high phosphorus levels??

I've been giving them Tetra Pond Spring and Fall Diet... Wheat Germ! Is this bad?

Thanks again!

Jon

Individual nitrogen tests (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate) for less than $10 (US) each:

Drs. Foster and Smith

Thanks Swanberg!!! I think my phosorus is up so high because of the worm bin... I'm going to stop feeding them the tetra pond also.. The ingrediants seem a little disturbing!!

Keep a close eye on those siphons for the first 3 months. They may need adjusting once coatings of beneficial bacteria build up on them. This is more of an issue for tiny systems. I ran one until it failed, then switched to a one inch flout for 2-3 months, then when that failed switched to a latex tubing loop which always worked unless it got clogged, then a quick back push from a baster cleaned it out.

Will do, thanks for the advise! The one on the left need to be reset like every 2 or 3 days because it gets stuck and just keeps draining.. I do have another bell waiting just in case... They are easy to make! =)

Here is an update.. About 3 months in!