Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

my present system consists of roughly 500 gal fish tank and 300 gals worth of grow beds. my tilapia are doing great and have well over 100 of various sizes. my plants, on the other hand, aren't all doing well; tomatoes are struggling, others are growing very slowly. only plants doing well are green onion and strawberries. also have azolla bed which is growing slowly. pH, nitrate & nitrite levels are in norms. any suggestions greatly appreciated, only been doing this for a few months.

We need a bigger picture and water test results

A system will take 6 months to a year to fully mature. Before that the plant growth can be weak.

I have a new system thats just cycled and growth on some plants are insane (watercress, chard, cherry tomatoes), others are less than adequate (onions, strawberry's) and some on par with soil growing (herbs, lettuce). why? no idea. possibly nutrient profile? possibly fairies... Maybe try some more types of veg?
Im not sure on the weather there but it could even be still cycling can you post test results?

If it just cycled it is still an immature system. I've also noticed temperature has a huge effect on growth. Soil temperature and AP water temperature can be quite different, so some plants will benefit more in the soil and others in the AP. Which plants those are varies for different systems because of variations in system design (to the degree which it effects temperature) and climate.

Oh i agree my systems brand new i was just throwin out some options for the poster.
I am amazed at some of the growth im getting tho since i have been hopeless at soil gardening in the past i dont really have a good gauge to go on however in 3 weeks in winter here i have watercress thats gone from a seedling the diameter of say a spray can lid to taking over nearly a fifth of my IBC growbed i dont know if it grows that well normally.
I love AP i might add

If you want to see some winter growth then have a look at my system thead viewtopic.php?f=18&t=4370&start=75

All this growth, 90% of what is shown has grown since May-June I have been looking for the photo's of when i seeded then but cant find any( my couldnt move much period).... It is an incredible amount of growth considering the jades arent eating much except maybe the algae on the sides of the fish tanks..... and the occasional feeder fish that gets sucked up into thesump pump that goes to the fish tanks(we have feeder fish all through the system even in the Growbeds everynow and then).... I dont know if i wanna see what theSummertime growth is going to be like if it is like this without feed ...... I might have to go buy a truck to take all the produce to the markets hehehehe.... ok well happy ponicing hope this helps... we are in Deepwater Qld so it is warmer then the southern states.... but impressive growth none the less...


Oh and i have picked the silverbeets right back I did have some leaves 450mm wide by 700 high without the stalk... it almost looked like anelephant's ear plant good eating too the kids loved them

ok you win.
However its a known fact that in Qld you can throw a turd on the ground and it will grow a person. the soil and weathers that good (well its like that in cairns anyway. Lived there 6 years)

So.. we don't need sterilisation to stop the growth of Queenslanders.... just constipation...