Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all
I am a first timer. We have just put in aquaponics kit 1 pond (24 silver perch) with 2 grow beds 1 week ago. Fish doing fine, but some or the plants, peas, snow peas and carrots droopy and wilting. Gave them seasol 1 day after being planted. Any tips for new systems and plants. Thanks

Make sure that the water level is set right and comes to about 2cm (1") below the media surface and make sure that the roots are down in to that. You can run the pump continuously to help the plants settle in or mist spray or water from a watering can if you have the time when they are new. Photos always help us to tell if there is anything else that may be of concern. Welcome to the forum Camino

you could also raise the water level for a short time untill the plants grow longer roots..

on a less mechanical note...

if they are in direct sunlight, try giving them a bit of shade. also, if the air temp. is high or its hot out with high humidity, that could also be a cause of wilting.

I had a tomato seedling a few inches high that was wilting in the hot midday sun, I shaded it with a brick for a few days and it was ok after that....

The plant could support the weight of the brick?

AP plants grow pretty strong

Thank you all very much for your replies. When I first planted the plants (1 week ago) the water was not high enough for 3 days then too high for 2 days we eventually sorted it out to 2 cm below the expanded clay.
The peas are in the shade most of the time, the lettuce are in full sun and the carrots are in the shade most of the time. I live in Perth so it it warm enough.

Here are some photos which might shed some light. (sorry iphone quality)
I checked the water
-PH7.6, high PH 8.2 (so alkaline) do I need to add something to make it more acidic? Why do they have PH and high PH is it just so you can further test how high your PH is?
- Amm 0.25, nitrite 0, nitrates 0.
thanks heaps for your comments, very new at this.

What's the average daily temperature and humidity there?

The weather seems perfect not too hot just right. Perth Western Australia


Sun 4 Mar Sunny 20°C 35°C Chance of rain: 20% (< 1mm)
Humidity: 9am: 46% 3pm: 31% Wind 9am: NE 20km/h Wind 3pm: W 16km/h

Mon 5 Mar Sunny 22°C 36°C Chance of rain: 5% (< 1mm) Humidity: 9am: 34% 3pm: 30% Wind 9am: E 18km/h Wind 3pm: WNW 14km/h

Tue 6 Mar Sunny 23°C 37°C Chance of rain: 20% (< 1mm) Humidity: 9am: 26% 3pm: 26% Wind 9am: NE 27km/h Wind 3pm: NNW 22km/h

Wed 7 Mar Possible shower 22°C 29°C Chance of rain: 20% (1-5mm) Humidity: 9am: 50% 3pm: 57% Wind 9am: S 14km/h Wind 3pm: SSW 27km/h

Thu 8 Mar Mostly sunny 16°C 31°C Chance of rain: 30% (< 1mm) Humidity: 9am: 63% 3pm: 47% Wind 9am: ESE 23km/h Wind 3pm: SE 22km/h

Fri 9 Mar Sunny 18°C 36°C Chance of rain: 10% (< 1mm) Humidity: 9am: 55% 3pm: 32% Wind 9am: ENE 26km/h Wind 3pm: E 18km/h

Sat 10 Mar Sunny 20°C 35°C Chance of rain: 5% (< 1mm) Humidity: 9am: 38% 3pm: 33% Wind 9am: ENE 20km/h Wind 3pm: ESE 16km/h

That's within the tolerance realm for bolt resistant lettuce... the closer you get to 27C the worse off the lettuce gets if it's in direct sunlight.