Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Looks like you have a lot of un-eaten food floating in those pics, you may want to keep an eye on that...

Overfeeding, not a good thing ...

Nah, I always feed before I am taking pictures. That last hop cuttings shot was only about 15 minutes after feeding. The food swells and looks gross, but they take care of it slowly. I haven't been able to follow the 5 minute rule. They won't eat that fast for me. Plus, any excess food should get swirled into the center of the tank and hence into the filter bucket. There is just becomes more worm food. I pitch about a palm full (not even a hand full) of food in each morning and then again before dark. Food is always gone before each feeding, even the stuff that is stuck in eddy currents and not swirling around the top of the tank. Based on this, am I over feeding? I don't think I am, but I also say it out loud so you guys can correct me if I'm wrong.

Alright guys, the newest pics since I made it back from Edmond this weekend.

First off, and most important since the thread is named for it, the hop cuttings I took last week.


Here's the trellis system I built. Still needs some structural support but will work nicely for what I am doing.


Here's the "stick" Roma tomato that keeps surviving. Tough little bugger.


Squash forming nicely.


Bell peppers forming very nicely. These smell great already.


Habanero is yellow on older leaves, but the new growth is all dark like the rest of the garden. Weird stuff going on here.

Yay, my friend Justin just called me this afternoon and we got to chat for a bit. He's the horticulture guy (has a degree and is in the biz), and I'm the project/experiment without much absolute , knowledge guy, LOL. He's worried, as I am now, about phosphorus once the fruit starts coming in. Other trace elements as well, are a real concern. It is an experiment after all, so I can't get too bent out of shape if it doesn't work. Lets just still all keep our fingers crossed though.

Well, as of today I have fruit coming in that isn't just peppers. Here's a squash forming nicely, now if it comes in with no problem... I have enough phosphorus. Just hope it isn't a limited thing and the veggies that do form to completion don't deplete the minerals for the others.


And more on the way it looks like!!!


Lots of cantaloupe flowers as well.


Bells still forming nicely and more of them popping up now too. Looks like I'm well on my way to the first harvest, but I reserve the thoughts of being overconfident.

The water is still brilliantly clear, and the hop cuttings are looking like they may be getting taller!!! I hope so, because that will mean they are rooted and need to be planted in the tubes. Here's another tank shot and then you get to see the babies that this thread was supposed to be all about (yes, I am getting there).


OK, so you guys probably want to see the whole shebang just for another growth reference. Also, you can see the trellising job I did. The weave really is making the plants sturdy.


I am very happy with how things are turning out and remain very positive. You horticulture guys chiming in really help me out, so keep it coming .

any updates on this project?

I think you are having algie problems You might need to build a shade for the fish tank