Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello!

I'm restarting my system after being shut down for a year. Previously, I had 15 rainbow trout and pepper plants and both thrived beautifully, without any additives.

This time I have perch and a few herb plants: Rosemary, Parsley, and Basil.

These plants are having a hard time. They have little to no growth, the leaves are either yellowing or turning purple, and in either case the leaves are trimmed with brown and curled. It would seem I have some sort of nutrient deficiency but does anyone know what it is? I've tried adding some DE and sprayed epsom salt (diluted) on the leaves thinking it was a magnesium deficiency but maybe I'm wrong?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Any pics?

Basil:

IMG_1159

Parsley:

IMG_1158

Thank you.

What is the PH? My guess is a lockout caused by out of range ph levels. My two cents - coming from a newbie.


- John

I will check! be back tomorrow!

Hi karlsgoddess:
Is this system indoors or out?

Sorta looks like sun damage

I doubt it would be sun damage in Illinois in December. If it is indoors, than perhaps the lights are too close. I would put my money on ph being too high causing nutrient lockout.

give the plants a good rinse with ft water.. looks kinda salt burned
what kind of lights are you using? i've had parsley do very well indoors with flourescent lights and basil is doing great..i've had rosemary cuttings that lived but didn't grow much
what kind of food are you using?
the only additive i've really used in my indoor system is maxicrop with iron..which i add to my sump, in my 110gallon system i used about a capful every month or two when starting
in my 800 gallon system i've used 1/4 cup, maybe 3 times over the last year, a little goes a long way and will stain the water for a couple days..
you can also dilute it and use as a foliar spray

I use a 1000 watt MH bulf at about 6 inches away, I have raised it.
I also checked the ph and it came in at 8.2! Time to explore the forum to correct this!

You can treat the top up water with hydrochloric acid. But don't try to treat the system water. I have thought about adding driftwood to lower ph. I have not yet because A, I am cheap and don't want to buy something I used to find all over the place, and B, I think it will turn the water brown. Most people just let the ph come own naturally. In the mean time, they add maxi crop with iron. Also, don't try to adjust it too much too fast. Slow and steady keeps fish alive.

Drift wood may help... but very slowly... and over time the pH will drop naturally anyway...

Looking at a close up of that basil leaf, you also have other problems.. It looks a bit like thrip damage. Could also be some mould or powdery mildew.

Also what are your feed rates like, I imagine they are a lot lower than when you had trout in the system? Also I would think that increased feed levels will probably help to lower pH over time..

It is an indoor system and I have no insects. Could be mold due to the stress the plant is under. I changed out some of the water and added some guano and the ph immediately dropped to 7.2. I'm going to check it again tonight to see if it came back up. I wonder if the DE has anything to due with it.

The tank may not be properly cycled, either and it's just having a hard time. I really appreciate all the help.

Guano? can you be a little more specific.please?