Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

That corn looks small, deficient, and male; at least, I see no female bits (ears). I'd guess you have a nutrient deficiency.

I have found that tomatoes tend to hog nutrients and leave other plants lacking. At 20ppm, you probably have enough N, so it must be one of the others. Iron is often a problem in the first year or so. Seasol?

After a long absence from the forum here is an update of my system. It ran in basically the same as can be seen previously in this thread for 3 years with no problems. I have now moved house and are in the process of putting the system back together.

We moved about a month ago and I just threw the system together with one grow bed attached to get it running, hence the gaffer tape and dodgy plumbing. It's all running well tho as can be seen in the photos below. I chucked in a couple of punnets of seedlings (basil, toms, chillies) and some seeds (pumpkin, spring onions, radishes) and all have taken off. Over the next couple of weeks I will get the second grow bed up and running and tidy up the plumbing.

I also intend to get another FT at some point (if I can find somewhere to put it!)

Theres a lot of old school coming back this summer to pop in. thanks for the update bigwill

Whats in the bags?

More pics.

Good to see you back Bigwill

Thanks guys, the bags are full of hydroton for my second grow bed.

Plumbing all redone and second growbed good to go.

Just did some water tests for the first time since moving house (and system).

Ph 6.4
Ammonia 1
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40

I have been messing around with the system today planting, modifying pipes, moving pump etc. would that account for the ammonia? Is ph ok?

For the record, second growbed planted out today with seedlings. Toms, lettuce,rocket,and silver-beet. I will post photos regularly to monitor plant growth.

Time to expand!
I picked up an IBC today and plan to use it as a full 1000L FT. I have 2 options,
1) turn my current system into a FT to 2 x GB to ST CHIFT PIST using my current FT as the sump

or

2) split my system into 2 seperate systems. one being the old FT with one GB above simply draining back into it. and the other CHIFT PIST with the IBC as FT the current GB and the blue tub (see pics) under the GB as the sump.

It will be a bit more work but i think splitting in to 2 seperate systems will be better in the long term.

Thoughts?

Two options?????

I see grass that could be grazing fish

Expand!

Cool system bigwill!

The level difference between fish tank and grow beds is unique which makes it even cooler.



Did you need a stronger pump?

Thanks!

Nope, my little 3000lph pump that came with my BYAP entertainer system 4years ago is still going strong and pumping to those two growbeds about 2m up. I am running constant flow though.

Will

Quick update,

Picked a nice Lebanese cucumber yesterday after only planting the seeds in the gb's 9 weeks ago. Seems like pretty good going.


Will

Yum cucumbers are doing great in this heat.