Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Well, that will help prevent disease on you 'crop'

My system seems to be back on track after a major catastrophe a few weeks back. I can get beans to grow, lettuce, spinach, but tomatoes get about 10 cm. high and then the leaves shrivel and the plant breaks at the point the plant comes out of the media. (I use Lava)

I took one of my plants out and transplanted it to dirt and it is doing fine. Light conditions are the same. These were all started from seed. What am I doing wrong?

Were they started from seed in the growbed DT? Could it be damping off maybe? Got any pics? I've not had such problems with my tommies yet....

Yes they were started from seed in the growbed. Not sure what you mean by damping off. Going to get pics.

Damping off is when the plants rot off at the soil line. It can happen quite quickly. The plant often wilts and then falls over.

I've started a little patio tomato in one of my growbeds. Also cukes and eggplants. So far so good. The tomato is perhaps 2in/5cm tall.

Damping-off is a fungal disease that can kill seedlings overnight. The fungus rots the stems at the soil surface, causing the seedlings to fall over and die.

Symptoms include fungus spores on the surface of the soil that sometimes resemble tiny hairs. Another symptom of damping-off is when the stems of newly emerged seedlings appear bent or discolored at the soil line.

The classic sign is a constriction, narrowing of the stem at ground level.

Humid, moist conditions are a major contributing factor.

A way to control this problem is with improved circulation. Maybe a fan to circulate the air.

Try sprinkling a thin layer of sand or perlite on the surface of the soil. This step will keep the stems dry at the soil surface where damping-off occurs.

After a few weeks, stems toughen and are no longer susceptible to damping-off.

Maybe check that your flood cycle isn't too high and wetting the seeds to much.... most seeds don't like too much water directly after germination.

from one matt aero does not do too well in aquaponics

That does a lot to explain it. I would say that is my prob. Mine have all those symptoms. I had one plant that looked great at 10:00 am and by noon ti had fallen over and was separated right at the siol line. Happens quickly. I know for sure then that my flood cycle is too high. I will try some other things. Thanks for the help guys.