Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Is this Fungus, nutrient deficiency, lockout or something else?

Led lights thats why the colors are weird.




I noticed some calsuim deficiency so i added calsium hydroxide. Next day the the first spots was showing.

That made me believe i hade created a inbalance so the calsium locked out the potassium.

So i added more potassium but it haven´t really helped.


I try to keep my pH at 6-6,4 but when i lower it, the next morning it will be higher again (6,8)



Can nutrients become insoluble at 7. Then when i lower the pH to 6,4 they become soluble again and the calsium hydroxide push the pH up again ?


Thanks!

Remember that this is an aquaponic system, not hydroponic. Too many additives can shock your system. That is the fish, AND the bacteria. A ph of 7 is actually ideal. Keep in mind that the calcium will bring up your ph. It also buffers it, meaning that it will continue to raise the ph for some time.

The real point I am making is to chill out and let your system do it's thing. Cucumber is difficult to make happen in an ap system. I would say one in 5 plants makes it, but that one does awesome. Also, as a cucumber's leaves get old, they start to look like yours. As long as you don't see powdery mildew, you should be okay.

Can you give us more info about your system? Like how old it is, what size it is, what fish you stock...

I have found that liquid seaweed helps my cucumber plants tremendously. Both plants I have started from seed and produced. Aphid problem wiped one out and it looked similar to yours on its way out.

I sprayed the plant with a home made fungicide! And it worked! now the spots look more like dead spots.
The color of the spots went from dark to bright! So i figured the fungus died! :-)

I was using a poor fish food so i had to add some calsium, potassium and magnessiun.

The potassium i used was a potassium carbonate now i know you don´t want carbonates in youre system.. So thats not going in again.
I think that is what is pushing my pH up.

Hopefully they will leave my system if i add rain water from now on. Just gotta figure out how to catch it from the balcony :-)


I have a small indoor system: 90 L fishtank, 25 small zebra fish and 2 goldfish, 2 growboxes. 1, Led home made 185W 1 fluressent 125W.

My system have been up and running for 1,5 years almost. And its been on the road when i moved from Malmö to Oslo :-)

The nutrification is very good. Its only the pH that i have a hard time with.

I was running my pH at 7 before but my plants was showing lots of deficiencies, and high nitrate in the water.

I lowered it to 6,4 and the nitrate went down very quick. So i will still be aming for pH 6-6,4. My plants likes it :-)


Thanks for the response !

/John

My Japanese cucumber has been kicking butte in my AP system.