Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

FINALLY HOME, WOO HOOO!

Two weeks I have been away from home and it was a loooong time.

Papa planted one bed when i was gone. I was a little worried since he did not use the water test kit. He planted around tuesday of last week.


Current Picture



Some of the plants are doing well but others are sad looking. I checked this morning and all plants were perky. I wonder maybe if the heat has to do something with it when the plants are trying to establish themselves?


Water Test on 3/1/2014


What is a good level for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

Problems I am trying to figure out....




Ive never seen this plants before. Kinda a bubbly effect on leaf...



And pests are just a real pain. I was able to figure out one but cant figure out the other though.

Attack of the ants!!!!!


When examining the plant, ants decided to lay their eggs. blah. I will be continuously blasting them suckers off. Is there a good long term solution? I have heard of Vaseline around edges of beds, but lil skeptical. Also I dont know if neem oil would do the trick? Thoughts?

Some type of insect is chopping away at leaf...




I really need to figure out sentiment problem...pumps were clogged like nobodies business...


Hope all is well with all! Looking forward to hear from you guys!

Ingat!

what are peoples thoughts about using cinnamon as a natural deterrent for ants?

Once your system has cycled:

Ammonia: less than 0.25ppm
Nitrite: 0 (you shouldn't see this appear on your tests after you've cycled)
Nitrate: 0-100ppm



It's a natural detterant, go for it. It would be rendered more effective if your system is covered from the rain, which it looks like it pretty much is, to save you re-applying it after every downfall.

Sweet looks like I am on the $$. Thanks




Currently I do not have to worry about the rain since that season has pasedt. I am using coconut palms for shade on top of the bamboo trellis in order for the plants to establish themselves since it is super hot out. I think ants were loving my chili plant because it was in the shade. Shuffled some palms around for the GB to get some more sun.

The squiggly lines look like a type of leaf miner. Here in qld we have citrus leaf miner that does that to the leaves on our oranges and lemons.

Ya, seems to be. Ive been keeping an eye on it but i havent noticed it progressing. It probably got it when it was in the tray sprouting.

Today I did a water test and things have changed a tad...



The only thing I did was place a sponge like thing at the GB spout to catch random stuff. It has helped clear up the water but could that have caused a nitrite jump?

I have only been cycling for a month-ish, but jump started cycling process by bringing water from another pond.

I am guessing system is still cycling. lol

If I were you I would be adding salt to your fish tank now to help alleviate Nitrite poisoning your fish.

At least 1 part salt per thousand litres of water volume (eg 1kg salt for a 1000 litre system). Plain sea salt or swimming pool salt, no iodine or additives.

What would have caused the Nitrite to spike? Overfeeding?

it sounds like your system never finished cycling

If I were you I would stop feeding your fish altogether until the Nitrites lower

How long have the fish been in the system now?

How are your fish looking? Any looking sick or slow swimming?

I would say that they have been in a month. No casualties.

Fish look fine swimming around. I dont know what a sick fish looks like so...

Updates!

Fun little addition for the fishes!


Plants!!!


All of these guys are climbers.



A few questions.

1. Are plants too dense?

2. Some plants are not a lush green. Is that because system isnt done cycling yet?( mainly cucumbers)
Nitrates and Nitrites are slowly decreasing ppm

3. My pH is around 7.6. Is that okay?

4. Some wilting has occurred. It is hot here but could there be another factor?

Hope all had a wonderful day! Its summer here and its HOT!

Cucumbers are a heavy feeding/fruiting plant and tend not to do too well in a newly setup aquaponics system

I'd start off with the basics like lettuce, spinach etc until your bio colony in your media beds develops ("matures")

I wouldn't change your pH, just leave it come down naturally over time, but test it every now and again

Your seedlings won't have good roots established yet, so may not hold up to extreme heat too well. How close is the water flooding beneath the surface of the GB's now?

Are your plants too dense, I don't think so.. time will tell In AP you can plant a lot closer together than in soil as there's less competition for nutrients

Lettuce and spinach never worked we'll go to me. Those "heavy feeders" I always found successful. You will lose some plants, not the end of the world.

Well a week has gone by and the nitrite spike is slowly disappearing, woo hoo! Lost a few beans but they will be replaced with ease. Most of these plants are vines/crawlers which is nice. It will fill out the bamboo structure above quite nicely!




Some of my cucumbers already have flowers on them! Which I am super excited about!




But I cannot figure out what is going on with a few of the plants that look like this




Hope everyone had a great weekend!