Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So its been a bit, but here is a recent update. Because of lack of iron, I have been adding maxicrop with iron, to the system every week. One scoop per each grow bed, and 1-2 oz. in the sump tank, I just eye ball it.

Maxicrop is basically a liquid seaweed compost, and the iron is added.

Next time I order some stuff I will order some Iron Chealet (sp) as well.

I am now getting 2-3 toms per each 4-5 bloom of flowers. Not perfect but better than what it has been. Which was around 0-1.

Tomorrow evening I will be picking my first few ripe tomatoes. All cukes are blooming, but still young.

But, as of course, the aphids are back, and they are back in full force. This pic doesnt explain the real furry of how bad they are. BUT!!!!! we have babies on the attack and I have more ladybugs ready to arrive on Wednesday. I would really like to leave it alone and let the babies grow, but they are to thick for the limited amount of baby LBs I saw.

Here is the top of a pepper plant for example. They are so thick, I dont see how it gets sun, and every single plant looks like this.





Here is a ladybug larva eating an aphid, pretty damn cool to see

Look in its mouth

The ants are aphid farmers. They bring them to the plants, suck their juices and keep them alive. There are some options to keep them out. Some have put pans of water under GB feet. You can put grease on the legs or wrap them in plastic with grease for easy removal. I have used terro traps in strategic locations to stop them from getting started. Trace down there trail coming in and find a way to stop them.

Hello you fellow hick. I'm also bitten and raised in Fort Worth. Will be around lake Frankston, near Palestine this summer. If you are near enough want to show off your system? I too am frustrated by my lack of output. Let's keep trying.

IsearelAP when you are around here PM me and yes, I will show you my system

Update, I lost my cool. Because of the holiday my LBs are going to be one week late. So I let loose with a water hose inside the GH and knocked off 90% of the aphids off the plants. Opened all the windows, hoping it doesnt effect the wood.

Either way

I am going to be over run with toms pretty soon







With training everything is growing across the trellis



On a side note. One of our barn cats we have had for 13 years, I have decided to let it live inside for the rest of its life. I let him out at sun up, and he comes back in at sun down.

Cats are great at relaxing..

I have found that a spray bottle with a dawn / water soapy mix does a good job for pest control, regardless of their size or species. Tends to suffocate them.

My red wigglers came in today at lunch. Each grow bed got a handful



I made a video of feeding the fish. They were around 3" when I got them. Dont know why its so blurry

Quick question, now that I have worms in the system is it a good idea to add banana peels to the grow beds?

Yes.

Well done!

I removed a few bell pepper plants. I dont eat them at fast as they were producing.

Now trying to decide what I want to put in there place......

Looking great.

Looking good! I slice the peppers up and put right in the freezer for winter use. Same with all my excess vegies.