Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I don't think its ca or k as I now add them both routinely to buffer pH. Was thinking it could be magnesium but there's no yellowing at all. pH is currently 6 and I add worm juice and seasol regularly.

I sometimes wonder if its worth purging a volume of water out of the system every so often so all the trace minerals aren't so out of whack with the nitrates?

Seedlings are looking healthy but still not much growth. I did end up with one brocolli head about the size of a 20c coin. Not really impressed at all.

Some ting wong.

The ends dieing off like that I'd be thinking calcium

I have had that before. I never know what causes anything really. But I have found seasol to fix most things. A little chelated iron and make sure you don't have excessive salt levels. (I even add a little power feed sometimes if the fish are not banging, but you never heard that from me..... I will be denounced as a hydromaniac)

Yea, its when you don't get enough of something

I don't think you have that problem though. Burnt around the edges if often due to an excess of something - fertilser burn in dirt gardens.

How's your Nitrate level?

Bingo Gordon

My goodness! You might want to try some water with those nitrates! Never seen so high

Yeah that's what mine were like a month or so ago. Didn't get that burning though on my leafy greens. Although now that you mention it I did on some of my Rhubarb.

I'm guessing thats a 100ppm? Mine are that high too (~150) trout have been hungry! Not got those symptoms though.

Its at the limit of its testing which reads >100. Currently slowly diluting (and watering the garden) . Mines never been so high either! But the trout this year are chomping through so much food it makes sense.

Dilute it 2X, re-measure- repeat (@4X, 8X etc) until you are within the scale.

I saw a clip that said if you add CH for your KH your Potassium could get blocked? I had simular problems then I was given a web page off here that basically said I planted the wrong plants at the wrong time of year? And the caterpillars love them!

http://www.gardenate.com/

I hope this helps,

What's CH and what's KH?

My nitrates were that high for months but my plants weren't growing at all, turns out I was missing iron. Apparently if they don't have enough iron, they can't "eat" anything else, either.

Calcium and carbonate hardness, calcium will help your carbonates and keep your PH up, but will or can block your potassium? Your fish feed can normally add what you need? But that depends on what you use?

I added a small bag of sea shells to one of my filters to add calcium in a small way slowly to boost my plants,

I am no expert! I have just watched a few experts on you tube, and a few that have no idea? But common sense is not that common?

I hope this helps in some way,

But I am about to get put down by others for even speaking? Again?

Hey don't worry about getting put down. I cop it too but forums are about people learning right? If we knew it all it would be a pretty boring forum and we'd all be off writing books or something.

whenever I start talking about deficiencies on the forum I get rubbished about being into hydroponics. But if the fish food alone cut it, I wouldn't be on the forum trying to figure out what my deficiency is and I have had a few. Which have been resolved by adding something.

This time was a little different, I should have known cause I was chucking so much food in. The trout were eating it all. I should have checked my nitrates but I want really thinking of them as a problem at too high a level. Now I know. Like with all things horticultural (all things in general) you learn by doing, making mistakes. You remember your mistakes better if you get criticised for them so count it as a blessing