Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

The colour on the lettuce just looks like the type of lettuce is it. I wouldn't worry unless it gets worse.

With the algae, it'll only grow if there is light, I'd make up a lid or something for the FT, and paint the sides that can see light.


Good job on the bed. Looks very nice.

Well, surprisingly the system overall isn't too loud. The only rooms it really affects are the office and the living room, which the bed itself blocks a lot of the noise to the living room and the office doesn't get much of the noise, either. Also, when you decide to make an AP setup, the noise is on the PRO's side of the list, right?:)

I need to get a picture of the electrical work but in the tank itself is the main pump, a smaller pump that actually circulates the water in a very, very slow spiral (which makes cleaning the bottom super easy), an air pump hooked up to a bubbler, two eBay heaters (that will come out as soon as we are clear of any more freezes here in FLA) and a cheap underwater light. I also have two screen bags full of ceramic cylinders that used to be in my fish tank and I actually kept moist all the way until I finished the system, so that is where I got my kickstart bacteria from.

The bed is on an auto siphon, but it was really annoying because the pump was just a bit too fast and the siphon just a bit too slow, but with a jimmy rig of tubing for a snorkel, all is well now.

I'll be putting up a video this coming week to show the rest of everything and explain the future vision for it, but as for now it is too rainy and nasty outside for a video.

One last thing. I notice that when it rains, all of the plants seem to perk up quite a bit. I am thinking that when I plugged all the plants, maybe I didn't make them deep enough? Will that problem solve itself over time? And here it should be noted that the bed is actually on a slant because the pavement is, too. I put wedges in all the feet before rocks to level it out, but the side closer to the house gets water about 2" down and the side furthest gets water about 1" down. (Used to be like a 4 inch swing now only an inch difference). Thanks for the info and encouragement!

Mike

I agree as well looks like bronze lettuce to me.

Here are some updated pics of the system. I thought growth had completely halted, but from the pics it seems there has definitely been some. This week is mostly mid 60's and low 70's, so hopefully the fish and plants will begin to be a bit more active. Also, redesigned the topper for the IBC, and I couldn't help myself when I saw those little label stick things at Michael's. Thanks to my wife for the much better handwriting than me!

The last two pics.