Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Greeting AP experts!

I'm a complete novice to aquaponics but so excited about it all. I just finished cycling my first system (in my basement) and am ready to add fish.

I planted some seeds about a month and a half ago and transplanted the to the grow beds three weeks ago. The zucchini plants took off and started growing like crazy. The leafy greens (I got the seeds mixed up so I don't know exactly what they are) are growing slowly but some of the leaves are a little curly and a much lighter green colour.

Since there are no fish in the water I have been adding something called flourish (http://www.seachem.com/Products/product ... urish.html) to supplement the nutrients and minerals.

The growbed is constant flood, with 1.5 inches of dry media at the top.

The pH is 7.8
Nitrate: 80
Nitrite: 0
Amonia: 0

Any suggestions? It seems that the most common problem is low iron - the flourish has iron in it, but maybe the wrong concentration? I'm located in a remote place so I just picked up what I could find at the pet store. I have read the recommendation for seaweed extract, I was just hoping to save on shipping fees.

I'm trying to add pictures but...technical difficulty. Will keep trying!

Here are the pictures

In my reading on the forum so far, I have learned that a constant flood, media based system can have some negative aspects. The biggest being that you will get "dead spots" in your media. It could be that this is what is making your plant leaves curl. But, like you I'm also a novice. So take this with a grain of salt.