Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

The cheap oil absorbing granules you buy at the auto parts store is my new favorite seed starting product. It is 100% diatomaceous earth. The only problem I have is that my cat likes to lay on it. Her punishment has escalated from a little flick of water, to full on baths. Now I have the clear pastic domes over it. If she persists, I am going to put double sided tape on the plastic. She hates tape..

Hi Shelly, I also struggle starting seeds in trays & have found direct seeding into the GBs very successful. It is relatively easy to thin seedlings & reposition or transfer into a DWC. I use lettuce, bok choy, spring onions, kale, beetroot, marigold, silverbeet & spinach seeds (probably others over the years, & it is cheaper than buying seedlings).
I am trialling a 50/50 mix of river sand & potting soil in a seed tray at the moment & is looking much better than my last effort in all sand which wicked up fish water (another member is quite good at this method & the sand washes straight off the roots for transplanting).
Good luck with all those tomatoes - I made sauce yesterday from only 3 plants!

Ronmaggi and Team41

Thanks for the tips - will definitely try them out. On the 17th I couldn't wait to start planting/growing so I threw some seeds into a few of the media gbs. Much to my surprise the lettuce media bed is sprouting-- My tomatillo, beefsteak toms, and jalapeno starts came in and are planted. I utilized a variety of different techniques so that I could see which works best. Anyways, here's pics.

great start, keep it going

Thanks Floridafishin -- I got everything crossed (not just my fingers), lol.

Way to go - Looks great Shelly

Thanks scotty435

Thanks Floridafishin -- I got everything crossed (not just my fingers), lol.

That usually means you have to pee

Shelly,

You may want to get in contact with this poster.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=24707

Guess I left the door wide open for that one Florida

Thanks floridafishin, I did and they are happy in my sump tank have had them for a week

So getting things done around the house and fiddling with AP and regular garden a bit. Thinned out the lettuce seedlings from the AP media bed and put some in float bed and indoors to grow up for regular garden. Onions are taking off in the AP wicking bed. Have had lots of rain -- so no tremendous growth on anything outdoors. On a brighter note--I figured out how to use the germination station to start my seeds. Pics are included.

Shelly,

If you are struggling with the rain diluting your AP water. Go and buy a cheap pool cover and a beach ball from a dollar store. Place the beach ball in the middle of your pool under the cover to keep the rain from collecting on it. That will cut the amount of rain water your system is collecting by half. When your rainy season is over just remove it.

floridafishin,

That's a good suggestion but we dont have a rainy season. We are just privileged to El nino to help us come out of a severe drought.. our lakes/reservoirs were 10+ foot low and have caught up in 2 months.


It's frustrating I havent been able to build out my new system but we needed (still do) this rain, so it is what it is.

Bcotton,

Yeah I was thinking your rain might have been linked to tornado season. Instead of the couple months of deluge we normally get each year. Either way it only takes 1 person about 5 min to put on or remove the cover.