Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Right, that's the consensus I see though some plants might call for a different pH, those can usually be accommodated by some other growing method; dutch bucket or wicking bed.

Can't really tell exactly, but I do know it's between 7.4-8 so I will need to bring down pH just a touch. I have a small system what's the best way to do that?

-Tyler






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Also noticing a few burnt edges on my basil plants and one tomato plant. Don't know if this is too significant, but I suppose it's happening for some negative reason. Given all the information in recent posts, anyone have a diagnosis?

-Tyler

Need some help. Lettuce and basil in the lower Raft tank are not looking good all new growth is yellow and they're growing very slowly. Tomato plants are looking much better, still not shooting up but steadily growing taller and stronger.

-Tyler

If you are still scared that your top growbed is taking up all the nutrients, you should test the NO3 levels before and after the water flows in/out of the growbed. This way you should be able to rule something out.

In my system I had similar problems at the start but plants are starting to thrive now. The pH is significantly lower now(7.0 instead 8.0), which might explain things. Youre pH is still quite high, so that might explain things. I would not add any chemicals to lower the pH or add additional nutrients. The pH will come down naturally. In the meantime just keep sowing new seedlings to replace the ones that dont grow well.

Still its strange that your tomatoes do fairly well. Nutrient deficiencies/a too high pH would show earlier on those than on lettuce. So either the nutrients dont reach the second floating raft or the plants dont like the raft. Aeration is important for the floating raft to work, but it seems like youve got enough.

Or its light related...

I got a bit carried away, Im studying controlled environment agriculture which might explain.



Verstuurd vanaf mijn LG-D855 met Tapatalk

Okay the plan is to let the pH sort itself out overtime. NO3 is the same in both beds and FT. In your research have you found or do you have any recommendations for the best lights and lighting set-up? What lights and light systems work best for flowering plants indoors?

-Tyler

In that case I think you can rule out nutrient deficiencies. I would add an air pump to the floating raft growbed, I think extra air never hurts.

For indoor lighting I would say LEDs are the best. Maybe a bit higher initial investment compared to fluorescent or HPS, but much lower power consumption and heat production. If you get them from china through alibaba they are quite affordable.

Flowering crops like tomatoes and cucumber are not so heavily effected by by the light spectrum. They flower when a certain number of leaves is formed. A generally applicable light recipe is 80% red and 20% blue light with a total intensity of 150 umol per square meter per second. Adding an extra 20% far red light will be very helpfull for a more normal morphology of the plants and probably increase the yield. Yet there is still very much research to be done.


Verstuurd vanaf mijn LG-D855 met Tapatalk

Sorry for the absence. I've made a few adjustments to the system that I hope will help. I've taken all of the plants out of the small raft tank and moved that light to the top GB to increase light. I'm not sure what the problems were but the plants just never seemed to grow.

The plants in the top GB are doing good despite probably still not having enough light. However, the cucumber plant has flowered a few times and I've tried hand pollinated, but I believe all flowers that were produce were female. The tomatoes have not yet flowered though they are growing a little better now with the added light. The carrots are also looking good, I'm interested to see how they turn out. I even threw in a few pumpkin seeds from the pumpkins my wife and I carved and they sprouted quickly. I know I'll eventually have to cull them out but at least for now they will help keep the system ammonia free.

The fish are doing well too, I still have seven goldfish powering this whole system. I'm not sure if that's sufficient, but my nitrate levels are great. I plan to run the system as is until I can save enough money to invest in some indoor LED lighting fixtures. My goal is to have one fixture for the top and one fixture for the bottom, then turn the lower raft tank into a second GB.

My pH is still high, around 7.8-8.0, any idea on how to safely bring it down in a small system? I've attached some pictures. Advice is always welcome! Thanks.

I am glad to be back after a short absence. The system is running perfectly, for now. I took some level readings yesterday for the first time in a while and everything was exactly where it needed to be. pH was low 7's, nitrite and ammonia were essentially 0 ppm, and nitrates were roughly ppm.

The only system maintenance I'm doing currently is adding 6-9 gallons of water once a month, feeding the fish, and pollinating my tomato plants with an electric tooth brush, which seems to be working great! I harvested a few small cucumbers in December before the plant completely gave out on me. Right now I'm currently growing the original tomato and carrot plants. I know it's taken them way to long to produce, but I think this has mostly been a lighting issue. I started the system back in the early fall and am now just harvesting the first tomatoes.

My plan is to order a 300w or 600w indoor grow light as soon as the tomato plants stop producing and replant the entire GB and start fresh. I also want to get my small DWC raft going again with a new light.

Anyway, glad to be back and here's a few recent pictures. Feedback is always appreciated.

-Tyler

Can any indoor growers provide me with a little assistance? I am about to purchase two LED lights, one for each bed. I am stuck between what to get. I have maximum 6 square feet of growing space, more realistically around 4 square feet. I do not know if 300W will be enough for that space. I am stuck between 300W or 600W and price is a factor obviously. Can I get away with the 300W or will I need to invest in a 600W light for each bed?

Thanks,

Tyler

I ran a water test last night just to get an update on how the system is running, this test is before I added about 8 gallons of water. Everything seems to be good level wise and the water temp. fluctuates with my house from about 65-71 F.

I've been having a few goldfish die on me and can't figure out why. I would assume that I have plenty of O2 in the system because I have two large stones; one in the FT and one in the small DWC bed above the fish tank. Also, the system floods and drains twice during a 15 minute cycle once an hour which stirs the water really well. I do not know how it could be depleted if that's the case. It also may be the larger fish killing the smaller fish because those seem like the only ones to be dying. My system is only now powered by four goldfish; three large, one small. Any other thoughts?

I am picking the last of my tomatoes this week and am looking to replant. Maybe some peppers? Does anyone have any thoughts on strawberries, or is that a lost cause? I also have three carrot plants that I'll finally pull out just to see what they look like.

Since I finally received my 300W LED light I plan hanging it for the top GB. Then I'll replant leafy greens in the small DWC bed below it using the fluorescent lights, which I think should be enough to grow lettuce/kale.

Anyway let me know if there is something I missed or there is something I can do to maximize production or keep my fish alive haha.

-Tyler

Hi Tyler . Looks like your system is coming along, I like the new light and it should help since, like you, I'm pretty certain that's where the problem was. Hopefully this new one will give you enough light to take care of the problem.

Cheers

I finally got around to making the needed light change and replanting of my system. I harvested the last of my tomatoes, which I've been told by some are the best tomatoes they've had in a long time! They asked me my secret. Haha I also attached a picture of my carrot plants I finally pulled out as well. It almost happened, they were more of an experiment anyway.

My new light looks great I hope it gives me the added power and spectrum I needed in the lighting department. I planted a strawberry plant, a blueberry bush, and a sweet pepper plant in the top GB. Not sure how they are going to do due to it not being a very acidic environment, but wanted to see what will happen.

I also put two plants in the DWC tank, a basil and cilantro plant. I hung one of the two T12 bulb florescent lighting fixtures and currently have both lights running for 12.5 hours a day.

Side note: I'm down to three goldfish, can nitrates get to high and become toxic? I have no clue what is killing my smaller goldfish, it may be the larger ones. All over water levels and temps are perfect, I don'e know why this keeps happening.

As always thanks for the feedback and help.

-Tyler

I'm still losing gold fish one by one slowly! All parameters are still testing in good ranges. Does anyone have a clue with what's going on? Doesn't appear to be lack of DO they're not surfacing.

-Tyler

I'm still losing gold fish one by one slowly! All parameters are still testing in good ranges. Does anyone have a clue with what's going on? Doesn't appear to be lack of DO they're not surfacing.

-Tyler