Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've enjoyed aquaponics gardening for five years now. It has been an adventure. I want to know what I should do to prepare my garden for this spring. I use goldfish poop for the vegetables. The vegetables are planted in clay pellets. The water is circulated 24/7. My water quality readings seem to be with-in range. But, I can not grow anything, like some members are able to do according to some of the great pictures posted.

So, if anyone can offer any advise I'll be glad to consider them. I need your help!

Thank you, I am: Gil Jones - alevee1778@gmail.com - Southeast Louisiana

Hi Gil, five years you say, have you had any results in that time? I think you would really need to supply more details about your system including its size in litres, how many grow beds and their sizes, the fish types and amounts. The food you are feeding, pH temp etc etc. If you can do that then I'm sure someone here will spot something you can improve upon. Until then, good luck........

Hi Gil

As above more info needed

Photos will generally give clues

Why do the plants not grow ??? do they grow for awhile then die / do they look like they are deficient in a nutrient / are bugs sucking the life out of them / are slugs coming up after dark and eating them

Gil has documented quite a bit of his issues....a quick search and/or click on the user profile

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=27521&p=539516&hilit=gol
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=27868&p=544841#p544841
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=28339&p=555110&hilit=goldfish#p555110

full list of posts:
search.php?author_id=25551&sr=posts

Gil - Best bet is to stay with one thread and keep posting your questions in one place.
Much easier for people who are trying to help out.

May as well stay with this one for 2018.
As guys above note maybe a couple of recent pics and some overview of what you plan for 2018.

Thank's for your interest. I'll get started on this info ASAP and explain as best as I can.

Without knowing any details, typical issues growing plants might be:

Flake food for goldfish does not have a nutrient balance favorable to plants.
A few fish in a system may not provide enough nutrients for the growbed area
Water temp and circulation will impact dissolved oxygen and plant health. Too hot or too cold and plants may not be happy. Also, shaded growbeds typically do not perform well - lots of direct sunlight is needed.

A mature system that uses a reasonable stocking density and quality food should create favorable growing conditions. If you are not growing much then your nitrate should be high. What is your nitrate reading? If nitrate is low then perhaps you are understocked or inadequate feeding.

Lack of trace minerals can create issues, so Maxicrop might be helpful.

None of this is good advice if it doesn't apply to your system and it's issues.