Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I had tiny black flies in the AP system for a while. The size of gnats, but not gnats. Yellow sticky traps work well.

thanks for the idea janet, will get some tape soon.

i have added chelated iron today, now its time to sit back and see what happens. i got yates chelated iron but noticed they also had a packet of trace elements which contained iron, would that of been a better buy, would it be safe for fish? i am also interested in the Minplus that was mentioned and would like to know how that goes.

vb found this place MinPlus contact them and they should be able to give you a rep close by (Jaymie,vb and myself are using it - with trace elements it normally takes awhile to get established)

Another one that has been mentioned Alroc

Keep us informed as to how the chelated iron goes and the mineral fertilisers

Oh - what was the other stuff - Yates also

i emailed MinPlus last night but no response yet.

i will let you know how the chelated iron goes.

i didnt get the trace elements, which was another yates product, but it was a hell of alot cheaper, $20 for the chelated iron and $6 for the trace elements.

the Minplus guy is really nice, he delivered our bag directly to Axl's work and it was sooo cheap

and does the minplus supply everything you need?

I've only used it once, I'm thinking the some of the strawbs need another feed. Everything is powering along, looking great

pah70.... similar product closer to you... "Rock On"

http://www.orchidimages.com.au/product.html

They're in Kangaroo Valley, can order online and will mail to you....

http://www.orchidimages.com.au/

To get there ....

http://www.orchidimages.com.au/about.html#location

You might be able to get Minplus from your local "B" store

pah, next time you pop past the store get down the % of iron in both packets, only then can you make a cost comparison.

They'll think your a bomb maker! LOL

thanks for all the input everyone, as for bombs, someone was arrested in canberra over the weekend for expolding a letterbox and having heaps of pipe bombs, they had to evacuate the street. dont know if it made the news where you are?

and the chelated iron is 12% and from memory the other was 6%

once upon a day kids could get away for that...........now they go to guantanamo

I think the main [s]trace[/s] elements you need are:

Potassium
Magnesium
Calcium
Iron
Phospherous

Nitrates come from the fish so will be forever present

thanks EllKayBee good to know.

steve the kid was 26 and should know better, if your going to blow up a letter box you dont do your neighbours.

Les, potassium and phosphorous are macro elements

i'm fairly sure iron and calcium are micro elements.

Some one like joel or forest might be able to give you more depth.

Often plants show deficiencies in micro elements, sometimes trace, but adding the trace is also good for us, as thats one of the problems with commercial food, they put in NPK + micro and bugger anything thats not needed to take the plant to harvest.

There was a senate (USA) document cant remember what yer but i could probably look it up) warning of the health risks associated with dramatic decline in trace elements in our diet due to this fact.