Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Does anyone do water test(nitrites, nitrates, etc.)? This is a common practice for aquariums.

Yep, alot do test the water for ammonia nitrite nitrate and ph. The ammonia one is especially handy to test for when starting and cycling a new system

What are good water perameters for growing plants in the growbeds?

Once the system has cycled Brent, good parameters are in the range of...

pH 6.5-7.5

Ammonia 0

Nitrites 0

Nitrates 50 - 150

pH and nitrate levels may vary from system to system depending on growbed capacity and what is actually being grown and number and size of fish.

In a mature system these levels can be easily balanced by the amount and/or frequency of feed

How do you test which nutrients are in the system?

the test kit comes with a bunch of test tubes and reagents. You take a water sample add the appropriate reagent according to the instructions, usually cap the tube, shake and wait a period of time. You then compare the tube with a colour chart for the result.

I don't have a test kit. These instructions may be different depending on the brand used.

So do you have to do lots of tests to see that you have lots of nutrients in your system?

If you want to keep a close eye on the levels in your system, you would do lots of tests. But if your system has lots of nutrients (nitrates), one test will tell you exactly how much is in ther at that point in time.....

CC, do realize that we can only measure the 'N' out of a typical 'NPK' fertilizer. We also often add chelated iron if plants show signs of deficiencies through odd leaf form or coloration. Iron deficiency is the most common one, and shows as the newer leaves turning yellow, but with green veins.

What form does iron come in and how do you add it to the system?

My system has a general lack of nutriens. The bottom leaves are drying out and the plants are growing very slow. It is getting better now that I added more fish and the excisting fish are getting bigger.

brent, look for chelated iron.

Have you posted a thread with your setup at all?

Why not do so and add as much info and pictures as you can. People might be able to pick something that you may have over looked, or even diagnose a specific deficiency for you.

Chelated Iron is a liquid, and you may be able to find it in your local garden center. I add small amounts to the standpipes of my growbeds, and let it diffuse through the system from there.

And some of us yet, are most stuborn and don't add anything but fish food to their AP system. I'll come around one day maybe.

Not always. You should be able to find it in powdered form aswell. Usually labeled chelated iron or sometimes labeled as iron sulfate.

Bunnings stocks both "Chelated Iron" and "Iron Sulphate"

Where abouts are you Brent?