Comment

Comment by Jeff S on August 2, 2014 at 4:29pm

Deanna, I use them for quick sporadic tests but if I am trying to correct a problem I'll stick with the API test kit except for PH.

Comment by Deanna Perry on August 2, 2014 at 3:54pm

Has anyone used the 5-in-1 test strips to test their water?

Comment by Cheri Bower on August 2, 2014 at 11:50am

http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/photo/ws-b700-water-barrel-...

I put together a filter in a 55 gal barrel that does three things for me... 1) lower spiral portion reduces solids that I can drain out every few days to add to my raised beds..2) feed out to my hydro lay beds from the middle of the barrel, allowing my red worm eggs and larvae to get back to my beds 3)since I have a floating bed in my system I cut two filter pads and set snugly on top of the spiral tubes...added a new line to the floating bed, keepign my roots buildup free. Still having trouble with the bell syphons in my shallow media beds so that is the next project :D

Comment by Leo White Bear on August 2, 2014 at 11:48am

Jack-

Tomatoes are self pollinators, since your system is indoors you may need the addition of a fan to help with strengthening the stems and shake the tomato plants to release the pollen.

  You also may have to start to pollinate the plants by hand, i.e. no or too few pollinators to do the job.  Again a oscillating fan will help.  Many backyard greenhouses do not carry a fan or it is too small to do the job efficiently.

  Your numbers are great so there shouldn't be any problem why your plants are looking shaggy.  Here in Wis. we are experiencing a tomato blight that is also affecting many peppers as they are in the same genus, my squash leaves are also exibiting signs of blight but all are producing very well, although my lettuce bolted also because it got above 75°F for a few days a couple of weeks ago.  It maybe that your heat is too high for the lettuce and Swiss Chard.

  I don't incorporate any other filter system except my media beds in my hybrid system and the roots in the NFT are pearly white so the media is catching quite a bit of solids before the water gets to the troughs to the herbs.

Comment by Jack Dunbar on August 2, 2014 at 9:10am

I just tested my water and I came up with PH >7.6, ammonia (NH3) at 0PPM, nitrite (NO2-) at 0PPM and nitrate(NO3-) at 10-20PPM and here are my results; My Cherry Tomatoes are thriving with plenty of blossoms- no fruit. My Banana pepper plant looks like it's dieing but is producing 2 peppers. My stringbeans the leavea got very scaly and started turning brown but produced mega beans. My eggplant looks awesome loaded with blossoms- no fruit. Mescun lettuce just keeps producing and looks awesome. My swisschard grew well for the first couple of inches and then bolted. This is an indoor system and I'm limited for space... 1-150Gal FT and 2-40 Gal media beds above it with auto syphons, 10 Goldfish and all are doing well. This system has been up and running since Nov '13. I have a growlight that comes on for approx. 8 hrs a day. So far the only additional fertilizers have been a few months ago maxicrop/iron and presently the Aquaponics Source tea bag elements. I know I don't have  enough media beds as per 1/1 ratio bed all is running fine. My question is I want to do a radial filter and polisher 'cause I love experimenting. Is there a formula for sizing these and would I upset the setup I have now. I want to build a nice greenhouse and then a bigger setup within. I just don't have a lot of time as I work a lot of hours so it will have to wait 'til next year.    

Comment by Jim Fisk on August 2, 2014 at 8:44am

Hey Rob, where do you get your greensand? I have been wondering if that was ok for AP as I grew up with my dad using it even in his compost. Any local chains carry it or is online better? Do you use Epsom Salts at all?

Comment by Rob Nash on August 2, 2014 at 7:19am

the polisher goes last in line, just before the raft.

Comment by Rob Nash on August 2, 2014 at 7:19am

Jeff, in Aquaponics we dont wont ammonium nitrate.. low ph causing the ammonia to stay higher is due to stressed bacteria.. they like it high.

7.2-7.4 is in the high range, low is < 6.5

study about high ammonium in hydroponics.. its the main culprit for most problems you'll encounter. ...no fruit, weak plants, bugs, etc.

Comment by Jeff S on August 1, 2014 at 7:28pm

Rob I'm running a radial filter. Would you advise the polisher before or after the filter?

Comment by Jeff S on August 1, 2014 at 7:26pm

I'm using Hydroton and in my smaller tanks I have a problem with low PH. Again I don't worry too much about that either because the ammonia stays higher and the low PH makes it ammonium. This is my first summer with veggies so I'm just learning as I go. Plants grow well but only have minimal production so far.

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