Cucumbers wither and die

[Eileen Herzog]

my indoor system is 2 months old. All test numbers are in range. Cucumber plants grew huge and strong, 3 varieties, trellised and lots of light. Lots of flowers, became little cucumbers. After reaching 1 inch in length, they each withered and died, from bottom of vine, all the way up to latest cukes. Removed all vines, and planted 12 more plants in other grow bed, other fish tank. And ideas why the huge loss? Thx.

[Eileen Herzog]

IFEANYI,  Hello.  I also started with lettuce, spinach and some herbs along with the cucumbers, tomatoes, pole beans and snap peas.  The first three were in a float system, the rest in a mixed media of gravel and Hydroton (clay pellets).  After a harvest of the float bed, I changed it out to another media bed.  Now both 4' by 4' beds are flood/drain but run separately with their own fish tanks.  I had 16 Hybrid Bluegill and 3 Channel Catfish in one tank, and all Catfish in the other.  The HBG are aggressive and killed the catfish in a week.  Even though my system was fully cycled, the catfish in the other tank began to die.  All test numbers were right on target.  I then got Tilapia for this tank, leaving the HBG alone.  Lost all of the Tilapia, still don't know why. I emptied the tank and thoroughly cleaned all pieces of the plumbing, bought special long brushes for the spray bar tubing.  I now have 25 goldfish in that tank.  All is well now.  I will now always keep type of fish separate.  I tell you this so that if you experience any similar problems, don't get discouraged.  I keep hearing "It's a balancing act."  I use the appropriate fish-friendly additives like Seasol (Maxicrop - liquid seaweed) or pH Up or pH Down and others and monitor still almost every day.  Make sure you have lots of aeration, I have airstones and a spray bar in each tank.  The fish seem stable and happy!  The goldfish will not be edible, but they eagerly greet me each day!  I am hanging the trellises today on the second media bed.  I am only a few months ahead of you and still learning.  Best of luck.  Let me know how you are doing.  Eileen 

[IFEANYI NZEMEZIE]

Setting up my own aquaponics system slowly. Hope to take off in September. To start with some spinach, pumpkins, peppers, tomatoes and some local spice leaves that grow here (Nigeria, West Africa). For the fish intend to star with catfish and/or tilapia which are in abundance here. I think I will be able to tame some of our other local wild fishes eventually. Hope I am on the right track. I live in Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory. 

[Eileen Herzog]

Clint, Thank you for explaining that.  I took it for granted that if there were blossoms, all was well. Now I will be ready for the next batch.

[Clint Martineau]

I'm not a pollinating expert by any means, but my on outdoor aquaponics system we do not have many bees around to do if for me.  so i take a small brush and hand pollinate my cucs, and it works well.  if they do not get pollinated they wither and die at about 1 inch in length..

[Eileen Herzog]

George, how long until a system is considered ready for a crop of cucumbers?

Clint, I didn't pollinate because there were big yellow flowers right on schedule.  If I didn't pollinate the cukes, why did anything grow out of the flowers?  I did start pollinating my tomato plants with a battery operated tooth bush lightly touching the stems holding the flowers, while an oscillating fan stirred the pollen around the area.  I now have over 70 green tomatoes with that many more flowers ready to follow.  Should I do the same procedure when I start to see cucumber flowers on my next batch already planted and growing well?  Thank you both for your help.

[Clint Martineau]

they are probably not getting pollinated since they are indoors...

[George]

system is 2 months old