Nate, thanks for another great post. I love your scientist like approach to a system. It resonates with me as an engineer. I'm eagerly awaiting the 4th vid. I'm fairly positive I've got a potassium deficiency right now. I'm really only in need of how to calculate how much to add. My ph avg 7.4, water and media source makes system carbonate heavy. Either that or I potentially have a tomato disease, hard to tell really.
Hi Don, with that pH, you should look into foliar applications of potassium. Basically, it's going to make your additions really simple. Your pH is still too high to start thinking about adding a base, so that leaves kelp meal concentrate- but it can be slow to act. I'm not sure how old your system is, but if it's fairly young (less than 6 mo.s) then foliar is the way to go, along with kelp meal additions. The amount is impossible to say without knowing what your volume and starting concentration is. I would say that instead of testing ($$$) start with a small amount- say 1 dry ounce per 2000 gallons and then increase until you see the deficiency subside. Then try to find a good weekly treatment that supplements your nutrients in a balanced way.
+Chris Shepherd Yes, you can do foliar carbonate applications. Potassium and calcium carbonates aren't the best for foliar feeding though. If you really need to feed, I prefer using chlorides. However, you're right, it can help prevent mildew issues on some crops!
Can you use potassium bicarbonate to supplement potassium? Does adding potassium hydroxide affect the overall pH of the system? Thank for this video series.
Yes, potassium bicarbonate can be used and can be a great supplement if you're dealing with a system that trends downward often. For a system with a neutral pH that doesn't trend downward quickly, we like to use hydroxides because they give us a little more control.
YESSSS!! All of the the telltales were right and then when you looked straight at the camera and said bronzing... Like a message from god hahaha, thanks for the vids man- superrrr helpful for the backyard Aquaponers!!
Love the vid(s) Nate. I've been treating my high ph system with potassium sulfate - so was good to see this on the key as well - the increase in growth is very noticeable. The Key says in low amounts - what is low? I've been adding 1 tsp per 1000L though is this too much? Would there be a problem with build up of sulfates? When will zipgrows be available in Oz :) ?
Hey do large-scale aquaponic systems often have reoccurring deficiencies with the same nutrients? Seems like if you grew only one plant (say lettuce), it would require more of some nutrients that others and you would have to keep supplementing those.
Unless they are really well managed, yes. Even if you're only growing one crop, nutrient uptake and imbalances occur because of seasonal changes in temperature, light, etc, as well as inconsistencies in feed components, purity of supplements, etc. Nutrients are just fundamentally more difficult to manage in these systems.
ha ha, that's not the most efficient or effective way. There is some potential for burying a banana in a grow bed, but again... maybe not the most effective way.
Pllatinum1 Using a fish feed with fish meal will give you better plant nutrition. But we just recommend using a potassium supplement and things like lime and potassium hydroxide.
Another great video, Nate. Can't wait for part 4. And thank you for the Deficiency Key, it will be very handy. I just got fish into my first system on Sunday after cycling for nearly 6 weeks. 12 goldfish in a 55 gallon barrel system so pretty small right now but figured I'd start small to learn what works and what doesn't before building out the 300+ gal system I really want. All your videos have been very helpful along the way. Can't thank you enough!
That's a smart way to do it. Make all of your mistakes on a small system. Learn the ropes and scale up as you feel comfortable. I'm really glad the videos are helpful to you. Enjoy the key! Those things are a pain to find the time to put together, but once they're done and people are using them- totally worth it.
Where I can get nutrition key kindly guide me
Shiv
I guess that key went from free to 1.99 to 2.99 just check for it that's what I got .... Nate that's a dick move.
As for the deficiency key: "Go there, it's free, it's..." (click on link), $1.99
$2.99 please...
It is not free, is there another link for the free one?
Nate, thanks for another great post. I love your scientist like approach to a system. It resonates with me as an engineer. I'm eagerly awaiting the 4th vid. I'm fairly positive I've got a potassium deficiency right now. I'm really only in need of how to calculate how much to add. My ph avg 7.4, water and media source makes system carbonate heavy. Either that or I potentially have a tomato disease, hard to tell really.
Hi Don, with that pH, you should look into foliar applications of potassium. Basically, it's going to make your additions really simple. Your pH is still too high to start thinking about adding a base, so that leaves kelp meal concentrate- but it can be slow to act. I'm not sure how old your system is, but if it's fairly young (less than 6 mo.s) then foliar is the way to go, along with kelp meal additions. The amount is impossible to say without knowing what your volume and starting concentration is. I would say that instead of testing ($$$) start with a small amount- say 1 dry ounce per 2000 gallons and then increase until you see the deficiency subside. Then try to find a good weekly treatment that supplements your nutrients in a balanced way.
Bright Agrotech
Thanks for replying. My system is over a year old, 450 gallons. I'll look into Sea Weed foliage application.Thanks.
What do you think of boiling plantain and banana peels and adding that water to the aquarium to increase the amount of potassium?
Thank you for the information.
Happy to help Harry White . Thanks for being part of our community.
Excellent thanks man! Won't do it.
thanks for the info on potassium deficiencies I was having this problem.just saw your videos
Excellent! Great to hear we could help you out, James Pollen - How's the #aquaponicssystem running now?
What about foliar feeding with potassium bicarbonate? This would take care of any mold/fungus issues as well
+Chris Shepherd Yes, you can do foliar carbonate applications. Potassium and calcium carbonates aren't the best for foliar feeding though. If you really need to feed, I prefer using chlorides. However, you're right, it can help prevent mildew issues on some crops!
Can you use potassium bicarbonate to supplement potassium? Does adding potassium hydroxide affect the overall pH of the system? Thank for this video series.
Yes, potassium bicarbonate can be used and can be a great supplement if you're dealing with a system that trends downward often. For a system with a neutral pH that doesn't trend downward quickly, we like to use hydroxides because they give us a little more control.
YESSSS!! All of the the telltales were right and then when you looked straight at the camera and said bronzing... Like a message from god hahaha, thanks for the vids man- superrrr helpful for the backyard Aquaponers!!
+Aidan Belleau Happy to help!
Love the vid(s) Nate. I've been treating my high ph system with potassium sulfate - so was good to see this on the key as well - the increase in growth is very noticeable. The Key says in low amounts - what is low? I've been adding 1 tsp per 1000L though is this too much? Would there be a problem with build up of sulfates? When will zipgrows be available in Oz :) ?
Hey Matt Checksfield - Check out growpacked.com !
dr nate. can you spray potassium hydroxide on leaves or no?
Nope! Don't do it, DRUMofTRUTH.
i need part 4!!! come on!!!! =) your the best nate fyi
Hi Casey! You can find part four here: bit.ly/1eA725m
Hey do large-scale aquaponic systems often have reoccurring deficiencies with the same nutrients? Seems like if you grew only one plant (say lettuce), it would require more of some nutrients that others and you would have to keep supplementing those.
Unless they are really well managed, yes. Even if you're only growing one crop, nutrient uptake and imbalances occur because of seasonal changes in temperature, light, etc, as well as inconsistencies in feed components, purity of supplements, etc. Nutrients are just fundamentally more difficult to manage in these systems.
Got it, thanks!
If you feed bananas to your fish, would the plants get the potassium that way?
ha ha, that's not the most efficient or effective way. There is some potential for burying a banana in a grow bed, but again... maybe not the most effective way.
Is there anything to supplementing fish food to help along nutrients for the plants though?
Pllatinum1 Using a fish feed with fish meal will give you better plant nutrition. But we just recommend using a potassium supplement and things like lime and potassium hydroxide.
Great info, learning a lot every day.
You mention the Nutrient Deficiency Key as a free download, but it doesn't seem to be free.
Yeah, sorry Bas- we changed it to a 99 cent resource two years ago- we did our best to keep it affordable!
Bright Agrotech can u post the link to the nutrient deficiency key. Thanks great video!
@@ZipGrowInc 99cent is very reasonable indeed.
Another great video, Nate. Can't wait for part 4. And thank you for the Deficiency Key, it will be very handy. I just got fish into my first system on Sunday after cycling for nearly 6 weeks. 12 goldfish in a 55 gallon barrel system so pretty small right now but figured I'd start small to learn what works and what doesn't before building out the 300+ gal system I really want. All your videos have been very helpful along the way. Can't thank you enough!
That's a smart way to do it. Make all of your mistakes on a small system. Learn the ropes and scale up as you feel comfortable. I'm really glad the videos are helpful to you. Enjoy the key! Those things are a pain to find the time to put together, but once they're done and people are using them- totally worth it.