Yellow Leaves - New System

[Brian & Kaye]

I can't seem to find anything on yellowing leaves in APHQ - sorry!...

Our brand new (home-made) system has been fishless cycling for a few days already. We've planted established seedlings of Tomatoes, Strawberries, Chilli, Parsley and two types of Lettuce.

We did the Seasol 'trick' and have a stocking with half a dozen green prawns doing their bit for the Ammonia (also recommended by our aquarium friend!))

Very first water readings are:
Ammonia - 0.50
Nitrite - 0.50
Nitrate - 10.0

We realise it's early days etc... and maybe we need to allow the system more time to get up to speed?

The leaves are still basically fine on the Strawbs and Tomatoes but after an initial 'spike' - eg; the Lettuce leaves looked great on day 2, some have just started to show signs of yellowing and I guess we want to be on top of any potential probs sooner rather than later.

Hope someone can help or point to previous posts.

Many thanks...

[Outbackozzie]

What level does your water flood too? 50mm below the surface is about as high as you want to go.

[Brian & Kaye]

OOOH!

I think we're trying to emulate Noah and the 'great flood'!... I'll shorten the flood time. Currently set to 15mins every hour.

Have sepnt some time trying to get the flooding 'just right'... clearly not enough time !

Many thanks Outbackozzie

[Murray]

Also, you may be down on iron in your system.

[Brian & Kaye]

Thanks Murray,

My wife actually just pointed out that the AP lettuce seedlings seems to be doing better than the one's in the dirt!.. will wait a few more days..

BTW - can you use Sulphate of Ammonia in the pond? or is Urea/Clear Ammonia better?

Thanks Brian

[Outbackozzie]

They have used seasol Murray - so I would be extremely surprised if they were low on iron.

Its not the flooding "time" thats the big problem - its the "level". The gravel should not get wet on the surface at all.

Any ammonia that you use must be non foaming, and non scented.

Dry granulated urea has been used by a lot of people, safely. In sensible sized doses though.

[Brian & Kaye]

Geez you guys are a caring sharing bunch - thanks!

Because we have the 'raw prawns' cycling right now and not a huge amount of plants we were reluctant to add too much ammonia right now... besides - even our aquarist friend can't find a reliable source of clear ammonia - why?.. 'cos you can make some really great bombs out of it... no more or less than chlorine of course - so why can we get chlorine in 40Kg tubs and can't seem to find clear ammonia?

Hmmmm

Thanks again for the input...

[fishfood]

pee is a good source of amonia

[Outbackozzie]

pretty reliable too, most evenings

[Murray]

Forget the Urea, if you can get clear ammonia that is better.....but by the sound of it you don't need to add any ammonia anyway.