If you live on a homestead, an aquaponics system might be particularly appealing because it allows you to have both fish and plants on-hand. If you set your system up correctly, then you hopefully won't run into these issues. However, it won't hurt to have these solutions stored away in your brain just in case!

1. Don’t Forget to Stir the Hydroton

This can kill your plants, or at least cause root rot. Make sure that you stir it every few months just to keep everything running smoothly.

2. My Plants are Dying

Check the roots.

The pH may be off, or you might have parasites or fungi. Check your pH using strips, and examine your plants for signs of bugs or mold.

If your ammonia ratio is off, the solution is simple: feed the fish and reduce the number of plants that you have. If your system doesn’t self-correct the pH, you need to consult an expert.

3. Aphids

Plant more dandelions and carrots because they attract ladybugs, which eat aphids.

Ladybugs eat them, too. Make sure that ants are farming the aphids, because if they dare, the ladybugs will be killed. Make sure you introduce your ladybugs at night.

4. Colors are Fading

Just use Maxicrop or another good-quality mineral fertilizer and use it according to directions.

5. Foamy Water

Some detergent or another has made its way into your system, and the solution is to do a 50 percent dechlorinated water change every day until the foam goes away.

Make sure that you always use cleaning products that won’t harm your fish or your plants, and always clean in such a manner that you don’t shock your fish.

6. Dead Fish

If it becomes a regular occurrence, or there’s more than one dead, you need to check your system, especially the ammonia levels.

If the problem continues, check all of your system components, including your bell siphon. Make sure that there’s plenty of oxygen in your water and that you’re flushing frequently enough.

7. Don’t Restrict Access to Fish Tanks

Make sure that you can see into the back corners of the tank, and you are able to catch your fish. Also, make sure that you can easily access all of the components of the fish tanks and beds.

8. Letting the Water Get too Hot

Warm water encourages algae growth, but the main problem is that many fish aren’t tolerant to warm water.

If your tank is exposed to the sun for the majority of the day, you may cook your fish, or the oxygen in the water will decrease to the point that your fish will suffocate.

Make sure that you choose the right fish for your area, and make sure that it’s shaded if it needs to be.

9. Bugs

You can deal with them by using an organic bug repellant such as garlic water that won’t hurt your fish, you can spray them off with the hose, or set up a bug trap that possibly drops them into the fish tank.

10. Having too Many Fish

A good rule of thumb for beginners is to keep one fish per every eight gallons of water or so.

11. Leaving the Algae in Control

Make sure that you clean around all of the fixtures of your system as well as in the tank.

12. Feeding Your Fish Improperly

Some people feed their fish hourly, but that’s not typically necessary. You should feed them more than once a day, though.

If you have an aquaponics system, do you have any other advice for novices or those who are having trouble with theirs? Let us know in the comments below!

Article Source: Aquaponics