I had a lot of questions going in to this phase of research about how to supply the needed nutrients to the system without having to buy chemical substances. I haven’t found a lot of resources online or otherwise about this. Max Meyers had quite a few ideas…
Snails, crustaceans, prawn shells can be dried and fed to fish to increase calcium, or ground into a fine powder and added directly to the system. Shells can be added to the filter to allow calcium to leach into the system as needed. Chicken manure as well as other bird droppings can be added directly or composted and added to supply potassium and phosphorous. Iron can be supplemented by creating comfrey tea. Allowing the leaves to soak in water for a week, strain/drain and then add the water to the system. As well as seaweed, dehydrate the plant matter and then crush and soak in water for a week, then straining the solids from liquid and adding the water directly to the culture water. Other dynamic accumulators can be used, the same plants that leave nutrient residues in the soil for other plants to consume can be used in aquaponics as an additive. Blood can also be used to add iron to a system. Rusty nails do not produce the right kind of iron and should be avoided.

 

I had estimated about 50 crops would do well in aquaponics systems, lettuce, basil, tomatoes,  and strawberries were all expected plants.  I did not expect it would be possible to grow carrots in aquaponics, not only do they grow but they flourish in a media bed, as well as fruit trees including bananas and avocadoes.  Over 280 plants, vegetables and fruits are currently being successfully cultivated in aquaponics systems around the world!  I was amazed I had no idea about the versatility of aquaponics! Those of you who have systems up and running what have you been successful at growing?  What didn’t work for you?