Plant Nutrients Fundamental Question

[kret]

Hi, Im newbie in aquaponic.

Would like to ask some question.

My question is :

In aquaponic, is it enough for plant to consume only Nitrate?

How do the plant get other source of nutrients that they need ? such as :
1. Phosphorus
2. Potassium
3. Calcium
4. Magnesium
5. Sulfur
6. Boron
7. Chlorine
8. Cobalt
9. Copper
10. Iron
11. Manganese
12. Molybdenum
13. Nickel
14. Sodium
15. Zinc

Thank for your kind answer http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[Don_in_Odessa]

Hi, Im newbie in aquaponic.

Would like to ask some question.

My question is :

In aquaponic, is it enough for plant to consume only Nitrate?

How do the plant get other source of nutrients that they need ? such as :
1. Phosphorus
2. Potassium
3. Calcium
4. Magnesium
5. Sulfur
6. Boron
7. Chlorine
8. Cobalt
9. Copper
10. Iron
11. Manganese
12. Molybdenum
13. Nickel
14. Sodium
15. Zinc

Thank for your kind answer http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

For the most part the answer lies in the food you feed your fish and a PH at a little above neutral. Aside from that basic, I have found in my own system (http://aquadonics.blogspot.com/) iron and magnesium are the nutrients I need to add. I have found Sequestrene 138 FE to be the best for my system and Epsom salts for magnesium. The Epsom salt doesn't seem to bother the fish at all. I don't measure, it's just instinct for me. But I add a little at a time giving maybe five days apart until the plants look as good as I expect them to look. And I have found that cleaning my grow beds as infrequently as possible helps to stabilize PH. I use Red Wiggler (composting) worms in my grow beds to balance the solids accumulation and decay ratios. It's been four years so far since I had to clean the grow beds and they still look good. A good article about iron replacement in aquaponics can be read here:http://blog.brightagrotech.com/iron-in-aquaponics/ and a good article about PH can found here: http://blog.brightagrotech.com/lowering-ph-in-aquaponics/

Secret tip: I spray the foliage in my grow beds once a week with a 50% solution of Miracle Grow, being careful to minimize spraying the medium.

[aquapon]

What about other nutrients?

[PatLa]

What type of fish do you have in your system?

Are your additions and Miracle Grow sprays safe for food grade tilapia?