Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello, This is my first Aquaponics system that I've been running for over 4 months. Fish tank is a 200 litre barrel and I'm using homemade dutch buckets for plants. I'm growing eggplants for now.

PH : 7.0
Ammonia: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0.25 ppm
Nitrates: 80 ppm

There was minimal plant growth until at least three weeks ago mostly because of my own ignorance ( using low quality aquarium food, ignoring PH, etc.,).

Plants and fish seem fine ever since I switched to homemade food using dried shrimp, moringa leaves, and whatever kithcen scraps I could find. Plants started fruiting as well. But I'm noticing something that I don't understand and hope someone here can help me.

Plants look fine overall, but the older leaves have these tiny white spots all over and they don't look healthy to me. Is this some deficiency? Please let me what can I do to take care of it?


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Looks like mite damage, or possibly thrips. Have a good look on the underside of the leaves. Neem oil foliar spray thoroughly applied to the undersides and tops of leaves every day for 4-5 days, preferably at dawn or sunset, will help break the life cycle and put a decent dent in the population. Then spray every 4-5 days as a deterrent.

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Mr Damage - a.k.a: Yabbies
Owner at Perth Aquaponics - Aquaponic Consultant & Trainer
Trade certified Horticulturist & Cert IV TAE

Thanks for your reply! I found a bunch of these little creatures. Will try your suggestion and see how it goes.


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Thank you for the informative post.

Mealy bug. Though I think that's a separate issue. I don't think that's what caused the damage you initially showed.

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Mr Damage - a.k.a: Yabbies
Owner at Perth Aquaponics - Aquaponic Consultant & Trainer
Trade certified Horticulturist & Cert IV TAE

Yep... +1 most likely red spider mite..

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