Pest management in aquaponics is a common required procedure in your aquaponic garden. It’s almost impossible to fully prevent pests from getting into your aquaponic system. But, there are steps you can take to reduce and minimize their impact on your plants.
One of the first rules of pest management is to be constantly looking out for harmful bugs. The first step is to identify what bugs you are dealing with. The best way to identify the culprits is with sticky traps, which can attract a broad spectrum of insects.
Most bugs (especially aphids) can be eliminated by simply spraying them off with a water jet. If your plants are small you can also try removing them from the media and letting them soak in the fish tank for at least 15 minutes. This drowns the bugs, and the fish get a treat. If neither of these techniques works we recommend an organic insecticidal soap/spray. Avoid any non-organic pest control treatment, as well as organic products containing Neem and Pyrethrum. Both are toxic to fish. And with any spray, no matter how safe, avoid spraying over the fish tank or rafts. When performing pest management in aquaponics, its important to consider what is safe and unsafe for the fish. Without the fish, there can be no aquaponics!
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