Fall update. Our original grow medium was some sort of ground up rubber (about 1 inch) ground cover, which was used instead of gravel or expanded clay pellets. The first post description was "probably not the best choice", and this proved to be correct. Plants started well, and looked great for a while, but most all succumbed to root rot, for want of a better description. The Basil really did poorly and I ended up taking it out and putting it in dirt where it thrived. The roots really looked bad in the aquaponics grow bed. I'll try some again next spring in the expanded clay.
Just started our fall garden and took out all the rubber used for a grow medium, and now are trying the expanded clay pellets that lots of people use. Hoping for a better result! My wife and I were on a trip to Hawaii and ran into a aquaponics farmer who grew veggies and Tilapia. He said our problem was the grow medium and suggested the clay pellets. Not cheap, but if it works that will be great and worth the cost.
Right now we have some fall tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, and greens. It's still 95 here for a day time high, so we'll see if they survive till cool weather arrives.
