Adjusting PH ...

[GypsyBush]

I use tap water that sits over night... the PH is very high... so I add Ph down and go from there...

But I just checked the fish tank PH and it read high again...

Do fish & shrimp cause a rise in PH...???

Is it the fish food...???

Can I just add PH down to the fish tank... with the fish in it...???

I can adjust the "fish water" Ph before it goes on the DWC, but I think the seedlings would appreciate a lower PH ...

Any thoughts...???

Oh, I am running 2 x 1 gallon tanks with 1 Beta & 1 Bamboo Shrimp each...

Check out http://www.aquaponicshq.com/forums/showthread.php?t=667 for Gypsy's Water Farm...

Thanks...!

Gypsy...:D

[Dufflight]

What is the tap water PH? and the PH of your system.

[GaryD]

Hi,

Have you checked the hardness level of your tap water?

Gary

[GypsyBush]

What is the tap water PH? and the PH of your system.

The tap water comes out at about 7.8 to 8.0...

I try to keep it around 6.0 for the plants...


Hi,

Have you checked the hardness level of your tap water?

Gary

No I have not, how do you go about that...???

I am sorry I am so ignorant... but I just never really had to watch water quality for any reason...

Thanks a lot for the replies...

Gypsy...:D

[GaryD]

Hi Gypsy,

You can read up on water hardness......here (http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hardness.htm).

You can buy a test kit that will help you to determine the hardness of your water......or you may be able to contact the water supplier in your area and they should be able to to tell you what the levels are.

Gary

[Dufflight]

The bacteria grows a lot better if you keep the ph above 6.:)

[GypsyBush]

Hi Gypsy,

You can read up on water hardness......here (http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hardness.htm).

You can buy a test kit that will help you to determine the hardness of your water......or you may be able to contact the water supplier in your area and they should be able to to tell you what the levels are.

Gary

Very cool... Props for the info... I will read about it...


The bacteria grows a lot better if you keep the ph above 6.:)

I am so ignorant about all this stuff... I was growing the plants in water... so I figured I should get a fish... it wasn't until after I got everything set up that I found this site...

I am not even sure I have a proper set up for the bacteria... although I imagine the foam would be a good place for it to grow...

I have noticed that I have some browning in my roots on the DWC, and I am planning on instituting a H2O2 regime (hydrogen peroxide) to sterilize the water and stop the root rot...

What do the fish like???

I heard plants in hydro like 5.5 to 6.6 is that true?

Is there a way to check for bacteria content/levels????

Thanks a million for your help..!!!:)

Gypsy...:D

[Outbackozzie]

Forget everything you know about hydro!! Its principals do not compare to AP at all.

The bacteria will grow on the foam, and probably enough to suuport 1 shrimp and 1 betta, however you will get no filtration of the water. A gravel bed is required for filtration, and better bacteria surface.

The root rot is most likely being caused by soilds in the water clinging to the roots, once again a gravel bed would help to solve this problem. Extra aeration below the roots would help also.

I would imagine hydrogen peroxide would kill the fish? Its not something I have heard of being used.

Plants in AP would love to have a PH of 6, however all the good bacteria die very close to PH 6 - bad.

Checking for bacteria content is done by readings with an aquarium test kit.

Put a couple of photos up - makes it much easier to see whats happening.

Tomatos and lettuce growing in a gravel bed :)
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/344847992_Ksqiu-M.jpg

[GypsyBush]

Forget everything you know about hydro!! Its principals do not compare to AP at all.

Ok... that's gonna be easy... I don't know much about it at all...



The bacteria will grow on the foam, and probably enough to suuport 1 shrimp and 1 betta, however you will get no filtration of the water. A gravel bed is required for filtration, and better bacteria surface.

When you say gravel bed, you mean for the plants, right...?!?!
Not the gravel at the bottom of the aquarium...??? right...????



The root rot is most likely being caused by soilds in the water clinging to the roots, once again a gravel bed would help to solve this problem. Extra aeration below the roots would help also.

Ok ... I will take a look and make sure there are no intruders... though I did not filter the "fish water" before I filled the tank... I bet you this is what is causing it... THANK YOU...!!!!!

As for aeration... I have an airstone running 24/7 directly underneath the roots...

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr1/GypsyBush/water%20farm/Picture490.png




I would imagine hydrogen peroxide would kill the fish? Its not something I have heard of being used.

I have seen it being used in high yield hydro fruit production, it sterilizes the water...killing all pathogens...

We're talking about systems running reverse osmosis water pumps, to ensure clean water, and rigorously monitored nutrient solutions,...

And it is used to treat root rot... it helps dissipate dead root material into micro-nutrients that the healthy roots can use...

And... no I am not going to use in the tank with the fish...
It is going to be used in a separate DWC set-up that I have been replenishing with "fish water"...

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr1/GypsyBush/water%20farm/Picture494.png




Plants in AP would love to have a PH of 6, however all the good bacteria die very close to PH 6 - bad.

So.. what is the ideal situation to keep a good balance...

Who is more important to keep happy, the fish? the plants? or it sounds to me like the bacteria is the king... is that right?



Checking for bacteria content is done by readings with an aquarium test kit.

I will check the local store... they told me all I needed was Ph a tester



Put a couple of photos up - makes it much easier to see whats happening.

Sorry, I have lots of pics here...

http://www.aquaponicshq.com/forums/showthread.php?t=667



Tomatos and lettuce growing in a gravel bed :)
http://wa-donaghy.smugmug.com/photos/344847992_Ksqiu-M.jpg

That is awesome...!!!

I am soooo hooked on this stuff....

Wow...!!!

Thanks a LOT for your help... I just realized that I don't know one millionth of what I thought I knew, and I thought I know nothing...:eek:

Thanks again...

Gypsy...:D

[Outbackozzie]

Glad to help - Ph wise, around 7 to 7.5 gives the best all round results. The bacteria prefer around ph8, but thats getting into nutrient lockout territory.

Since the water is coming from an aquarium you will probably find (via your test kit) that the water only has a very small amount of ammonia, hopefully no nitrites, and probably quite a bit of Nitrate, which the plants use. The gravel in the aquarium should be doing most of the conversion for you. Hopefully.... It is excessive Nitrate in aquarium water that causes it to go green.

I will get around to your thread eventually :o

This is the test kit that you want:
http://www.thereefshop.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=860&zenid=b3773d1d995978c182b0564329335582

[GypsyBush]

Glad to help - Ph wise, around 7 to 7.5 gives the best all round results. The bacteria prefer around ph8, but thats getting into nutrient lockout territory.

Ok...So I will let the ph rise and keep it at 7 to 7.5...


Since the water is coming from an aquarium you will probably find (via your test kit) that the water only has a very small amount of ammonia, hopefully no nitrites, and probably quite a bit of Nitrate, which the plants use. The gravel in the aquarium should be doing most of the conversion for you. Hopefully.... It is excessive Nitrate in aquarium water that causes it to go green.

Ok, so Ammonia is bad... niTRItes are bad... and niTRAtes are good...???

So... I lost you there... green water is good...? I kinda figured clear water would defeat the whole point... but how cloudy do I want it?

So I am good with the gravel just at the bottom of the aquarium, no need for it on the roots...?


I will get around to your thread eventually :o

Sure... I'll appreciate any comments or critiques...


This is the test kit that you want:
http://www.thereefshop.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=860&zenid=b3773d1d995978c182b0564329335582

I am on my way to the pet shop...

Thanks...:)

Gypsy...:D

[Outbackozzie]

Water should still be clear - you dont want ot get to the green water stage. Nitrate is still harmfull - but only at very high concentrations.

Gravel in the aquarium is all that you require for your sort of DWC, just filter the water before adding to your tubs.

[Hamish]

Hi Gypsy. There are a couple of other guys on APHQ running small systems similar to yours - hopefully they will be able to introduce themselves and also offer some advice.