new system in port kennedy

[wa shane]

Hi Gary i have still got some SP from before winter 77 at last count, growing nicely.This is what i don't understand, all the goodies going in no nitrate coming out.Have tried lowering ph but it bounces back up with in a couple of day's

[GaryD]

Hi Shane,

Your pH is a bit perplexing given that it was down to 5.7 (which is probably too low to support nitrifying bacteria properly or for the fish to be comfortable) and now it is persistently high.

AP systems will naturally acidify over time.....so, unless you're adding large quantities of water with a high pH, you should be able to lower the level with hydrochloric acid (available from the pool shop) or even white vinegar.

Either way, you should be very careful to ensure that any changes are made slowly......and, when mixing acid with water, make sure that you add the acid to a bucket of water - never put water into acid.

Once you get both tanks settled down, you should be able to put some of your perch in either tank and go from there.

Gary

[wa shane]

Hello out there,I have a problem I 'm hoping someone can help me with. My tomatoe plant's are flowering but not fruiting. The plants themselves grow to a good size. I have 73 good size SP in a 1000L. PH 7.6,nitrite 0.25,nitrate 5.0,ammonia 0.25. The water i use to top up my tank is bore water, ph 7.6. with quite high calcium level's. Have added 1tsp of chelated iron and 2tsp of "eco rose" about 1 week ago. But no change . The cumcubers are and have gone very well. Capsacium's are flowering and fruiting well. Also when i try to grow lettuce's of any kind they go too seed straight away.

Thank's Shane

[Johnh]

Hi Shane
I'd be putting in another lot of lettuce about now - they should be able to cope with the heat at the end of March and not bolt. Without some sort of control over the growing conditions (and there are a few options that summer growers use) it is generally too hot around Perth from about November to now for lettuce.

Have you tried hand pollinating you tomatoes? shaking the bushes or brushing the flowers with a small paint brush first thing in the morning could help. Once again the temperature this summer will not help - the pollen will dry off pretty early in the day and tomatoes are a lot worse for this than cucumbers, melons and capsicum which are summer crops. Might be worth trying another variety of tomatoes for next summer sometimes even from one street to another there is enogh local temperature variation for conditions to be quite different. I would leave this lot going along now and see how they go with some cooler weather.

The pH should be fine for tomatoes and they usually don't need more than the little bit of suplement you have given them. If they are flowering well its not likely to be a nutrient problem .
John

[GaryD]

Hi Shane,

I'm a bit confused about why, with 73 "good size" silver perch, you still have such low nitrate readings.

High nitrate levels will retard fruiting in tomato plants.

I think John's suggestion about hand pollinating the tomatoes is a useful one.

Gary

[wa shane]

Hi Gary, the fish are about 22cm on average. I have always struggled to have nitrate level's above 10. I feed the fish 3 to 4 time's a day, water clarity is good. What else can i tell you ?