Friday's AP system

[Privatteer]

Friday, do you have any stone as well in your system or just the rockwool? If you do you might have some limestone in it pushing up the PH.

Best to test first, but you need a buffer to increase alkalinity.
Sodium Bicarbonate or Calcium carbonate are 2 that I know of that are commonly used but far as I am aware both will tend to equalize in the high 7's

[Frydaze1]

Friday, do you have any stone as well in your system or just the rockwool? If you do you might have some limestone in it pushing up the PH.

I'm running rockwool with expanded clay in the growbeds. And some aquarium gravel in bottom of the fishtank. Nothing else.

Best to test first, but you need a buffer to increase alkalinity.
Sodium Bicarbonate or Calcium carbonate are 2 that I know of that are commonly used but far as I am aware both will tend to equalize in the high 7's

I certainly have baking soda here. But, yes, that will bring up the pH, won't it. And I don't really want it in the high 7's.


EDIT: Actually, if I DID want it there, I could leave the system alone since that's where it wants to stabilize already.

[Rew]

Hello Fridaze,

My indoor system ran much better when I finally got rid of the aquarium gravel. Tank is cleaner and the plants grew better.

[Crusty]

Simply test the alkalinity first, then we can talk about adjusting it, if needs be. Do not use Sodium bicarb.

[Frydaze1]

I'm stuck at home today with a strained back muscle, so I'm not touching anything anyway. But I'll get an alkaline test kit tomorrow and let you know where we are. Thanks for your help.

[Crusty]

Not much fun with a stuffed back. Hope it improves.

[Frydaze1]

I couldn't find an alkaline test kit except as a 5-in-1 (which is annoying, since I already have all the others except hardness). Oh well.
So here's the 5-in-1 results:
Nitrates: unmeasurably low
Nitrites: unmeasurably low
Hardness: 120
Alkalinity: 180
pH: 7.6

I think the problem is that it IS buffering... which is why it keeps bouncing back up there when I try to bring it down. BWDIK

[Crusty]

What have you got in there causing the alkalinity to be so high?

[Frydaze1]

I don't know! A week ago I drained out 2/3 of the water and replaced it with water run through my britta filter, so the system ought to be squeeky clean... but clearly it isn't. The only thing I'm adding in is a little seaweed extract (since I have no nitrates yet).
If I can't figure out what the deal is, I'm considering putting the fish into a big pot with some of their water, while I clean EVERYTHING from top to bottom. But that sounds so drastic.

[Crusty]

Nah, you don't need to do all that Fry. Just keep cycling for now. Your pH should not be jumping up and down, are you adding acid or something?

Can you test your source water (where you got it from)?