Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Boris, how did the ecorose go? What was the final amount you ended up having to add to raise your tank from 6-7? We have the same problem at the moment.

Cheers,
Burnsy

EcoRose is pH 8 , I added a load in a bucket of water & it never went above that

so far since posting that I was going to add it , Ive put in almost a whole container and its barely pushed the pH up to 6.6

part of the rise in pH may be the halof bag of dolomite , or the half litre of hydrogrow stuff ( neither seemed to have any initial effect though )

Tomatoes are now pooping out froot , but vines still looking scraggly and dying

beetroot seem to love ecorose so much that they've all put out little signs for the mice saying "eat me"

capsicums are still slowly going green and doing not much , seedlings popping up but not showing any different from normal

Im gonna go tip the rest of the container in now and see what happens over the next few days . The EcoRose has definitely helped the pH , but not to the extent I thought it would

So the Ecorose is not a great pH adjuster? I read in another post someone said they have used BiCarb Soda to raise pH? Anyone see a problem with this, it is sitting here in front of me so is easier to use than going out to buy Ecorose or lime.

I just use builders lime 1/4 cup at a time
5000 litre system

I have done a bit more reading and will add the Bicarb. I have sodium bicarb with I think is the standard Bicarb Soda. There were a few references to people using Potassium bicarb, where do you get this is Aust and is it any better/worse than using Sodium Bicarb?

EcoRose IS potassium bicarb ( 940g per kg )

It may be better at adjusting pH than me experiences show - Ive only added the one container ( 500grams ) to 3500L of water - probably no-where near enough to push the pH as much as I need

Ecorose is reccomended because it does not cause super vicious pH swings. It's gentle, and long lasting. In sensible amounts of course.

and the Ecorose provides potassium which is usually needed too.

It is best not to adjust pH too quickly anyway so the fact that it has been slow and gentle is a good thing.

Baking soda will adjust the pH and using a small amount of it is probably fine but I wouldn't make a regular habit of using it as it will increase the sodium levels too. BEWARE!!!!!!! Baking Soda will adjust pH more quickly than expected and is really easy to overdo it!!!!!!

Lime is probably a better choice as it will provide calcium along with the bicarb which is also a needed thing and lime is a bit slower acting.

Thanks guys, that explains things a little more clearly to me. I did add about 1/4 of a cup of Bicarb Soda this afternoon before I left school so I will test again tomorrow and let you know what the pH change was if any. I will also pickup some ecorose on he way to school in the morning.