Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,

Doing much reading at a general level prior to taking a crack at things - just so I understand all the parameters involved.

Not seen so much on electrolytes - should they be introduced initially - what is the source?

Saw a Murray Hallam YouTube where he measured them in a system and stated that it was only .2 ppm??

Think he said that in hydroponics had to be at least 1.0 ppm??

Thus indicating the efficacy of Aquaponics etc,etc.

As I understand it fish need them ( I know we humans do ) - so I presume they are absorbed and then I presume would need replacement in a 'closed' system i.e. Aquaponics system.

Where would they be replaced from?? Fish Feed?

I am talking basically such minerals as Ca, Na, Mg, K, HCO3 etc,etc.

Best Rgds.
FS

Personally I never use those type of measurements in an aquaponic system and from what I understood measuring the electrical conductivity isn't a great method for testing aquaponics.

I rarely test for the basics let alone EC.

I may not be the most experienced person on this subject but I will give it a go.

Aquaponic people, to me, seem to fall in to two different groups. Those who are lazy (which includes me) and those who analyse and measure everything. When people start in aquaponics they fall somewhere inbetween these two groups but then gravitate to one or the other. I started measuring all I could twice a day, now the test kits are gathering dust. Others get more excited with the data and come up with ways to constantly monitor the conditions of their system (see the threads with the spectrometers for example).

From the BYAP school (I have sat in on their presentation and asked plenty of questions as they are just down the road from me) the addition of electrolites is not required. There is a regular refrain - Use a good quality fish food and you will have no difficiencies. I assume that you are from a hydroponics background and know of the requirements of electrolites to provide growing elements for the plants. In the systems that make up the majority of members of this forum these 'electrolites' come from the fish food.

That said sometimes people do add iron (in the infantcy of the system), salt for disease management (and to kill strawberries), calcium carbinate in the form of shell grit for ph management and occasionally potassium in the form of Eco Rose as a fungicide for flowering plants.

In summary no electrolites are required to be added in to an aquaponics system, but some people do.

The "electrolytes referred to in Murrays video.... was a traditional EC reading... as used in hydroponics...

And, as many have posted prior to Murrays video... there just isn't any comparison, or sense that can be made regarding EC readings in aquaponics... in relation to what you would see in hydroponics...

And that was the point the Murray made in the video... thus agreeing with what people had posted beforehand...

Thnxs all for contributions.

I guess my background in IT for many many years leads me to ask questions.

Just getting into Aquaponics as a retirement thing - but not really ready to retire - so harbouring some thoughts on where it might lead in future.

Will start small and follow my nose.

To that end all information is useful.

Best Rgds & Thnxs again.

FS.