Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Our API Freshwater Master Test Kit came in today and we tested our tap water but we're a little unsure about the ph results. If anyone could help I'd greatly appreciate it.

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From our view (sorry my camera didn't take the best color shot) but our Ammonia is at 0 ppm, our Nitrites are at 0 ppm and our Nitrates are at 10 ppm.

The ph test is very watery/clear, so we're having trouble reading it.

the ph test colour is normally not that clear. Try the test kit on some bottled water. Do you have alot of chlorine or other additives in the tap water? It might be worth leaving a glass of it to off gas in the sun for a day before measuring its ph.

I found out that we have Chloramine in our tap water. Could that be causing the ph test to be off? We don't have any rain water stored up to start the cycling of our system, so we've ordered Cloram-X to get rid of any Chlorine and Cloramine in our water.

You have more nitrates in your drinking water then I have in my AP system.

That bothers me

Just studying up on nitrates....not just aquatics but for our family as well. We have a son that will be 3yrs the 25th and a daughter that will be 15yrs the 26th and all of us drink this water, as well as cook with it (we moved here 2 yrs ago). From what I've been researching anything over 10ppm is not good and we're dang close, if not over. This is very concerning and I'm wondering if I need to contact someone from the county to come and inspect our water

It concerns me too. I would bring a test sample in and advise the water department. Our well shows zeros across the board. When we moved from the "city" 26 years ago, it was a concern to see the well water we were going to be using, so I took a sample down to a buddy who worked for the water dept. He called me later in the day, and asked me where the water was from. When I told him a private well in Pasco, he said they must have a very good system on it, as the water was extremely good. I told him "no system, right off the well head." He said it was the best water he had ever sampled...so we got lucky. It's hard, with a high PH, but other then that, very good. Good luck justme.

the ph looks 6.5-6.7 to me. a very good starting point.

Do whatever strategy you prefer to remove chloramines and have fun.



I dont see anything unusual or alarming

I think the reason for concern was not for the AP system, but for the fact that the house drinking water was hovering around the 10 ppm of Nitrates. According to the EPA, which I guess is our best source, infants should never drink water that exceeds 10 ppm, and not real good for adults long term either.

the OP asked about the test kit's PH, and noone ever answered him.

The OPs question about ph was answered with a question and a suggestion.






Hey justmeinflorida I'd be a bit concerned if I were you. Not to put a scare or a nothing but wasn't there a movie about a similar thing in the late nineties?
Erin Brockovich.
I watched that movie and purchased a .25 micron filter the very next morning.
I would be going to a different source of drinking water if I were you. Just to be sure.