Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

(double post)

Well, I am sorry... I did add 5 gallons of water yesterday (no ammonia or anything.. filtered and purified and prepped with fish water conditioner) just like always

maxicrop wouldn't have done that.. just hold off on feed, test again tomorrow

oh good... I was hoping I did not pay that for something that would ruin my numbers. I fed this morning before I tested but will hold off today and test tomorrow and see if it is any better. thanks

Hold back on feeding the fish for a couple more days and then test the ammonia again. That should not only decrease the NH4 levels but also the pH. Ammonia is actually an alkaline solution (AKA - base), so as it decreases the pH will decrease as well. The trites & trates should then also follow back down within 24-36 hours.

I'm not familiar with all that is in the Maxicorp but I would think it's balanced and would need large quanities being added in order to effect your testing even a very small amount. To have that kind of effect, it is more likely from the fish producing it. Or did you add any of your tap water (I recall that tested high for ammonia all by itself)? (I don't think you would, but just asking to be thorough!)

The other thing that would help is to do a partial water change out, of course. That will immediately dilute the chemicals but will only minimally effect the pH, which is not that bad anyway.

Just my $0.02 worth, if it's even worth that much!

No no tap water but I did add some filtered water (that had been tested prior to adding).
The fish have grown quite a bit so I would presume the more they grow, the more they eat, the more waste... so it probably built up a little at a time but to throw them off that bad. whew....

The fish can go 3 days with no food?

Some of my plants died so there were not as many plants to do the chemical change in addition to the fish getting so much bigger (they really hit a growth spurt!) and adding the new water...

I will hold off and see what happens. I did test yesterday and the numbers were still through the roof.
I have to leave out tonight and will be back in the morning and will test again then.
Thank you so much Steve... you have always been so helpful and kind. I appreciate it.

Later

my pH was real low... that was the only thing that was not high.

How much is real low?

Don't know if anyone's mentioned this to u before, but be careful with aquarium water declorinaters/conditions. They usually are not appropriate for use on things u will eat. I know u only have ornamentals at the moment...Im not sure if this stuff can get into the plants also.

no I did not realize that... will not use them if they can't translate for our food

pH was somewhere between 6.4 and 6.6

I will be testing the water again when I wake up... I have to go to bed now... dog tired.

Will post new numbers later.

Di, are you still kicking around somewhere? How is the system running?

Hi Di would not worry about a ph 6.6, mine has sat there from the beginning.