Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have a 125 gallon tank with two 13" grow beds above filled with expanded clay pebbles. It's a flood and drain system.

My system has been up for about two months now. It has taken forever to cycle (still hasn't) but I was trying to be patient. I added some filter media from another tank thinking it may hurry the process a little but still no cycle. Ammonia is up to about 8ppm but no nitrates after two months. I started investigating and found that my pH is below 6. I'm not sure how far below as i'm using an API kit but I think it's got to be below 5.5 or 5 and that's why my cycle hasn't kicked in since the nitrifying bacteria needs it at least above 5.5... I did some research and been adding small amounts of hydrated lime to try to help. I started out adding 1/4 teaspoon a day and have slowly upped it to 1 teaspoon each time I add the lime. I still have some feeder goldfish in there and they're okay (surprisingly). However some have passed due to the high ammonia.

Am I missing something? Should I be adding more hydrated lime to make a difference? Should I try something else?

Thanks for any guidance you can offer!!!

I had similar issues with my indoor system. The new expanded clay on the market is NOT ph neutral. I use potassium bicarbonate to raise the ph, and keep some egg shells in the grow bed to act as a buffer too.