Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Not picking Chappo, but how do you know that?....

Always looked at them, but then seen most were shipping from or made in Hong Kong/China....

Have you compared any of them against one another or against some sort of calibration...

They look dodgy to me

Just as an example... I bought a "digital" ph/EC truncheon... even looked like a Bluelab....

Reality was it was anything up to 1.0 of pH both ways in some samples I tested....compared to the Bluelab truncheon I've used for years in hydro.... and up to 1-2 points of EC.....

a digital ph meter is useless (ESPECIALLY) a cheap one UNLESS you're prepared to calibrate it against buffer solutions and check accuracy regularly.

Rupert ,, no worries mate.
Yes I purchase a chinese made PH meter ,, it is adjustable ,, has been tested against known PH solutions and so far remained very accurate.
Rupert ,, I am also VERY suspicious of a lot of cheap products and spread the "buyer beware" information , but on this one , so far so good.
I'll look back through my ebay purchases and find the seller if people are interested.

Cheers mate.

Bloody hell Chappo you woke a few people up with that one.
Have checked ebay and there are dozens to pick from. What brand is the one you got?
Rupert the test kit you refered to is on sale at a number of outlets at $38 I think it was.
I will most likely stock tank 1 with 50 trout and 2 with 50 SP. We will seal FT 2 next weekend as it has been leaking.
Have slowed the siphon from the FT 1 to the Sump. It now takes 1hr from pump off to pump on.
The cycle is now pump for 4 mins, GB's take 8 mins to drain to FT 1 and FT 1 to sump 52 mins.
Will post some pics later tonight.

do take the time to buy a ph 7 buffer solution and check cal regularly with it

What is a PH 7 buffer solution. I have not gone with a PH meter yet. I am leaning to the test kit Rup advised me to get.
Thank you all for your interest in my efforts, from you all I shall learn.

Ph buffers for digital ph meters generally come in around the 4 7 10 ph's

They are a stable solution with a known PH that you dip your probe into to check its accuracy and you can also use the single point calibration adjustment to correct any errors at one point.

for example: http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/produ ... ku=0065404

Thank you Steve.
Just having a PH meter does not seem to be enough.
I have to test for ammonia + nitrates etc, so I still have to get the test kit Rup suggested.
Am I correct or will just PH testing be a good enough guide to manage the FT correctly?

once your system is a year or so old and you are familiar with it then you'll only have to check ph every few months. But before that time you would be well advised to be testing ammonia and nitrite regularly. Especially after any change like increased stock, increased feeding or drop in ambient temp.

Alex ,, I've still got my "L" plates on but I test nitrites / nitrates , PH , disolved solids , salt and dissolved oxygen on my fish farm in Thailand ( more accurately my brother-in-law tests them and emails me the results. luckily a number 7 is a 7 in Thai also ROFLMAO.

Salt levels hardly ever change outside my fishes tolerance( Tilapia and cat-fish) , so not tested more than once a month , more as a security thing.

PH , disolved solids and dissolved oxygen are done by meter , every morning near sun-rise.

Nitrites and Nitrates , Ammonia are done every second day with a liquid tester.

Cheers

thanks again Steve, do you ever get up this way Cobram Tocumwal if so let me know you may have time to spare for a quick look, cuppa or!!!!!. No home brew at the moment have not had time.

will look u up and put you down on my AP map (dont actually have one yet )

pics as promised the iron wall is the South which we put up a week ago along with the roof and woven cloth East wall with shade cloth along the bottom. That area is where the next GB's are going.
Air cell insulation is to be put up onto the Gal iron. This will reflect more light into the area.
Also the yabby apartments, most are in bed as it is mid afternoon. The water spout is the siphon feed from the FT.

Help
The usual worm package of red worms includes tigers which fish do not like.
It would be a little difficult to run the packaged worms down a race and draft off the flat tails.
I would love to get both flat tails and African night crawlers but no tigers. Any ideas?