Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

What is causing your pH to change?

I dont think the ph has changed I just read it wrong first time!

Heres a pic of the dead fish and fungus any ideas what it is?

levels as of 7pm

ph 9
ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 4.0mg/l
Nitrate 50mg/l

temp 12.8

How do I get my system to balance?

Patience. Dont feed until nitrite is 0 or close to it (maybe lightly feed) and if not already salted add some.

Looks like you need more plants going by the nitrate level.

Ouch... with a pH oh 9, you're lucky your temp is low.. nitrite of 4, is not good though..

I think we need a real expert here... with a pH of 9 would the bacteria be inhibited as well similar to low pH??

Just be careful with feeding, if you extrapolate the ammonia, pH and temperature chart to a pH of 9, a small change in any of these could make the ammonia immediately toxic...

How do you even get a pH of 9 anyways... is there something wrong with the test kit??

I don't think you have posted a picture of your system as such... Maybe you should post some pictures to see if someone can spot any issues...

I only have access to tap water and the ph is that high....I have a test kit and digital reader and both are reading as 9.0.....IV been told not to mess with it as could cause more harm.

I'll try and add some photos tomorrow of the system!

Hi Rags,



Done correctly, I couldn't see adjusting your pH down could cause any more harm!

I would be treating your top-up water with HCl acid before adding it to your system when doing water changes or top-ups.

Slowly bring your pH back down by about 2-3 pH points per day, ie: 9.0 down to 8.7... I'd be aiming to get it back down to around 8.0, or even 7.5, over a week or so. Then maintain with small regular additions of HCl added to top-up water.

I know most forum members here don't advocate adjusting the pH while a system is cycling, but 9.0 is waaay too high IMO.
I don't know how others around Perth get away with it, but in both my systems, the way they were heading up, if I hadn't adjusted my pH down during cycling, I dare say they would've ended up around 9.0 like yours is, and it was nothing to do with my media (exp' clay), it's the Perth water, different suburbs have different sources for their supply, dam, ground, RO plant etc.

Try catching some of this rain we’re having and use that for your top-up water, so there’s no chance of adding extra buffer to the water, if required still adjust the pH with HCl before adding to your FT, also salt the top-up water to 1ppt before adding, so that you’re not diluting the 1ppt in your system. (or 3ppt etc, if you've salted for the fungus)

Just my opinion, but to me it's a better option than sitting on your hands and watching all your fish die one by one.

I am not one for suggesting tinkering with things like pH but I must admit I do agree with Mr Damage.

Yes I agree as well. Ammonia would be very toxic at ph 9.

Hi Guys

Thought i would just update everone on my fish problems in my first season....Well out of 20 trout I have one healthy almost plates size fish left....most died of fin rot, but I had six that managed to get out and died in the sand. My water quality is perfect now and crystal clear, i also have 7 silver perch and 2 gold fish in there....all seem to be getting on, I am now ready for more fish. My veggies are starting to really take off too!

Lesson learned...make sure the system has cycled before dumping 20 trout in!!!

Thanx all that helped!