Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I hope this is in the appropriate section. I recently found out about aquaponics. To get started, I posted on my local email list to see if anyone would be interested in giving away an old fish tank. To my surprise, a guy gave me a fish tank, with fish still in it, and a whole bunch of other supplies to keep it going strong. I tested the pH using the handy dandy kit that the guy provided, and see that the pH is well over 8. I changed out part of the water yesterday, and the pH is back up again. The fish seem fine, but from what I have read, this seems really really high. Ammonia seems to be near zero. Same with Nitrites. Nitrates appear to be between 40-80ppm. I can't tell the differences in the color on the chart. The water in the tank is in a space of about 14x9x7 inches. I am not sure how to calculate an accurate water volume. There are about 8 or 9 really small fish, all but one or two are about 3/4 of an inch or so, maybe smaller. The other two are about 1 inch. I don't know what kind of fish they are, as the guy gave me his tank.

Any advice on how to determine if there is a problem? When I introduce plants, should that lower the pH? If it a problem to introduce plants into water that is so high?

A little help will go a long way. Thanks!

Put the plants in as soon as you can, no reason to wait if everything else is in place. Not really any rush about it, but until you put some plants in it's' just an aquarium.

Check the pH of your tap water. My tap water is well above pH 8 so I have to lower it before I use it.

thanks for the reply. My water was in the 7.6 range before I ran it through my Brita, and then like 6.6 afterwards. I should try straight from the tap, with the brita, and in the tank again to see if maybe I am just driving myself crazy. I am working on building my tower this week, so I should be able to get some plants up and running soon. You are so right. At this point it's just an aquarium.