Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just another thought - are you using clean sample bottles (ie only used for iron testing)?

The iron test kit I have from a friend states not to use test tubes that have been used for ammonia measurements as even minute trace amounts of the test reagent will upset the reading.

Definitely no shortage of Nitrogen as Nitrate. Perhaps because of the chard I've removed in recent days due to wind damage and going to seed, Nitrate is up to ~160ppm now, so I'll have to whack in a few more tomatoes and whatever else I can find, into the few small available gaps. Ammonia and Nitrite are around 0.25 ppm or a bit less.

Matt I've tried cleaning the sample bottle in both clean water and the fish water being tested and it's only used for testing the chelated iron.

Think I've sourced some DTPA at $30/kg but its in 5 kg lots , any one wanna share. Am going to Perth early next month.

I just bought 250g of EDDHA and DTPA from a Belgian supplier.

On paper, the EDDHA looks the best until you see what a pinch of the stuff does to a liter of water. Not sure I am quite ready yet for with looks like a bloodbath of fish.

Also see viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19405

I would stay clear of the EDDHA that turns your water red, I have used it and I have been doing partial water changes forever to try and get rid of the red colour (I now use DTPA) I can now see the bottom of my fish tank again but it is nowhere near as clear as it used to be

Will be in Perth tomorrow , 3/12

honestly it looks to me that u are having a potassium deficiency a serious one at that too.. or your nitrates levels may be to high.

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could be potassium - was hoping to buffer with potassium bicarbonate but with summer top ups my ph never gets low enough to add buffering agent. Might try and foliar feed.

What I suggest is neutralizing the potassium bicarbonate with an acid to remove the buffering effect. or u can simply buy a neutral potassium salt like potassium phosphate or potassium sulfate. they will increase your potassium levels without affecting your ph. but don't add to much. if u are willing to go this way let me kno first and I'll guide u accordingly.

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Are you treating your top-up water with HCl acid first to consume the carbonates Matt?

...and Cookie... You've been a member for 24hrs, you've made 20 posts in that 24hrs, all over the forum, telling people how to do things, mostly contrary to researched and widely accepted norms... but I can't find a thread with details of your aquaponic system/s... where is it?

this is my youtube channel

Watch "Expansion update 1" on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGwVfcM ... ata_player

now plz stop questioning my hypothesis. its been 4 yrs since I was into this aquaponics. I started off with a small 20gal bath tub. all my videos are there to see


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Oh you're going to be fun to have around... rude c--t!!

A hypothesis is only a proposed explanation. It begs for questioning and research.

I'm not being rude.. but I wasn't the one that going around counting the post amount per time being active. everyone is subject to their opinions and are free to speak their thoughts hence this forum is free and open. I was only sharing the information I have gained over my years, not for fame or glory, but simply to help out someone in need. I never told u that what u were doing is wrong. I never say what I'm doing is right. for all we kno our climate and growing environment may be totally different and there is no cookie cutter way about approaching aquaponics. y because normal well all that are that venture into aquaponics lack the resources to research it to the fullest to come up with definitely answers. that y we speculate a lot with the sucess we achieve. so mr damage the next time u go around attacking somes thoughts, please don't and try to be a bit more supportive. he is a place where we aim to help each other out and not to introduce the 'blame game' into the mix. well this is what I was hoping it will be when I decided to join.

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