Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have been growing for 3 months and have seen great results already. My system was created late january, while still in the building process. I assume I am done with cyceling since my ammonia is declining, and my tomatoes are surpassing the potted plants. For the longest time they did not grow, i was affraid they were stunted. With all of this data I have set up a control group in soil ( same size grow bed) but I need a way to test the soil quality. If I put the soil in distilled water can I use the test strips I am using for my system? Or will the tests come back as inaccurate?

Sloil???.... what's "soil"....

hahaha,... yes, I know. What must this strange substance be used for growth in plants? Its what our ancestors used before fish were invinted lol.

But seriously I am complileing a data sheet of all my results, ph, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, height, leafs, ect. This is taken every 3 days. I will happily share this once I have a well documented time line as I have yet to see any data being displayed esle where and it could be very valueable for others that are starting off. I am not sure how long I will be keeping data, atleast for 4 months, most 1 year.

This is also part of a science project, thus why I am keeping careful records. Any help would be appreciated.

Are you using soil in your aquaponic beds that will be a first no body else does

It will depend on how much water you put in as you will be diluting everything

no food and fish. Its in a extra grow bed thats not hooked up to the pond. For the testing it is important to keep everything the same except for variables being tested. Even if you could use dirt in AP, i dont see the point. My plants seem to do better with out it.

Thats what I thought too with dilluteing the chemcials in the water. I will just have to see. I'm going to buy some soil test strips and then compare, since I will have to order online. Walmart carries my 5 in 1 test stripes for fish tanks so it's very convieneiant.