Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,

Just set up my system a couple of days ago. Biggest problem I'm facing is high pH levels ( Slowly adding down pH solution). all other test are coming up within tolerable limits. Added some night crawlers to my grow bed, some small goldfish but they are not making it, I lose 1-3+ per day. Any constructive advise is welcomed.

225 Gal IBC w/ Grow bed
15/45 min cycle 24hr

What are all of your readings?

Have you salted at all?

What is your water temp?

Need more info to help mate

Add fish after you have cycled. The inevitable nitrite spike during the cycling process is not good for fish.

But if its only a couple of days old then something else is killing the fish. Residual toxins from the ibc possibly or something in the water or media??

We need more info/pics/readings etc. How high is your high pH?

`A new system will run high PH.... It will come down over time...

I wouldnt use PH down, let it do it naturally...

jT

I am just starting out and have had high ph problems also. Thought it was my tap water initially but after a lot of searching and reading on this site I ran a vinagar test on the pea gravel I was using and it was bubbling like crazy. Leaching (I forget) something into the water and running the ph up. Since have ordered the Hydroton and will be replacing the media this thurs. One of the symptoms that led me to the problem was my tomatoes where growing but no tomatoes... high ph nutrient lock out. And I thought this was going to be one of those "no problem" hobbies.
Ive tried the ph down in aquariums with absolutely no affect, except one dead goldfish. I went out and purchased a reverse osmosis water filter and it is resolving my high ph levels ... so far. Note that my water out of the RO is high initially but I put a air stone in it and run for a day and it comes down nicely.
Hope this will help

I dont know if this is good but i add viniger to the system to keep my pH good. Its a month old system too; And has gravel that leaches. I add a cup ever week to keep the pH around 6.5 - 6.8.


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Vinegar is quite a weak acid, about 5% from memory.


Remember jjcabmkr1, to test your tap water correctly, you should aerate it for a few hours to get a correct reading anyways. Using a RO filter and aerating the water are esentually achieving the same target of removing the chlorine which will alter your PH readings.