Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

My PH level flucuates from 6.5 down to 5.5 ....Its a new system I made a 4'x2' x 6''deep grow bed with clay rocks....using an old cooler for my fish (about 25 gallons) Have a bell siphon...fill& drain method

Currently have about 30 gold fish.......Bought a PH meter....should I have a meter to read nitrate, ammonia?

Ive started lettuce, basil..........

any suggestions on my next steps? How do you keep the PH from bouncing?

Thanks and Go Patriots!

I would get the freshwater API test kit. This is the cheap version of testing that most people use. Meters tend to be inaccurate or very expensive. The API test is definitely approximation (as it is a color test), but it is much, much cheaper than getting probes or meters with a low margin of error.

http://www.amazon.com/API-Freshwater-Master-Test-Kit/dp/B000255NCI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389670517&sr=8-2&keywords=api+freshwater+master+test+kit

5.5 is way too low. My tap water's pH is through the roof. So maybe you could do a water change with tap water. ClorAmX is a food safe dechlorinator, or you can just let the water sit for a day near a window. The chlorine will evaporate. Chloramine will not readily evaporate like Chlorine will, and this is toxic to fish as well. However, most dechlorinators are not food safe! ClorAmX is the way to go.

http://www.amazon.com/Hikari-Usa-AHK72224-Chloram-X-Chloramine/dp/B004LOEG0G/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1389670893&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=chlor+am+x

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloramine

Your pH should balance out eventually. I'm not sure why there is such fluctuation unless you are doing constant water changes or adding a buffer solution. My bet is that you bought a cheap pH meter, and there is a big margin of error. In fact, if it is accurate, your fish probably hate it. Most suggest swinging your pH by .2 at most in a day.

30 goldfish in this system (25+30+30) should be the max. From Peta, "One general guideline is that you should provide 3 gallons of water for every 1 inch of fish." Not everyone lives by Peta's standards though.

http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/caring-animal-companions/caring-fish/#ixzz2qLCLDl00

If you have any more questions, feel free to post!

GOOD LUCK!

Hey there!

I'm a student at Boston University attempting to get an aquaponics system setup in the university's greenhouse. I'm new to all this too, and would love to meet and talk to people in the area. Is there anyway we can make a "Boston Aquaponics" group?