Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all long time no see. I did a talk at the local redlands organic growers association about 2 weeks back. One of the people there is growing lillys and Jade perch in his dam but has a ph 8. He wants to know how to safely lower the ph. Any help would be welcomed. He used vinigsr but it killed his plants!!!

Aussieponic

Why does he want to lower the ph. Is it effecting the plants. And volume of water.

Agree with Duff re why? If its a big dam its probably buffering at 8 and aside from putting in a lot of old dead trees it would be about as useful as Canute's efforts.

yup, you cant change large area dams pH easily.

Dont know why will email him and find out. i suspect it may be to do with the fish.

AP

And... what sort of fish.... are they being feed artificial feed?

skim reading again rupe?

The op should have made the Jade perch bit bold

... actually realised that as soon as I posted.... got caught on a phone call before I could edit....

Question I'd be more concerned about with Jade Perch... is whether they'll survive in a dam over winter anyway...

With Jades in a dam... artificial feed... pH 8.0.... figure there's a fair degree of algael bloom happening...

Unless there some aeration going on... oxygen depletion.... and falling water temps... will probably kill the Jades before the pH will anyway...

So would lining the dam be the only way? Obviously something in the dam wall material is causing such a high pH.

Is the pH swinging, or is it steady at 8? If it's swinging it could be an Algal bloom. If it's steady then there isn't much that can be done to change it. Decomposing organics.. Straw or peat, will be more effective (and slower acting) than Vinegar.