Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Test result at lunch time today.

PH: 8.2 should I be worried?
Temp: 19C
Amm: .25
Nitrite: 0

Fish all seam ok silvers took some food today.
Expecting 32C tomorrow so water temp likely to rise.

hey guys and girls.

I am pretty happy at the moment because I have lost 0 silvers.
Still early days but happy so far. Water temp today was 21.

Seem to be having some probs with plants at the moment.
Watermelon seadlings seem to be wilting but they have only been in for a week
so hopefully they will pickup soon.
More photo's once I get the camera.

Do you still have the koi and silvers separated? I doubt that the Koi would bother the silvers as long as they are being fed but would like to know for sure, how big are the koi?

Burnsy,
Koi are only around 110mm long.
I still have them separated, I am only worries about the really small SP.
Wasn't sure how they would go with the Koi and didn't want to lose any.

I will put some of the larger SP in the main tank soon.
When I am game enough to try them together.

Did that pH come down?

Tested at lunch time today and still have PH of 8.2
All other tests OK.
Ammonia is about .25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate approx 10

Everything else going well.

So happy it's friday.
Had a big week at work.
I still have a problem with PH of 8.2
Doesn't seem to be dropping naturally.
Does a PH this high really cause nutrient uptake issue because my plants are looking
very ordinary. I have some watermelon seedlings that are nearly dead.

Can anyone suggest a really tough summer veg I could try (other than Tomatoes).
I would like to see something growing well while I sort out the issues.

Everything else seems really good.
No ammonia, No nitrite and 20ppm Nitrate.
Salted to 1ppt and have added seasol.

I have finally fixed the fish dieing problems and now I can't get any plants to grow.

Always frustrated

I think carrots are pretty easy...

Also sweet corn... just remember to wash the "thiram" fungicide (if any) off first before putting them in...

Because these are below ground/gravel, they don't get insect damage....

In regards to the pH, as your system matures, you will find that your system pH should start dropping... and
you will then need to push it back up instead... so maybe you should leave it...

Your system could be lacking trace elements... what are fish feed are you feeding your fishes?? You will need
to feed good quality fish feed as these would contain and provide the essential trace elements required for plant growth...

I did try some carrot seeds but they never sprouted.
I am feeding the Koi a good quality Koi pellet.
The Silvers are being fed a 45% protien pellet that I got from Gidgy fish farm.
Can't remember the name and it's too dark to have a look.

I think I know why the PH is high. One of the IBC's used to contain a concrete excelerator product. I would expect this would have been very Alkaline. Maybe that is the cause of the
high PH. I am guessing this will slowly come down, but how long this will take I don't know.
My plants might suffer alot waiting for it to drop naturally.

Trace elements should be OK because I am adding seasol and iron regularly.
I will hopefully get some photo's tomorrow now I have camera.

Finally a couple of updated pics.
Watermelon seadling looking ordinary.
2 IBC's running.

PH seemed to be a bit lower today.
Hard to tell but I think around 8 now.
All other test fine.

Planted a rather advanced capsicum seedling today.
Hope this goes well!!!!!

Try lettuces, celery, parsley, chives and silverbeet perhaps.
These plants grow well and easily in aquaponic systems from seedlings and throw in a few seeds as well.

Thanks faye I will try some of these.
Is lettuce ok in full sun or should it go under shade cloth.
Any ideas on the watermelon, I thought they would love the full sun.
Do you think the high PH is a big problem or should I just hang in there and things
will come good?

Yeah watermelon does love the sun, but will get burn and die if the sun os too intense. My watermelons did the same thing not as bad though. Put some shade over them and all the seedlings look like they are pepping up.

Quachy

Thanks quacky I will leave them as they are for the next few days.
Forcasting cooler weather and possible rain.
I will make sure I cover them when the warm weather returns.

Planted some zuchini seeds today that I had left over.
Will see how I go with these.
Added some iron today and will add some seasol tomorrow morning.
Everything else the same at the moment.