Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Merry Christmas everyone,

have a quick one for you, my plants seem to have a purple tinge at the ends of them, wondering what this is or lack of, thinking of adding chelated iron powder or maxi crop, my system also has a low ph of 6.0 don't know if these products will affect this any further as i was also going to ask how to slowly bring the ph up.
my water tests are as follows from the 19.12.09 . <Flood and drain with 2000ltr tank, two grow beds>

PH 6.0
NITRATE 0.00
AMMONIA .5 / 1.0
NIRITE 10 // 20

RUPERTOZ PUT ME ONTO A TIMER FLOOD AND DRAIN AND NITRATE DISAPPEARD OVER ABOUT 2 DAYS, LEGEND

Some shell grit can help keep your pH up after your adjust it. You will probably need to use something stronger to actually bring the pH up to about 6.5 or so. Rupe can probably point you to the easiest/best material to actually use to adjust your pH. I think I've seen him suggest slaked lime or hydrated lime before but be sure to do just a little at a time and wait a bit then test. I have used baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to adjust pH but that also adds sodium so should not be used much.

I would suggest you deal with the pH before worrying about anything else. One thing at a time working slowly and patiently.

I'm assuming your Nitrates are 10/20.... and your nitrites are now zero after switching to a timed flood & drain....

Good to hear things are on track... as TCL says... I usually use "slaked lime"... sometimes known as "hydrated lime"... Calcium Hydroxide... to bring pH back...

Use sparingly, and test before using again.... aim for a pH of 6.4-6.8... IMO...

And a bit of chelated iron, and Maixcrop... will help your plants... neither should affect pH...

thanks RupertoOZ AND TCLynx

Merry Xmas

just brought dolomite lime is this any good it's made by richgrow

It will... but not as much as slaked lime... Dolomite Lime is "Calcium magnesium carbonate"...

So it will also provide some magnesium for your plants...

Although no where near as strong as "slaked lime".... still use sparingly... then test pH... and reapply if needed...

sorry for all the questions but would a teaspoon per 1000ltrs be enough?

With Dolomite... I'd start with a handful... about 100gm.... and then test next day to see what movement you have obtained...

I suspect you may have to add more...