Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

My pH is also at 7.6, sometimes drops to 7.4. I have had no problems with vegie growth of fish health so far (touch wood). Here is a link to my system:

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=6154&start=165

Quachy

I have good growth in most plants (greens) and nice Chillies etc.
Just worried about the comfort of the fish as they seem to be 'flashing' a bit.
The babies all seem to be growing quite okay.

[quote="But the Ph does not seem to be dropping at all as expected.
I have added sea shells in the hope this would do it.

Any suggestion appreciated. But I do not want any sudden changes as we have a lot of newly hatched goldfish in th system.[/color][/quote]

by using sea shells.. it will buffer to around 7.4-7.6

take out the sea shells and give it some time and see what happens

With Goldies.. and the low protein feed... and low feed rate.... your nitrification rate is perhaps lower than in a system using high protein commercial feeds...

But your system has nitrates, and is obviously working.... the shells will be buffering the pH....

No real reason for concern.... other then the possible need to supplement some iron occassionally...

Shellgrit will only increase you pH (make it more alkaline), take it out if you want it more acidic. I think fish prefer a more alkaline environment (ph7.4) it is the vegies that prefer a more acidic environment so if the veg are doing well don't bother with anything.

Remember that with pH a lower number is acidic and a higher number is alkaline (7 is neutral), most people battle acidity not alkalinity, my system is consistantly pH 7.6 and I am happy with this, the vegies were struggling and I thought it was from high pH but when I added more fish they took off so think it was due to low nutrients.

I'm not sure if there is significant nutrient lockout at pH 7.6 but if the plants are growing I guess not.

Thanks everyone. The fish seem pretty happy, and I have good growth.
I read the forums and it seems a lot of folk are checking and double checking all the levels constantly.
I got around to buying a test kit a couple of days ago only .
and ws very pleased to find my system was doing most things correctly.. just naturally..

Maybe I was better not knowing the Ph was high.

The secret might be... that you did nothing Rosie....

I think i will keep it that way..

+1
A constant 7.4 to 7.6 works for me. I'd rather have that than be fighting to keep PH up and losing bacteria etc to PH crashes.