Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Seems every time I dose with hummonia, the PH drops a bit, then takes 24-48 hrs hrs to recover to it's usual 7.3.
I've got shell grit in nylon bags of shellgrit under the incoming water in 5 of 8 growbeds to help the balance.
No other additions of anything, just fish food and an occasional 1/4 piece of bread crushed up for the fishes.
How much hummonia are you adding and how often?

I dosed it 4 times in the first two weeks with humonia and then the ammonia went to 2 for the next two weeks. When the ammonia started to come down the ph crashed from 7.2 to 6. I have dosed it with more charlie carp and humonia, one of each to keep it going

This system is chewing through charlie carp like nothing. But I cant get the ph above 6. Have added 6 handfuls of garden lime, and now two handfuls of hydrated lime, with a small handful yesterday that didnt shift the ph, and a big handful tonight and will test tomorrow.
Plants are going off which is good

Hi Mantis, Haven't been on for awhile as been away up NQ, visited Jamie and Alex (makes a good pizza). On to your problem, how do you read your PH, digital or with test kit. If using a test kit it is hard to read and most people do it wrong.

BTW system looks very good

API master text kit. And 6 is yellow and any other colour is above 6 so not hard to read if its just above 6. Reading if it is 6.4 or 6.8 is difficult

All our trial systems show pH of 6 or less and they are powering along.....

Yeah but I just like to have it between 6 and 7. I want control

Keep at it. You will succccceed.

a bag full of shell grit will regulate your ph around 7. since i've added the shell grit when my ph crashed about 1 1/2 years ago, I've always recorded a ph BT 6.8 & 7.2

regards
Matt

Shell grit is under each GB return and has been for weeks, anyhoo its 7 tonight so the hydrated lime did the trick.
Ammonia 0, nitrite0, nitrates 5, so another good dollop of Charlie carp went in






Dwarf pear starting to shoot

Blueberry shooting as well, and I also have two asparagus up in the dirt patch so spring is sprunging

How old is your blueberry plant?

Only just bought the plant a few weeks ago Bill. No idea how long they take to produce a decent crop.

Do you have strawberries yet?

I've had two ripen in the last couple of days... (fruits everywhere)... but went to pick them a couple of minutes ago... and they're gone....

I've seen a bower bird around lately... that's most likely the culprit...