Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks Rupert.
It will be interesting to see if there are any nitrites tomorrow when I test.

The bio-filters nitrification potential would be compromised after an introduction of large biomasses of fish simply because it is pushing it past its nitrificational limits. We see results of this within these forum pages regularly. The salt thing though Im not too sure, its interesting that it was put in reference to "changing water quality" I suppose it would depend on how much. I once salted my system to 6ppt for anout 2 weeks (didnt have a refractometer at the time) and I cant say I saw any changes in my test results.

Not even a hint of nitrites when I tested this morning. If it was going through a mini cycle i would expect to see nitrites - yes?

Has your ammonia dropped???.... and/or nitrates risen??

It's possible, if the ammonia is gone... that the "spike"/cycle has basically occurred...

Ammonia still the same
Nitrates - who knows . The test is not sensitive enough at the high end to determine small changes.

Could be that the increase in pH has been a sufficient sudden alterations to water quality that has compromised the filter’s nitrification potential. That is to say that it is not working to its potential which is probably what you are saying Rupert that it is mini cycling.

I don't think the rise in pH has compromised the nitrification Marc.... I think it was compromised by the prior level of pH... to the point where it basically shut down....

i.e... the bacterial colony had begun dying off... and/or right back.... it's still recovering and building back up...

And I think additional aeration would assist... as nitrification is an oxidisation process....