Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ph level...8.2
Nitrites... 40 ppm
Nitrates... 80 ppm
Ammonia... 0 ppm

What's wrong and how can I fix it??

What test kit are you using to measure Nitrites that high? 8X dilution with the API Master Test Kit? Do you have limestone in your grow beds? Did you test with vinegar to see if there was any fizz?

I just simply used the master test kit from Walmart!!! Lol

I don't know what is normal

Those walmart strip tests make me feel like i am colorblind because i cant match the stick color with anything on the color code sheet.

8.2 isnt the greatest for plants but it's not your biggest problem. The nitrites seems deadly high for fish.


how many gallons in your system?
what are you using for substrate?
what is the ph of your water source?


The problem is that if your media is causing the high ph there's not much you can do. If you add acid to your system, your ph will go down for a day or two and then creep back up. Alls you will have accomplished is stressing your fish.


I know i am a pagan but i use a buffered media and my system is stuck at 7.8 ph, and i think it's great!


you want/need ammonia and nitrite to be zero. Nitrates are higher than you would expect but if it's a new system and oplanst are not established yet there is nothing to worry about.

PH 8.2 is higher than you want. The concern is that plants absorb nutrients better in certain ph ranges and 8.2 is higher than the average plant's preferred ph range.


brian

Test your media with vinegar and see what happens, glass half filled with media and then toped up with white vinegar. If it has constant bubbles you will always have high ph unless you change your grow bed media.

Gave full explanation in case you did not know what to do. My PH has been sitting around 6 for a few months so no problems here. Patience is your best friend if this is a new system.

250 gallons of water , 10 lbs of tilapia , the growbed is 4x10x1' .... I have a bio- filter just installed yesterday

Is rainwater high in nitrites/nitrates

Rainwater should be low in Nitrates/Nitrites. Worth checking your test kit against rainwater or bottled water as a reference guide for a zero reading, particularly if it is a kit based on stripes which are notorious for not being accurate. Would personally bin any test strips, but that is just my lab background showing.

Woz