Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

try t/link instead, they have all the plumbing stuff

the range at the B stores will vary quite a lot, despite what they would have you belive,

i used to work at the midland store, its amazing what you can learn in a hardware store did you know that some of thier products (paint comes to mind ) are sold at almost cost so that they can do the whole we will beat it by 10% thing while others are marked up (paintbrushes rolers poles tape ect) to make money

so dont belive what you hear on the tv

TradeLnk here in Cairns have offered to show me about their shed and storage so that they can show me the full range of stuff they carry - perhaps I will be permitted to snap some pics if I see some interesting bits

Getting ahead slowly, working on the wiring.

Yesterday also prepared samples of

Rain Water,

Washed Scoria and Rain Water 50/50 by volume

Sieved and expanded (moist) Cocopeat and Rain Water 50/50 by volume

Washed Scoria, Sieved and expanded (moist) Cocopeat and Rain Water 25/25/50 by volume

Today agitated and tested the samples for PH and EC.
( the only instrument I have at the moment)

Results - Rain Water : PH - 6.3, EC - 0.05mS

Scoria and Rain Water 50/50 : PH – 7.2, EC – 0.49mS

Cocopeat and Rain Water 50/50 : PH – 5.9, EC – 0.96mS

Scoria, Cocopeat and Rain Water 25/25/50 : PH – 6.3, EC – 0.56

Cocopeat is taking the PH down fair bit.

Any advice, comments welcomed.
Re: Crushed shells ??? do you buy them (where?) or do you pick and crush you own?

Next week going to Hobart for a week so any stocking will have to wait till we get back.
Also eldest daughter is getting married in six weeks in FF’s backyard, (at Rupertswood mansion), so being kept pretty busy.

Today were looking for full test kit to buy but no luck, will have to order it.
SS

SS, everything I've read here and elsewhere points to cocopeat pulling pH down.... buffer as suggested with crushed shell or calcium carbonate...

Biggest problem with cocopeat though is probably salt nad looking at your EC reading I'd say the brand of coco you've got is one which was washed in brine.....

I'd suggest measure a straight sample, then giving it a couple of washes and measuring again.... be interested in the results....

by a straight sample, what do you mean by it?

will definitely wash it several times, if it were only to reduce the turbidity,

will post further test results, SS

Sorry SS... see you have already done a test...



Looked at that, which is why I was surprised at the EC reading... for some reason thought you had it mixed with something else...

Shouldn't skim read..... .... slowly slinks away....

I'd give it a couple of rinses

SS, Shell grit is available from most supermarkets or rural suppliers, very small white shells and dirt cheap.

Hi ss if the reception gets boring walk straight out the front door and up the hill[2 minutes ] i am shore talking aqua is more interesting

Whats causing the higher EC reading in the scoria test?

A litttle off note here, but thats a neat looking system you have there Steve, and I noticed what loked like cage material under the growbeds on the last pic you posted. what are you keeping down there?!

Samples for the first test were taken from cocopeat and scoria washed only once to get rid of the dust.
Had no idea what to expect from the tests.
When stirred, the samples were still very turbid.
For the second test washed the samples four times, till the water was coming clear.
Second test results are quite different.

Results - Rain Water : PH-6.3, EC-0.05mS / second test PH-6.3, EC-0.06mS (new water sample)

Scoria and Rain Water 50/50 : PH–7.2, EC–0.49mS / second test PH-6.4, EC-0.07mS

Cocopeat and Rain Water 50/50 : PH–5.9, EC–0.96mS / second test PH-6.6, EC-0.11mS

Scoria, Cocopeat and Rain Water 25/25/50 : PH–6.3, EC–0.56 / second test PH 6.4, EC-0.07mS


JR, just small wire cages to hold the roof decking of the ground, had no better use for them.

Found the shell grit EB, thanks, SS

The EC drop in the cocopeat samples doesn't surprise me at all.... definitely salt related IMHO.... the scoria results intrique me though....

maybe the scoria had a "salty" dust on them that the washing removed

SS Could you run another test for me. Actually a series of tests.

Basically measure any changes in ph and ec over time. Would be interesting to see no?