Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

you can use calcium hydroxide aka builder lime.. or potassium hydroxide.. or Calcium carbonates.. potassium carbonates... woodash... and so on.. just add a lil bit and allow it to circular for about 1hr.. retest and add again if didn't reach desired pH..

We seem to finally getting somewhere....reading today are PH 7.1, Amm .25, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0. We think we are ready to get the fish in.....Do you agree guys....Oh another thing i have noticed is the lettuce seem to be tall and thin will that get better or am I using the wrong seedlings. thanks.

Nitrites are gone, sounds like you're cycled.

Stop adding any Ammonia, Seasol, Powerfeed etc, and if the system is cycled the Amm level should drop to 0.0 with 24hrs, definitely within 48hrs.

As far as the lettuce is concerned, it's probably too hot and/or humid for them.

lack of sunlight.. and lack of calcium are some main reason of leggy lettuce growth.. but the additions of fishes may solve the problem

What would we add for calcuim. We definately dont have humidity. I live in the bush very hot atm.

Ph levels 6.2, Amm .25, Nitrate and Nitrite 0. Have ordered Jade Perch so will have fish in system next week. Looking forward to it. Picking our first strawberrry this week too. Can't believe how quick the tomatoes have grown. Lettuce still spindely but gonna try another type of lettuce.

All good

At what rate would we add builders lime to system to raise our PH levels.

Hi, We have got our fish in tank.....very happy with them. They are Jade Perch. We started feeding them about 30grms twice a day. They didn't eat it all so we halved the amount. We can see they are not coming up to eat it all. But we have noticed it is all gone when we feed next time. Just wondering are we feeding them enough or too much.....expected them to be eating more. Our water temps are about 20c in morn and about 25c - 29c in late arvo. Ph level is about 6.6 using lime to keep up. Your input would be most appreciated......we still a bit green.

Hiya kayshir, now that you have fish in its probably time to start your members thread with lots of photos for future reference.
Do you have any shell grit in the tank as a pH buffer?
It seems popular atm adding calcium hydroxide (lime), potassium bicarbonate and magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) at a ratio of 3:1:1 for pH adjustment.
With your pH where it is shell grit should be adequate.
A 5-9k temp difference seems excessive too perhaps look at ways of stabilising the water temps somewhat.
How big are your fish?

How do we stabilise the water. Most days the difference is about 4 to 5 degree.
Our fish are about 4 cm fingerlings. Will start taking photos.

skeggley thanks for the info. With the shellgrit do we just put into a stocking and put into sump.

Any updates on this thread?

Photos on how your system is doing?

Hi guys, system is doing really well, we are harvesting bok choy, lettuce, snow peas, parsley, strawberries, tomatoes, spinach, cabbage.... fish are doing ok. Funny thing is we have lost 3 fish about 10cm long in the last month.....don't know why. Keeping our eye on the PH levels....they are sitting at about 6.8 - 7.2 will endeavour to get on the forum more often.....

Very nice to hear that you have had a great harvest so far.

Do you have any pictures of how your system is doing?

I am having trouble putting the photos onto the forum will endeavour to keep trying...