Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

i feel much the same as eb... but when i noticed my system did drop to the lowest i could read (after not checking any water parameters for a long time) i did add shell grit to slowly bring it back up..just so i could measure it..
i see lots of folks trying to "adjust" the levels manually, stressing themselves and their fish.. especially when a big change like you noted ilaponics..
if your ph goes up okla.. i strongly urge you to sit on your hands unless you are just measuring the water.. the chart shows what to look out for, and if you find ammonia and nitrites rising, stop feeding until the levels come down..

The ph in my system is low off the chart, what can I use to get it back up before my fish are affected. My vegetable plants are already in trouble but my fish seem OK. At least I have good filtration and plenty or aeration. Any suggestions?

You have a handful of choices: calcium/potassium hydroxides, calcium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, dolemitic lime (calcium/magnesium carbonates and oxides) - you can also use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) but be careful about adding too much sodium. I mention the sodium bicarbonate as most folks have that on hand already. You can start to add that now to bring up the pH while you get the other types. Just add it slowly as you don't want too fast of a pH changes (about .2 a day if you can).

I find it fascinating that around the planet there are so many different types of water. I'm using well water and it it hard. We live in the mountains at 7500 feet (2.286 km) In our dirt gardens I've seen plants flourish with rain water and just get by on well water. Our average rainfall is 16 inches (40.64 cm) per year, so the plants get a lot of well water.
Our pH is 8+ ammonia, nitrates, nitrites are all normal. System is nearly a year old now. Water temperature is 67F (19.4444C.) We're running trout.
Our fish tank is 2600 gallons (9842.071liters) Is creating holding tank for top up water advised? I can setup an IBC nearby, however I'd need another pump to get the water in and out of it. I can not tell if the consensuses is let it be, or try and adjust it.

I would definitely use the rain water as a way to bring your pH down. Plus by having a lower pH, you won't have to worry as much about ammonia/nitrite spikes caused by any issues in your system. Your plants will thank you for it. Just make sure not to capture rain water from items that might react to the acidity of the water.

Like galvanized tin roof?
I have been looking for another reason to install powder coated roof tin on after the bedroom project is finished.