Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

not going to be going much below 8 then. Strange as you should be getting dam and/or desal water - but anyway...

you can pre-treat any top-up water with hydrochloric acid or else just learn to run a pH 8 system like many do.
You probably need to keep an eye on GH and KH if getting a lot of evaporation loss.

as you have a low fish load the pH (ammonia stress) shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Except for ammonia+temp sensitivity fish don't otherwise mind higher pH anyway.
Varies little bit for plants - just got to feed them directly to avoid pH buffering.

if you get through to winter then the pH will probably drop anyway prior to next summer.
particularly if you feed with rainwater. That way you will welcome the higher pH top up water.

I have 7.6 out of tap but struggle to keep my tanks in 7-7.4 range.
and they dip into high 6's pretty easily, particularly in winter.
only stay in 7's over summer when topping up a bit.

Here's a pic, it might be 7.8 .. dunno .. what do you think?

edit. tap/mains, tap/mains after 24 hours, AP main tank.

Oh yeah that's right, your friend dropped the test tubes best to get some new test tubes if you can mate, the tests aren't reliable otherwise. You've got to be using exactly the right amount of water and it's easier to read against the cards.

+1 to Mel above. Hard to pull a firm pH decision on that.

Water Corp says that Armadale/Kelmscott is running 7.4 to 7.8 with mean around 7.6.
Would be up a bit in summer - so I would double check before making any decisions.

the volumes for the test kit and inversion of the testubes etc are critical to an accurate reading.

I will but I'm using a 10ml syringe [mate is a nurse lol] to extract 5ml of water from the tank, so am spot on when it comes to the amount of AP's water from the tank I need to be using for any water tests - well I think I am but yeah I agree I need to get some test tubes asap as it's a pain using a 10ml syringe to draw up 5 ml's etc etc and use plastic shot glasses to mix with....... I agree totally on that, new test tubes asap .. where tho, I've called a few local chemist but nothing?


Okay I take it by 'inversion' you mean; inverting and shaking [lightly] the 'test tube' . . right? I was too focused on volume tbh, hence the 10ml syringe but yeah your right it's harder to invert the shot glasses cleanly -a pain the ass hahaha] compared to a test tube .. yes ... but yes fingers crossed my water is on the high side of 7.8 and like you said before the pH will drop in winter months anyway.

I'm going to assume you're using the API test kit. You might be able to guesstimate with the shot glasses but the color charts are really for looking through a set amount of fluid in the tubes so odds are you'll be looking through a different volume when you check the shot glasses (because the shape is different, not the actual volume in the glass). It's a pity you aren't closer I have more than I need at the moment (although it's nice to have extras) - I got mine from other test kits (phosphorus, alkalinity and hardness which I use more in RAS testing) and replacement kits (Nitrate). I find that running 4 or 5 tubes at a time is all I really ever do.

That makes sense, as I said before I was too focused on volume and it makes sense that testing in a different shaped container could effect the final result... for a start the surface area of the two is massively different, the amount of air contact etc....... both of which would effect any solution based liquid type test you would think .... .. they package the test kits with test tubes not shot glasses for a reason lol

eBay carries a few types similar to the API ones.

otherwise you may be better to buy another API or API GH/KH kit.
If you are testing regularly it will give you another batch of test chemicals for end of year or whatever.

(eBay for that as well)


[edit] here you go - actual API ones....$12.95 free postage
"3-x-API-5ml-Glass-Aquarium-Test-Kit-Tube-with-cap"
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3-x-API-5ml- ... Sw8cNUNaPB

I think your right, purchase another test kit now instead of buying 'tubes' now and another kit in 6 months.

Don't think you would go trough them that quick and can buy the individual bottles.
I think the $12.95 for API tubes inc postage was a good offer (see my post above)
maybe just do that for now.

unless you have issues or lots of mod's then you tend to do less water testing as time goes by.

I went to the Perth Zoo today... what do they feed their Barramundi was what I was left thinking? ..On the right lol

Warm water year round. Easy as that.

Well when you say it like that..

in the wetland part at Perth Zoo they have a heap of silver perch - quite large, all year round as well.
that is outside and only about 0.5m deep.

I think it mentions SP on the info-plate on the bridge.

I thought at 1st they were SP but was told Barra, the small heads vs the big ass bodies kinda made me think that.... maybe they were or maybe they weren't, I was in the wetlands section tho'