A question about PH - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T16:03:04Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/a-question-about-ph?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A561187&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThe sulfur issue was with pla…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-20:4778851:Comment:5640362014-05-20T21:48:08.495ZSteve Rhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/steveraisner
<p>The sulfur issue was with plant!t. Plant!t it had a bad batch that was lowering peoples PH via sulfur and while I didn't see it where i work I did hear about it from the guy at the local hydro store who had to send back a pallet to plant!t. As fast as i am aware it was only a few stores that had the issue and plant!t recalled it before it made it out to any retailers but i did hear that from the guy at my hydro store. <br></br> <br></br> <cite>Rob Nash said:…</cite></p>
<p>The sulfur issue was with plant!t. Plant!t it had a bad batch that was lowering peoples PH via sulfur and while I didn't see it where i work I did hear about it from the guy at the local hydro store who had to send back a pallet to plant!t. As fast as i am aware it was only a few stores that had the issue and plant!t recalled it before it made it out to any retailers but i did hear that from the guy at my hydro store. <br/> <br/> <cite>Rob Nash said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/a-question-about-ph#4778851Comment561601"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>i did not catch the fact that the source water was so low. ..i was thinking he went from the normal 8ish down to 6..</p>
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<p>FTR- i have at least a truck load of Plant It and it has never been a problem.. i will check the shop that told me about the sulfur and see what the story is on this.</p>
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</blockquote> I'm running 3 systems: IBC an…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-20:4778851:Comment:5637572014-05-20T03:13:44.738ZJeff Shttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffSullivan
<p>I'm running 3 systems: IBC and 2- 45 gallon aquariums. The IBC is the oldest and maintains a PH of about 7.4. The 2 aquariums have a constant low ph problem, as low as 5.0. If I raise it by water change it soon drops again. All the systems get 7.3 ph de-chlorinated tap water. I use the aquariums as seed starters and the IBC has constant veggie growth. Nitrites and Nitrates are good on all systems. So can anyone explain the differences in my ph?</p>
<p>I'm running 3 systems: IBC and 2- 45 gallon aquariums. The IBC is the oldest and maintains a PH of about 7.4. The 2 aquariums have a constant low ph problem, as low as 5.0. If I raise it by water change it soon drops again. All the systems get 7.3 ph de-chlorinated tap water. I use the aquariums as seed starters and the IBC has constant veggie growth. Nitrites and Nitrates are good on all systems. So can anyone explain the differences in my ph?</p> Yup, that rain water is quite…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-06:4778851:Comment:5616082014-05-06T01:44:15.729ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
<p>Yup, that rain water is quite aggressive it falls from the sky pretty much de-mineralized (except for some common pollutants that it pick up along the way...one of the most common being sulfur based pollutants...which only makes the rain water more aggressive and acidic). So once you neutralize that with alkalinity and carbonates it shouldn't fluctuate as much. Hehe, but by then of course your bacteria will be producing acids all their own which you'll have to buffer against. …<img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"></img></p>
<p>Yup, that rain water is quite aggressive it falls from the sky pretty much de-mineralized (except for some common pollutants that it pick up along the way...one of the most common being sulfur based pollutants...which only makes the rain water more aggressive and acidic). So once you neutralize that with alkalinity and carbonates it shouldn't fluctuate as much. Hehe, but by then of course your bacteria will be producing acids all their own which you'll have to buffer against. <img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"/></p>
<p>A lime stone (CaCO3) containing 'river rock' as a portion of your media just might be the ticket (if you can hit the right balance)...unless you <em>really like</em> fiddling and buffering almost daily.</p> My system has been running fo…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-06:4778851:Comment:5617012014-05-06T00:18:52.999ZRichard Kowalskihttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RichardKowalski141
<p>My system has been running for about a month. Its an outdoor system in an unheated greenhouse. So I have been battling water temperature fluctuations, Ph fluctuations, and some Newbie mistakes like adding too much ammonia because I failed to wait a few minutes before reading the API Amonnia test. I would say that the readings of the past 2 weeks have been acceptable. Not great.... but acceptable. Everyone says Cycling takes patients. So, I battle the conditions and wait.</p>
<p>Thanks for…</p>
<p>My system has been running for about a month. Its an outdoor system in an unheated greenhouse. So I have been battling water temperature fluctuations, Ph fluctuations, and some Newbie mistakes like adding too much ammonia because I failed to wait a few minutes before reading the API Amonnia test. I would say that the readings of the past 2 weeks have been acceptable. Not great.... but acceptable. Everyone says Cycling takes patients. So, I battle the conditions and wait.</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your experience with me.</p> like Vlad pointed out.. its j…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-06:4778851:Comment:5614982014-05-06T00:03:38.571ZRob Nashhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobNash
<p>like Vlad pointed out.. its just a matter of getting past the break point ....if you will.</p>
<p>i recommend river rock.</p>
<p>like Vlad pointed out.. its just a matter of getting past the break point ....if you will.</p>
<p>i recommend river rock.</p> i did not catch the fact that…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-05:4778851:Comment:5616012014-05-05T23:59:07.109ZRob Nashhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobNash
<p>i did not catch the fact that the source water was so low. ..i was thinking he went from the normal 8ish down to 6..</p>
<p></p>
<p>FTR- i have at least a truck load of Plant It and it has never been a problem.. i will check the shop that told me about the sulfur and see what the story is on this.</p>
<p>i did not catch the fact that the source water was so low. ..i was thinking he went from the normal 8ish down to 6..</p>
<p></p>
<p>FTR- i have at least a truck load of Plant It and it has never been a problem.. i will check the shop that told me about the sulfur and see what the story is on this.</p> Thanks for the input.
Vlad, I…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-05:4778851:Comment:5615282014-05-05T23:56:39.875ZRichard Kowalskihttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RichardKowalski141
<p>Thanks for the input.</p>
<p>Vlad, I have used Potasium Bicarbonate and Calcium Carbonate to get the Ph and Carbonate levels up.</p>
<p>Rob, I do not smell any sulfur oders coming from the Plant It Clay Media.</p>
<p>I have used rain water to fill my system. The rain water has a Ph of 6.5. Although I have raised the Ph to 8 with Calcium Carbonate and Potasium BiCarbonate, maybe the rain water is taking the Ph down again. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Thanks for the input.</p>
<p>Vlad, I have used Potasium Bicarbonate and Calcium Carbonate to get the Ph and Carbonate levels up.</p>
<p>Rob, I do not smell any sulfur oders coming from the Plant It Clay Media.</p>
<p>I have used rain water to fill my system. The rain water has a Ph of 6.5. Although I have raised the Ph to 8 with Calcium Carbonate and Potasium BiCarbonate, maybe the rain water is taking the Ph down again. </p>
<p>Thanks</p> If your sulfur was high enoug…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-05:4778851:Comment:5614852014-05-05T17:45:06.379ZSteve Rhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/steveraisner
<p>If your sulfur was high enough to lower PH you would smell it. Sulfur is one of the chemicals humans can smell in insanely low percentages. Id be surprised if the sulfur was the problem with the PH with out the bag smelling bad lol.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Rob Nash said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/a-question-about-ph#4778851Comment561311"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>first off,, the Plant It clay has been found to contain high levels…</p>
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<p>If your sulfur was high enough to lower PH you would smell it. Sulfur is one of the chemicals humans can smell in insanely low percentages. Id be surprised if the sulfur was the problem with the PH with out the bag smelling bad lol.<br/> <br/> <cite>Rob Nash said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/a-question-about-ph#4778851Comment561311"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>first off,, the Plant It clay has been found to contain high levels of sulfur... which will drive the pH down</p>
<p>did you happen to smell matches when you poured the media out of the bags?</p>
<p>if you did get some of this, the pH may never be high enough,,, ive had folks that had to replace their media entirely.</p>
<p>i like to advise folks to keep the pH around 8 for the first month or so, and let the bacteria kick off real good. then after a few months the system will go acidic and drive its pH down on its own.</p>
<p>it sound like the low pH has your bacteria at a stand still..</p>
<p>PS,, the best time to use river rock is in a scenario like this.. you can add 30% riverock to keep the pH higher..</p>
<p>. using 70% granite and 30% river rock,, i havent adjusted my pH in over 4 years</p>
<p>best regards.,</p>
<p>rob</p>
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</blockquote> Yeah, good point Ryan...What…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-05:4778851:Comment:5612972014-05-05T15:52:46.856ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
<p>Yeah, good point Ryan...What <em>did</em> you use Richard?</p>
<p>A bi-carbonate alkaline/buffer will generally take effect quicker than a carbonate source, BUT a bi-carbonate (although faster acting) only has half of the acid neutralizing capability than a carbonate source does (so it will get "used up" even quicker).</p>
<p>Yeah, good point Ryan...What <em>did</em> you use Richard?</p>
<p>A bi-carbonate alkaline/buffer will generally take effect quicker than a carbonate source, BUT a bi-carbonate (although faster acting) only has half of the acid neutralizing capability than a carbonate source does (so it will get "used up" even quicker).</p> I would agree with what Vlad…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-05-05:4778851:Comment:5611872014-05-05T15:36:07.873ZRyan Chattersonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Ryan
I would agree with what Vlad said here, it sounds like it just took a while for your buffer to finish reacting with the acidic source water. What did you use?
I would agree with what Vlad said here, it sounds like it just took a while for your buffer to finish reacting with the acidic source water. What did you use?