adjusting PH organically - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T07:50:28Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/adjusting-ph-organically?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A523251&feed=yes&xn_auth=noUgh, my alkaline, hard water…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-06-11:4778851:Comment:5671712014-06-11T03:05:59.213ZCharles Sublettehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CharlesSublette
<p>Ugh, my alkaline, hard water has been a costly curse to me so much so that I have to treat the water to lower alkalinity in a separate container before using the water for top-offs.</p>
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<p>In the outdoor goldfish/koi pond hobby arena, my alkaline, hard water is truly a blessing, but, when wanting to grow high yielding and sometimes difficult to grow plants with fewer fertilizers, then the water becomes less of a blessing.</p>
<p><br></br> <br></br> <cite>JoAnn Dobson…</cite></p>
<p>Ugh, my alkaline, hard water has been a costly curse to me so much so that I have to treat the water to lower alkalinity in a separate container before using the water for top-offs.</p>
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<p>In the outdoor goldfish/koi pond hobby arena, my alkaline, hard water is truly a blessing, but, when wanting to grow high yielding and sometimes difficult to grow plants with fewer fertilizers, then the water becomes less of a blessing.</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <cite>JoAnn Dobson said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/adjusting-ph-organically?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A522850&page=2#4778851Comment567070"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Jeremiah,</p>
<p>Thanks for posting. Our water is very hard. I hadn't even thought about it being the cause since it's something we just accept around here.</p>
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</blockquote> Jeremiah,
Thanks for posting.…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-06-10:4778851:Comment:5670702014-06-10T16:25:43.113ZJoAnn Dobsonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JoAnnDobson
<p>Jeremiah,</p>
<p>Thanks for posting. Our water is very hard. I hadn't even thought about it being the cause since it's something we just accept around here.</p>
<p>Jeremiah,</p>
<p>Thanks for posting. Our water is very hard. I hadn't even thought about it being the cause since it's something we just accept around here.</p> You are truly lucky. Hard wa…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-06-10:4778851:Comment:5670672014-06-10T16:14:12.858ZJeremiah Robinsonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeremiahRobinson
<p>You are truly lucky. Hard water is magic in aquaponics. It's a blessing - count it! <img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif" style="font-size: 13px;"></img></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">I would just wait a couple of months for your pH to come down naturally. It'll happen at a good clip when it does (not dangerously fast, just surprisingly so after months of no change), so be sure to keep checking at least 2x/week. If you want to see the drop coming, test your hardness with the API hardness test kit.</span></p>
<p>When it hits 6.5, do a…</p>
<p>You are truly lucky. Hard water is magic in aquaponics. It's a blessing - count it! <img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif" style="font-size: 13px;"/></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">I would just wait a couple of months for your pH to come down naturally. It'll happen at a good clip when it does (not dangerously fast, just surprisingly so after months of no change), so be sure to keep checking at least 2x/week. If you want to see the drop coming, test your hardness with the API hardness test kit.</span></p>
<p>When it hits 6.5, do a partial water change (1/4). After that, you'll have a stable (well-buffered) pH 7.0 or so. Partial water changes or replacing water for evaporation will keep it stable.</p> Thanks. I will be in Lubbock,…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-06-06:4778851:Comment:5665572014-06-06T19:42:26.427ZJoAnn Dobsonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JoAnnDobson
<p>Thanks. I will be in Lubbock, TX tomorrow and will try to stop by a garden place.</p>
<p>Thanks. I will be in Lubbock, TX tomorrow and will try to stop by a garden place.</p> Calcium sulfate is just Gypsu…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-06-06:4778851:Comment:5667072014-06-06T16:06:11.527ZCharles Sublettehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CharlesSublette
<p>Calcium sulfate is just Gypsum, which is easily found in any garden section. If this does work, then keep in mind it will only lower your pH down to around 8.4~8.6.</p>
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<p>If you need it lower, then you need to treat a separate container of tank water with an acid, agitate this container good for a few hours, then slowly add it around the tanks parameter. Then do this again every 24 hours until your desire pH is obtained. For the acid, you can try vinegar or lemon juice or even peat…</p>
<p>Calcium sulfate is just Gypsum, which is easily found in any garden section. If this does work, then keep in mind it will only lower your pH down to around 8.4~8.6.</p>
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<p>If you need it lower, then you need to treat a separate container of tank water with an acid, agitate this container good for a few hours, then slowly add it around the tanks parameter. Then do this again every 24 hours until your desire pH is obtained. For the acid, you can try vinegar or lemon juice or even peat moss, but, as explained above, you might have to use something stronger.<br/> <br/> <cite>JoAnn Dobson said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/adjusting-ph-organically?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A522850&page=2#4778851Comment566451"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Charles,</p>
<p>Where would I get calcium sulfate? I have checked the pH at least twice a day for about a week ( when the fish started dying). I have also checked the city water's pH. Last night I ran the city water into the garden for a while just in case there might be something in the pipe between the city and the garden. It was between 8 and 9 every time I checked. Three more dead fish since yesterday morning. I do have some slime on the sides of the tank but the water is clear. I do appreciate all the help and advice.</p>
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</blockquote> My city water's pH is 8.2. I…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-06-05:4778851:Comment:5665162014-06-05T22:49:17.622ZRyan Garlingtonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RyanGarlington
My city water's pH is 8.2. I always have to add aquadown ph reducer after adding water. My tank & sump total 140 gallons, and I have to replace 20 gallons every 4 to 5 days. One good thing- the city puts carbonates in the water.
My city water's pH is 8.2. I always have to add aquadown ph reducer after adding water. My tank & sump total 140 gallons, and I have to replace 20 gallons every 4 to 5 days. One good thing- the city puts carbonates in the water. Charles,
Where would I get c…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-06-05:4778851:Comment:5664512014-06-05T13:28:37.815ZJoAnn Dobsonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JoAnnDobson
<p>Charles,</p>
<p>Where would I get calcium sulfate? I have checked the pH at least twice a day for about a week ( when the fish started dying). I have also checked the city water's pH. Last night I ran the city water into the garden for a while just in case there might be something in the pipe between the city and the garden. It was between 8 and 9 every time I checked. Three more dead fish since yesterday morning. I do have some slime on the sides of the tank but the water is clear. I…</p>
<p>Charles,</p>
<p>Where would I get calcium sulfate? I have checked the pH at least twice a day for about a week ( when the fish started dying). I have also checked the city water's pH. Last night I ran the city water into the garden for a while just in case there might be something in the pipe between the city and the garden. It was between 8 and 9 every time I checked. Three more dead fish since yesterday morning. I do have some slime on the sides of the tank but the water is clear. I do appreciate all the help and advice.</p> how r y'all on pH? r u addin…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-06-05:4778851:Comment:5663462014-06-05T01:52:23.340ZKim Romenhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/KimRomen
<p>how r y'all on pH? r u adding more acid each time u fill your tank or sporadically? I never got my pH where it's needed to be since I started in September. folks said go slow so i sure am. lol. with so much evaporation it seems it'll be really hard to get it right now in the summer. have u seen growth differences when your pH was adjusted correctly?</p>
<p>r catfish more sensitive to high pH?</p>
<p>Stephanie, i read baking soda can increase pH. hoping it doesn't get into my system…</p>
<p>how r y'all on pH? r u adding more acid each time u fill your tank or sporadically? I never got my pH where it's needed to be since I started in September. folks said go slow so i sure am. lol. with so much evaporation it seems it'll be really hard to get it right now in the summer. have u seen growth differences when your pH was adjusted correctly?</p>
<p>r catfish more sensitive to high pH?</p>
<p>Stephanie, i read baking soda can increase pH. hoping it doesn't get into my system much from spraying veggies on the grow beds.</p> Actually, my post was meant f…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-06-05:4778851:Comment:5663422014-06-05T01:42:27.682ZCharles Sublettehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CharlesSublette
<p>Actually, my post was meant for this thread's author. that is Ms. Romen.</p>
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<p>For you JoAnn, if your pH is as high as 9.0 and you are confident that this is an accurate pH reading, then this might possibly indicate a calcium deficiency. I am talking about calcium deficiency in the water rather than in the plant. In a carbonate/bicarbonate base buffer system, which most water is this type of buffer system except particular other areas in the US of A are more phosphorus based,…</p>
<p>Actually, my post was meant for this thread's author. that is Ms. Romen.</p>
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<p>For you JoAnn, if your pH is as high as 9.0 and you are confident that this is an accurate pH reading, then this might possibly indicate a calcium deficiency. I am talking about calcium deficiency in the water rather than in the plant. In a carbonate/bicarbonate base buffer system, which most water is this type of buffer system except particular other areas in the US of A are more phosphorus based, calcium is the divalent cation that prevents the pH from rising above 8.4~8.6.</p>
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<p>So, you can try adding a calcium sulfate (1.6 ounces per 100 gallons). First dissolve then in a separate container very good then add it around the tank. Wait 12 hours. Then test the water's pH to see if it dropped below 9.0. If no go, then do another dose, but no more doses after the 2nd dose. This method will only work to reduce the pH to down around 8.6 and no lower, that is assuming the cause of the high pH is the abundance of carbonate (CO32-) since free calcium (Ca++) has an extremely strong attraction to free carbonate so to create the precipitate called calcium carbonate (CaCO3).</p>
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<p>However, the high pH could be the result of city water treatment or other water products or garden additives that could have been dosed in the tank. So then, all you can do is to dilute the water with rain or deionized reverse osmosis water or some other acid so to burn off the carbonate. When carbonate (CO32-) is burned with an acid, then it creates carbon dioxide (CO2). This is why gravel fizzes whenever you add vinegar to it; the fizzing is the releasing of carbon dioxide as a result of the vinegar counteracting a particular formation of carbonate on the rock.</p> Thanks for the info! Tells me…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-06-05:4778851:Comment:5661932014-06-05T00:01:50.922ZJoAnn Dobsonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JoAnnDobson
Thanks for the info! Tells me a lot. I live in a severe drought area and am not set up to catch rainwater. It will be early next year before that changes. My tank is 275 gal. When I got the fish everything looked good including the pH. I don't really understand how it got this far out of whack but will probably just suffer through. I can't get catfish until next May so I have a while to figure it out. Thanks again.
Thanks for the info! Tells me a lot. I live in a severe drought area and am not set up to catch rainwater. It will be early next year before that changes. My tank is 275 gal. When I got the fish everything looked good including the pH. I don't really understand how it got this far out of whack but will probably just suffer through. I can't get catfish until next May so I have a while to figure it out. Thanks again.