Cycling and PH - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T09:29:58Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/cycling-and-ph?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A557054&feed=yes&xn_auth=noYes, once you add plants, you…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-04-15:4778851:Comment:5582232014-04-15T18:54:21.309ZAlex Veidelhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AlexVeidel
<p>Yes, once you add plants, you'll need to bring your pH down. High pH has a negative effect on plant nutrient uptake, especially with iron. Do a partial water change to bring your ammonia level down to 4ppm.</p>
<p><br></br> <cite>Carlos A. Gorricho said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-and-ph#4778851Comment558319"><div class="xg_user_generated">Hi Alex,<br></br> <br></br> I am experiencing the same delays fish-less-cycling a 5 Gal fish tank and 5…</div>
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<p>Yes, once you add plants, you'll need to bring your pH down. High pH has a negative effect on plant nutrient uptake, especially with iron. Do a partial water change to bring your ammonia level down to 4ppm.</p>
<p><br/> <cite>Carlos A. Gorricho said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-and-ph#4778851Comment558319"><div class="xg_user_generated">Hi Alex,<br/> <br/> I am experiencing the same delays fish-less-cycling a 5 Gal fish tank and 5 Gal media growo bed, meant to be a science project system for my son. Per your comment, my ammonia seems to bee too high, at more than 8 ppm. No trace of nitrites yet. Picture attached.<br/> In my case, water comes in the 6.0 - 6.4 pH range out of a deep well. But when pumped several times through the system, pH went to 8.4. I am afraid my media (garden deco granite gravel) is reacting with water altering pH.<br/> <br/> I understand the high pH range is optimal for bacteria colonization, but once the biofilter establishes I will need to bring and keep pH down, correct?<br/> <br/> CARLOS A<br/> <br/><br/></div>
</blockquote> Hi Alex,
I am experiencing t…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-04-15:4778851:Comment:5583192014-04-15T09:35:21.461ZCarlos A. Gorrichohttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CarlosAGorricho
Hi Alex,<br></br>
<br></br>
I am experiencing the same delays fish-less-cycling a 5 Gal fish tank and 5 Gal media growo bed, meant to be a science project system for my son. Per your comment, my ammonia seems to bee too high, at more than 8 ppm. No trace of nitrites yet. Picture attached.<br></br>
In my case, water comes in the 6.0 - 6.4 pH range out of a deep well. But when pumped several times through the system, pH went to 8.4. I am afraid my media (garden deco granite gravel) is reacting with water…
Hi Alex,<br/>
<br/>
I am experiencing the same delays fish-less-cycling a 5 Gal fish tank and 5 Gal media growo bed, meant to be a science project system for my son. Per your comment, my ammonia seems to bee too high, at more than 8 ppm. No trace of nitrites yet. Picture attached.<br/>
In my case, water comes in the 6.0 - 6.4 pH range out of a deep well. But when pumped several times through the system, pH went to 8.4. I am afraid my media (garden deco granite gravel) is reacting with water altering pH.<br/>
<br/>
I understand the high pH range is optimal for bacteria colonization, but once the biofilter establishes I will need to bring and keep pH down, correct?<br/>
<br/>
CARLOS A<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<cite>Alex Veidel said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/cycling-and-ph#4778851Comment556982"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Well, your pH is not too high. Nitrifying bacteria love higher pH levels (8.0-8.6) and will multiply more rapidly under those conditions. 7.8 is just fine. The reason the phosphoric acid you used isn't working is you buffered your pH with carbonates, which act as pH fortifiers, making your water more resistant to adjustments in pH.</p>
<p>Your ammonia may be a little too high. You typically want to shoot for 2-4ppm, so I would do a partial water change (1/3 of your water) to try to get that level down a tad. If you're using the API freshwater test kit, the test starts out at yellow and in the presence of ammonia adds more and more blue color to the test. So, to check your levels, just keep in mind "how much blue is in this yellow test?" Then line it up with whatever test field is closest.</p>
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</blockquote> Hi Steve,
Sorry your AquaUp/A…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-04-08:4778851:Comment:5571692014-04-08T14:24:14.388ZSamson Brockhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/SamsonBrock
<p>Hi Steve,</p>
<p>Sorry your AquaUp/AquaStart Kit was mislabeled. I shot a message over to the manufacturing department asking them to double-check those labels. FYI, the white powder is the potassium carbonate.</p>
<p>If you do not have an easy way to outgas your water, you may also consider a dechlorinator such as <a href="http://www.theaquaponicstore.com/Chlorine-Chloramine-Removal-s/354.htm" target="_blank">D-Klor</a>.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Hi Steve,</p>
<p>Sorry your AquaUp/AquaStart Kit was mislabeled. I shot a message over to the manufacturing department asking them to double-check those labels. FYI, the white powder is the potassium carbonate.</p>
<p>If you do not have an easy way to outgas your water, you may also consider a dechlorinator such as <a href="http://www.theaquaponicstore.com/Chlorine-Chloramine-Removal-s/354.htm" target="_blank">D-Klor</a>.</p>
<p></p> I'd recommend off gassing you…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-04-08:4778851:Comment:5570542014-04-08T03:21:24.720ZAlex Veidelhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AlexVeidel
<p>I'd recommend off gassing your water before using it. No reason to back pedal your system....just because nothing shows up on a test, it doesn't mean nothing is happening.</p>
<p>I'd recommend off gassing your water before using it. No reason to back pedal your system....just because nothing shows up on a test, it doesn't mean nothing is happening.</p> I will go ahead and do a part…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-04-07:4778851:Comment:5572022014-04-07T15:48:01.897ZSteve Ericksonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/SteveErickson
<p>I will go ahead and do a partial water change. Currently I don't have a supply of off gassed water for the partial water change. Does that even matter at this point since no nitrites have appeared? </p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks for the help Alex!</p>
<p></p>
<p>I will go ahead and do a partial water change. Currently I don't have a supply of off gassed water for the partial water change. Does that even matter at this point since no nitrites have appeared? </p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks for the help Alex!</p>
<p></p> Well, your pH is not too high…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-04-07:4778851:Comment:5569822014-04-07T12:45:18.082ZAlex Veidelhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AlexVeidel
<p>Well, your pH is not too high. Nitrifying bacteria love higher pH levels (8.0-8.6) and will multiply more rapidly under those conditions. 7.8 is just fine. The reason the phosphoric acid you used isn't working is you buffered your pH with carbonates, which act as pH fortifiers, making your water more resistant to adjustments in pH.</p>
<p>Your ammonia may be a little too high. You typically want to shoot for 2-4ppm, so I would do a partial water change (1/3 of your water) to try to get that…</p>
<p>Well, your pH is not too high. Nitrifying bacteria love higher pH levels (8.0-8.6) and will multiply more rapidly under those conditions. 7.8 is just fine. The reason the phosphoric acid you used isn't working is you buffered your pH with carbonates, which act as pH fortifiers, making your water more resistant to adjustments in pH.</p>
<p>Your ammonia may be a little too high. You typically want to shoot for 2-4ppm, so I would do a partial water change (1/3 of your water) to try to get that level down a tad. If you're using the API freshwater test kit, the test starts out at yellow and in the presence of ammonia adds more and more blue color to the test. So, to check your levels, just keep in mind "how much blue is in this yellow test?" Then line it up with whatever test field is closest.</p>