Is there a comprehensive chart that lists the "normal" range for the different water tests. - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T13:55:49Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/is-there-a-comprehensive-chart-that-lists-the-normal-range-for?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A612999&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI have the API kit mentioned…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-08-14:4778851:Comment:6129992015-08-14T10:40:31.652ZDavid Marlandhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DavidMarland
<p>I have the API kit mentioned above plus the GH/KH kit. But watch Silvia’s clips on how to use them, I tested my system every week for six months. Then one week I started to get high levels off nitrates, I was doing the test wrong! Thanks Silvia for the new clips!</p>
<p>Ps. don’t leave your test kit in the sun! I am on my second test kit now,</p>
<p>I have the API kit mentioned above plus the GH/KH kit. But watch Silvia’s clips on how to use them, I tested my system every week for six months. Then one week I started to get high levels off nitrates, I was doing the test wrong! Thanks Silvia for the new clips!</p>
<p>Ps. don’t leave your test kit in the sun! I am on my second test kit now,</p> Great discussion and informat…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-08-04:4778851:Comment:6122392015-08-04T20:53:55.217ZDavidhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/David22
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772267794?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772267794?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a> Great discussion and information here. Thank you to all. As my small backyard system matures, I find myself curious about testing for different minerals as discussed here. I use an API Pondmaster test kit for the basic "keep your fish alive" stuff, I also invested in a pocket pH meter and a dissolved O2 meter. I'm not sure I trust the pocket pH as I often test with the API…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772267794?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772267794?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></a>Great discussion and information here. Thank you to all. As my small backyard system matures, I find myself curious about testing for different minerals as discussed here. I use an API Pondmaster test kit for the basic "keep your fish alive" stuff, I also invested in a pocket pH meter and a dissolved O2 meter. I'm not sure I trust the pocket pH as I often test with the API kit and get different results (yes I have 7.0 calibration solution).</p>
<p></p>
<p>If anyone has recommendations for affordable test methods for specific ions / minerals (K, Mg, Fe, etc.) I would love to find out more. Even more expensive professional recommendations are useful.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I also test GH at almost 300 with KH at 20. I'm trying to find ways to reduce the GH and bring up the KH. My source water is a problem (tap water at high GH). I have rainwater available but I'm concerned about contaminates from my roof / environment so I run it through an RO filter which is a slow process, so not practical for large water exchanges.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Open to suggestions. Thanks!</p>
<p>PS:</p>
<p>My system is a 200 gallon IBC with 100 gal sump, 170 gal media beds, 18 catfish 10 - 12". pH low 7s, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate show zero across the board. Tomatoes producing well but severe leaf curl. I was using a UV light for several weeks until I read about depleting boron, etc.</p>
<p></p> 1). Yes, there are "ideal" pp…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-07-11:4778851:Comment:6102782015-07-11T08:59:09.068ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
<p>1). Yes, there are "ideal" ppm's for every element, for every particular plant in every particular phase of growth. The ideal ppm's for lettuce are quite different than ideal ppm's for cucumbers...which is why you will likely get many different answers from people on that question, depending on what they happen to be reading (since most people don't actually test for those levels...</p>
<p>2). They are all important, as one element alone can become a limiting factor...but K and Mg are the…</p>
<p>1). Yes, there are "ideal" ppm's for every element, for every particular plant in every particular phase of growth. The ideal ppm's for lettuce are quite different than ideal ppm's for cucumbers...which is why you will likely get many different answers from people on that question, depending on what they happen to be reading (since most people don't actually test for those levels...</p>
<p>2). They are all important, as one element alone can become a limiting factor...but K and Mg are the two biggies there...especially K</p>
<p>3). No, control of one won't really "keep the others in line".</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p> <br/> <br/> <cite>Don Cole said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/is-there-a-comprehensive-chart-that-lists-the-normal-range-for?xg_source=activity#4778851Comment610273"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>OK, this is good stuff!</p>
<p>Vlad, from your reply the two items below state that there is a "antagonistic" relationship between the cations.</p>
<p>Is there an ideal ppm for each K,Ca,Mg,Zn,Mn? </p>
<p>Is any one more important than any other to control?</p>
<p>Are there one or more of these that if controlled would keep the others in line?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>2). Calcium should make up between 35%-55% of the total cations (positively charged plant essential elements) floating around in solution in your system water.</em></p>
<p><em>3). All these cations (K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, etc...) must coexist in a ratio'd balance since they behave antagonistically toward one another. So if your K is near 300ppm and Mg near 40ppm blablabla...Ca at 140ppm is perfectly fine. BUT</em></p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote> This is perfect!
I am going t…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-07-11:4778851:Comment:6105322015-07-11T01:37:55.180ZDon Colehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DonCole
This is perfect!<br />
I am going to compile these numbers into a spreadsheet to log my testing. I know there is more to these systems than numbers and I don't want to take the fun out of it.<br />
<br />
Guys, thank you for all of the help.
This is perfect!<br />
I am going to compile these numbers into a spreadsheet to log my testing. I know there is more to these systems than numbers and I don't want to take the fun out of it.<br />
<br />
Guys, thank you for all of the help. Add to the list but realize t…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-07-11:4778851:Comment:6105312015-07-11T01:11:20.159ZMatt H.https://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/MattHolmes
Add to the list but realize these numbers aren't set in stone. Balance and stability are potentially more important than rigid adherence to the numbers. <br></br>
Mg 30ppm<br></br>
Fe .75-2.0 ppm<br></br>
K 300ppm<br></br>
P 3-10ppm<br />
<br />
Don, I think we're getting somewhere now.<br></br>
<br></br>
<br></br>
<cite>Michael Brooks said:…</cite>
Add to the list but realize these numbers aren't set in stone. Balance and stability are potentially more important than rigid adherence to the numbers. <br/>
Mg 30ppm<br/>
Fe .75-2.0 ppm<br/>
K 300ppm<br/>
P 3-10ppm<br />
<br />
Don, I think we're getting somewhere now.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<cite>Michael Brooks said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/is-there-a-comprehensive-chart-that-lists-the-normal-range-for?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A610370&page=1#4778851Comment610513"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Alkalinity 50-250 ppm</p>
<p>Ammonia 0-.4 ppm</p>
<p>Carbon Dioxide 0-30 ppm</p>
<p>Chloride 0-5000 ppm</p>
<p>Oxygen 3-10 ppm</p>
<p>Nitrite 0-.8 ppm</p>
<p>pH 6.3-7.2 ppm</p>
<p>Calcium 40-70 ppm </p>
<p></p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote> You're right vlad, my k is un…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-07-11:4778851:Comment:6104892015-07-11T01:03:51.675ZMatt H.https://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/MattHolmes
You're right vlad, my k is undetectable on the cheapo rapid test kit( since I had to buy the multi test kit at$6 for two K tests it's actually not cheap at all except for results). My iron is also zero as I wait for chelated iron to arrive. I've been adding maxi crop w/ iron but it gets sucked up quick as can be.<br />
Does anyone know of a decent potassium test kit w/o spending hundreds of dollars? All I've been able to find are the cheapo multitest kit for soil and a probe for over$300. I am…
You're right vlad, my k is undetectable on the cheapo rapid test kit( since I had to buy the multi test kit at$6 for two K tests it's actually not cheap at all except for results). My iron is also zero as I wait for chelated iron to arrive. I've been adding maxi crop w/ iron but it gets sucked up quick as can be.<br />
Does anyone know of a decent potassium test kit w/o spending hundreds of dollars? All I've been able to find are the cheapo multitest kit for soil and a probe for over$300. I am concerned with my hardness test off the chart high, but just kind of holding back until I have Fe and K to dose and see if that starts bringing things into balance. /><br />
<br/>
<cite>Vlad Jovanovic said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/is-there-a-comprehensive-chart-that-lists-the-normal-range-for?xg_source=msg_com_forum&id=4778851%3ATopic%3A610370&page=1#4778851Comment610389"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Well, I'm certain my answer isn't going to be as linear as "the chart" that folks were looking for, but...</p>
<p>1). You are not necessarily in "lockout range". 140 to almost 200 can be fine (especially for heavy fruiting plants).</p>
<p>2). Calcium should make up between 35%-55% of the total cations (positively charged plant essential elements) floating around in solution in your system water.</p>
<p>3). All these cations (K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, etc...) must coexist in a ratio'd balance since they behave antagonistically toward one another. So if your K is near 300ppm and Mg near 40ppm blablabla...Ca at 140ppm is perfectly fine. BUT</p>
<p>4). I'm betting if you test your waters K content it will be <em>really</em> low (in the double digits instead of near or above 300ppm) in which case 140ppm of calcium present in solution can be excessively antagonistic towards K as well as Mg uptake and exacerbate lockout issues.</p>
<p></p>
<p>You had asked about:</p>
<p>Mg - near 30ppm</p>
<p>Iron - 0.75 to 2ppm (Iron is the ONE cation that isn't antagonistic towards the others, so too much won't cause lock out issues, but good chelated iron is expensive so being wasteful just hurts the pocketbook)...</p>
<p>Phosphorous and phosphates is kind of a tricky one in a system where plant essential elements are derived from organic waste materials. Most common phosphate checkers can only check for orthophosphates (reactive phosphate) and not organic phosphates (you would have to perform a hot acid digestion test for that)...but look for P in the 3-10ppm range (or higher)...</p>
<p></p>
<p>but again, it's more about balance. Nature provided for a wide parameter of upper and lower limit thresholds for most of these elements so as long as things are somewhat in balanced and you haven't hit a limiting factor, things work pretty well.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Cheers,</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <cite>Matt H. said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/is-there-a-comprehensive-chart-that-lists-the-normal-range-for?xg_source=activity#4778851Comment610479"><div><div class="xg_user_generated">Thanks Michael. 40-70 ppm calcium. That was a number I was looking for. I'm at about 140ppm. Do you think I'm in lockout range? I have some deficiency/lockout issues going on. Plants are growing but showing some crumpled leaf. How about iron, magnesium and phosphate levels?</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote> These discussions evolve on t…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-07-10:4778851:Comment:6103932015-07-10T18:25:00.944ZDon Colehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DonCole
<p>These discussions evolve on thier own so no worries. I am getting the info needed and learning a lot along the way. Congratulations on your sucess, I hope to be there someday myself. My grandparents were farmers back east and I live in Phoenix Az. I have always liked to grow veggies and such but the climate is brutal here for most crops and space is a premium. I stumbled upon aquaponics about 8 months ago and have become kind of obsessed. I have built a 20' by 30' greenhouse and getting it…</p>
<p>These discussions evolve on thier own so no worries. I am getting the info needed and learning a lot along the way. Congratulations on your sucess, I hope to be there someday myself. My grandparents were farmers back east and I live in Phoenix Az. I have always liked to grow veggies and such but the climate is brutal here for most crops and space is a premium. I stumbled upon aquaponics about 8 months ago and have become kind of obsessed. I have built a 20' by 30' greenhouse and getting it fit up now. Hopefully I'll have something green in it by October.</p>
<p>I would love to see your operation in person. I am VERY interested in the commercial application of aquaponics and you dont hear of too many large sucessful ones. So, congratulations again.</p> Don Cole said:
Michael,
I a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-07-10:4778851:Comment:6102752015-07-10T18:10:12.973ZMichael Brookshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/MichaelBrooks
<p><br></br> <br></br> <cite>Don Cole said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/is-there-a-comprehensive-chart-that-lists-the-normal-range-for?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A610487&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment610487"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Michael,</p>
<p>I agree with everythjing you said. That is the purpose for this discussion. I would like to create a list of the important basic variables that NEED to be monitored and thier…</p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p><br/> <br/> <cite>Don Cole said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/is-there-a-comprehensive-chart-that-lists-the-normal-range-for?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A610487&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment610487"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Michael,</p>
<p>I agree with everythjing you said. That is the purpose for this discussion. I would like to create a list of the important basic variables that NEED to be monitored and thier values nothing else.</p>
<p>If you have the base numbers correct there would be nothing to worry about except counting your lettuce.<a rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer;"><img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Don,</p>
<p> Lol. That's right buddy!</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote> Don I am actually trying to b…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-07-10:4778851:Comment:6105262015-07-10T17:58:15.932ZMichael Brookshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/MichaelBrooks
<p>Don I am actually trying to better understand supplementation myself. I want to share what I do know, but it would appear that Vlad is your "go to" guy.</p>
<p>I have a large commercial sized certified organic system (140K gallons) and I am currently trying to dictate the amount of supplementation of Iron and calcium that I should start with when supplementing. </p>
<p>The products that have to be used in the organic supplementation create a situation where the typical answer given to…</p>
<p>Don I am actually trying to better understand supplementation myself. I want to share what I do know, but it would appear that Vlad is your "go to" guy.</p>
<p>I have a large commercial sized certified organic system (140K gallons) and I am currently trying to dictate the amount of supplementation of Iron and calcium that I should start with when supplementing. </p>
<p>The products that have to be used in the organic supplementation create a situation where the typical answer given to someone who is using bicarbonates to supplement will greatly differ in comparison. </p>
<p>Being there are less certified organic facilities of commercial size in the country than you can count on one hand we have a difficult time getting strong answers or suggestions.</p>
<p>We just want to know 1st - what is a good starting point in terms of calcium/Iron to add to our system at first before measuring the effect (two 70K systems/How much per system). For example: Should we begine at 10-20% of supplement to total volume and work up from there? Are we in any real danger of adding too much very easily in a system of such volume? 2nd - Can we add it a little faster than is normally recommended in typical AP systems because of our volume?</p>
<p>If anyone has any general input or feelings about this please reply. Sorry don if I am taking up your topic. Ill move this to a new topic if you want me too. In fact it already is a topic on its own, but nobody replied in 3 days so I wanted to see if anyone from this thread had any input. I dont want you to feel like Im invading your discussion though so please tell me to move my ass if I am hahahaha.</p> Michael,
I agree with everyth…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-07-10:4778851:Comment:6104872015-07-10T17:44:04.277ZDon Colehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DonCole
<p>Michael,</p>
<p>I agree with everythjing you said. That is the purpose for this discussion. I would like to create a list of the important basic variables that NEED to be monitored and thier values nothing else.</p>
<p>If you have the base numbers correct there would be nothing to worry about except counting your lettuce.<a style="cursor: pointer;"><img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Michael,</p>
<p>I agree with everythjing you said. That is the purpose for this discussion. I would like to create a list of the important basic variables that NEED to be monitored and thier values nothing else.</p>
<p>If you have the base numbers correct there would be nothing to worry about except counting your lettuce.<a style="cursor: pointer;"><img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"/></a></p>
<p> </p>