Lowering Ammonia - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T20:03:01Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/lowering-ammonia?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A526984&feed=yes&xn_auth=noIf you would be so kind, plea…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-02:4778851:Comment:5329522013-12-02T23:31:25.790ZDaveTPilothttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DavidBerthelette
<p>If you would be so kind, please include the exact, verbatim quotes by Dr. Storey as well as your detailed explanations as to why he is so wrong. Some back up documentation regarding the "changed understanding of chemistry" would be especially helpful. </p>
<p>So far, I have found Nate's information to be very useful and I have been using his methods quite successfully. But if you have better and easier methods based on new science, I am sure this community would be very happy to learn from…</p>
<p>If you would be so kind, please include the exact, verbatim quotes by Dr. Storey as well as your detailed explanations as to why he is so wrong. Some back up documentation regarding the "changed understanding of chemistry" would be especially helpful. </p>
<p>So far, I have found Nate's information to be very useful and I have been using his methods quite successfully. But if you have better and easier methods based on new science, I am sure this community would be very happy to learn from you. </p>
<p>There is one thing that is troubling me though. Dr. Storey earned a Ph.D. in Agronomy in 2011. How old can his understanding about chemistry possibly be? </p>
<p>Anyway, looking forward to your informative blog. </p> He's also very wrong on a lot…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-02:4778851:Comment:5328552013-12-02T19:14:48.099ZSteve Rhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/steveraisner
He's also very wrong on a lot of things in more than one of his videos. He has an old understanding of chemistry that has since changed. I've read his stuff he's not wrong on a lot of thing buts its not practical or wouldn't work outside a lab setting or with hydrates is way more work and way easier to screw up than just properly buffering your water. Again when I get a minute I'll have a detailed blood post explaining why he's wrong about KH.
He's also very wrong on a lot of things in more than one of his videos. He has an old understanding of chemistry that has since changed. I've read his stuff he's not wrong on a lot of thing buts its not practical or wouldn't work outside a lab setting or with hydrates is way more work and way easier to screw up than just properly buffering your water. Again when I get a minute I'll have a detailed blood post explaining why he's wrong about KH. Wow that's a pretty bold stat…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-02:4778851:Comment:5327662013-12-02T18:27:42.313ZDaveTPilothttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DavidBerthelette
<p>Wow that's a pretty bold statement. I am not sure what you are saying Nate is wrong about. You are saying that if you properly maintain your KH that your PH will not suddenly drop. I don't remember Nate saying anything about KH so how can he be wrong in his statement? <br></br><br></br>The statement I read is that your PH can rapidly decrease once all of your carbonates are consumed by the nitrification process. I have just experienced that very thing. I had a constant PH of 7.6 for several weeks.…</p>
<p>Wow that's a pretty bold statement. I am not sure what you are saying Nate is wrong about. You are saying that if you properly maintain your KH that your PH will not suddenly drop. I don't remember Nate saying anything about KH so how can he be wrong in his statement? <br/><br/>The statement I read is that your PH can rapidly decrease once all of your carbonates are consumed by the nitrification process. I have just experienced that very thing. I had a constant PH of 7.6 for several weeks. In 5 days, the PH dropped from 7.6 to 6.0 without adding anything to the system. Thankfully, my fish didn't flinch and my plants absolutely loved it! The growth has been exponential.</p>
<p>I am not speaking of KH and not denying that you are correct about KH but the statement Nate made is valid. I think it is fair to say that Dr. Nate Storey, Ph.D also has a bit of experience from which he speaks. <br/><br/> </p> If you properly buffer your K…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-02:4778851:Comment:5328492013-12-02T17:52:31.551ZSteve Rhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/steveraisner
<p>If you properly buffer your KH your ph will stabilize just fine. Alkalinity like iron or any thing else in your system has to be maintained. Nate is wrong PH will not suddenly and randomly drop if you properly maintain your KH. As some one who's kept everything from 4,000 gallon reef tanks to green houses full of koi to betta bowls and more i can speak from experience that he is flat out wrong on that. Your PH will fly around if you have no alkalinity yes but it will do the same thing with…</p>
<p>If you properly buffer your KH your ph will stabilize just fine. Alkalinity like iron or any thing else in your system has to be maintained. Nate is wrong PH will not suddenly and randomly drop if you properly maintain your KH. As some one who's kept everything from 4,000 gallon reef tanks to green houses full of koi to betta bowls and more i can speak from experience that he is flat out wrong on that. Your PH will fly around if you have no alkalinity yes but it will do the same thing with out calcium or magnesium as well its just a basic party of water chemistry that must be maintained and tested regularly. I'm still working on my informative blog post about all of this with the holidays and such but I will put the record strait on all of this shortly.</p> I just watched your video htt…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-02:4778851:Comment:5330182013-12-02T17:37:12.153ZDaveTPilothttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DavidBerthelette
<p>I just watched your video <a href="http://youtu.be/zP1rUMyklyc" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/zP1rUMyklyc</a> that answered all these questions. Thank you!<br></br> <br></br> <cite>David Berthelette said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/lowering-ammonia?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A528265#4778851Comment532758"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p><br></br> <br></br> <cite>Nate Storey said:…</cite></p>
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<p>I just watched your video <a href="http://youtu.be/zP1rUMyklyc" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/zP1rUMyklyc</a> that answered all these questions. Thank you!<br/> <br/> <cite>David Berthelette said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/lowering-ammonia?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A528265#4778851Comment532758"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p><br/> <br/> <cite>Nate Storey said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/lowering-ammonia?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A528265#4778851Comment528265"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Those crashes typically occur when your nitrification cycle finally consumes the residual carbonates in your system. As soon as those carbonates are consumed, the system pH will drop suddenly and unexpectedly. Believe it or not, it's actually a wonderful place to be in. From here on out, assuming you don't slow down the amount of nitrogen entering the system, your pH should stabilize at a lower pH range- you'll have to correct a couple times a week with KOH or hydrated lime (ideally both) to maintain a range that's ideal for your plants (I recommend 6.2-6.8 or so).</p>
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<p>Hi Nate,</p>
<p>There seems to be a lot of ways to get hydrated lime, including masonry hydrated lime at The Home Depot. Is that acceptable or is there a better source? I found some lime for lawns at a hardware store as well. The stats are: </p>
<p>Component Percent<br/>Calcium Carbonate + 2% Lignosulfonate 98.5<br/>Anionic Polyacrylamide Emulsion 1<br/>Anionic Linear Partially Water-Soluable<br/>Polyacrylamide 0.5</p>
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<p>Is that an acceptable product? Thank you for all of your help!</p>
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</blockquote> Nate Storey said:
Those cra…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-02:4778851:Comment:5327582013-12-02T15:10:08.568ZDaveTPilothttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DavidBerthelette
<p><br></br> <br></br> <cite>Nate Storey said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/lowering-ammonia?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A528265#4778851Comment528265"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Those crashes typically occur when your nitrification cycle finally consumes the residual carbonates in your system. As soon as those carbonates are consumed, the system pH will drop suddenly and unexpectedly. Believe it or not, it's actually a wonderful place to be…</p>
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<p><br/> <br/> <cite>Nate Storey said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/lowering-ammonia?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A528265#4778851Comment528265"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Those crashes typically occur when your nitrification cycle finally consumes the residual carbonates in your system. As soon as those carbonates are consumed, the system pH will drop suddenly and unexpectedly. Believe it or not, it's actually a wonderful place to be in. From here on out, assuming you don't slow down the amount of nitrogen entering the system, your pH should stabilize at a lower pH range- you'll have to correct a couple times a week with KOH or hydrated lime (ideally both) to maintain a range that's ideal for your plants (I recommend 6.2-6.8 or so).</p>
<p></p>
<p>Hi Nate,</p>
<p>There seems to be a lot of ways to get hydrated lime, including masonry hydrated lime at The Home Depot. Is that acceptable or is there a better source? I found some lime for lawns at a hardware store as well. The stats are: </p>
<p>Component Percent<br/>Calcium Carbonate + 2% Lignosulfonate 98.5<br/>Anionic Polyacrylamide Emulsion 1<br/>Anionic Linear Partially Water-Soluable<br/>Polyacrylamide 0.5</p>
<p></p>
<p>Is that an acceptable product? Thank you for all of your help!</p>
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</blockquote> Thank-you everyone for your a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-11-09:4778851:Comment:5286442013-11-09T01:57:51.584ZSuzanne Hayeshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/SuzanneHayes
<p>Thank-you everyone for your answers and insight. Normally I can am a patient person, but this is just so exciting it is hard to wait.</p>
<p></p>
<p>My current levels are</p>
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<p>pH6.6</p>
<p>Ammonia had dropped to 0.25</p>
<p>Nitrites 0</p>
<p>Nitrates 80-160 (the color is somewhere in between on the chart)</p>
<p>I had stopped added ammonia for about 10 days when my levels went over 8ppm (and I had only been adding 1/2 tsp every other day)</p>
<p>With the pH drop and adding the…</p>
<p>Thank-you everyone for your answers and insight. Normally I can am a patient person, but this is just so exciting it is hard to wait.</p>
<p></p>
<p>My current levels are</p>
<p></p>
<p>pH6.6</p>
<p>Ammonia had dropped to 0.25</p>
<p>Nitrites 0</p>
<p>Nitrates 80-160 (the color is somewhere in between on the chart)</p>
<p>I had stopped added ammonia for about 10 days when my levels went over 8ppm (and I had only been adding 1/2 tsp every other day)</p>
<p>With the pH drop and adding the Maxicrop plus Iron my nitrite levels dropped from 5ppm to 0 although my Nitrates are still high. I also started noticing yellowing (and browning) of the leaves in some of my plants which I had attributed to a lack of iron but it is the older leaves and the outer edges not the new leaves so I am wondering if it is the 0 on the nitrites.</p>
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<p>Since starting to add the ammonia again levels go from 1ppm to 0.25 within 24 hours. I am so close now I keep wanting to jump the gun and get some fish<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772252548?profile=original"><img width="721" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772252548?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"/></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772254167?profile=original"><img width="721" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772254167?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"/></a></p>
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<p>The above shot is the cucumber I started from seed in the grow bed on 10/13 and the lower shot is a late kale from my garden I transplanted after giving it a good washing (also started from seed in my garden)</p>
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<p></p> Nate, I'm glad to know you're…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-11-08:4778851:Comment:5282792013-11-08T00:01:13.445ZRobert Jhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobertAJohnson
<p>Nate, I'm glad to know you're alive. I've referred dozens of folks to your vids. I didn't realize until lately that I've become a nate story profit. really glad you chimed in. But I think I'm moving on as you're always too busy to anser basic questions.</p>
<p>Nate, I'm glad to know you're alive. I've referred dozens of folks to your vids. I didn't realize until lately that I've become a nate story profit. really glad you chimed in. But I think I'm moving on as you're always too busy to anser basic questions.</p> Those crashes typically occur…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-11-07:4778851:Comment:5282652013-11-07T19:37:47.854ZNate Storeyhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/NateStorey
<p>Those crashes typically occur when your nitrification cycle finally consumes the residual carbonates in your system. As soon as those carbonates are consumed, the system pH will drop suddenly and unexpectedly. Believe it or not, it's actually a wonderful place to be in. From here on out, assuming you don't slow down the amount of nitrogen entering the system, your pH should stabilize at a lower pH range- you'll have to correct a couple times a week with KOH or hydrated lime (ideally both)…</p>
<p>Those crashes typically occur when your nitrification cycle finally consumes the residual carbonates in your system. As soon as those carbonates are consumed, the system pH will drop suddenly and unexpectedly. Believe it or not, it's actually a wonderful place to be in. From here on out, assuming you don't slow down the amount of nitrogen entering the system, your pH should stabilize at a lower pH range- you'll have to correct a couple times a week with KOH or hydrated lime (ideally both) to maintain a range that's ideal for your plants (I recommend 6.2-6.8 or so).</p> What else might cause a drop…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-11-07:4778851:Comment:5281552013-11-07T04:08:16.771ZSuzanne Hayeshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/SuzanneHayes
<p>What else might cause a drop from 7.0 to 6.4 in about 2 hours?</p>
<p>I want to make sure that doesn't ever happen again</p>
<p>What else might cause a drop from 7.0 to 6.4 in about 2 hours?</p>
<p>I want to make sure that doesn't ever happen again</p>