numbers do not make sense - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T19:35:03Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/numbers-do-not-make-sense?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A526266&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi Moe,
These bacteria exist…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-01-05:4778851:Comment:5395522014-01-05T17:08:11.271ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
<p>Hi Moe,</p>
<p>These bacteria exist in the atmosphere, all around us. They require a source of ammonia and nitrite as a their food. The best we can do to encourage them to grow, is by providing the following optimal conditions. For the ammonia converting bacteria :</p>
<p>1. Temperatures between 75 F - 85 F</p>
<p>2. PH 7.8 to 8</p>
<p>3. High levels of Dissolved Oxygen.</p>
<p>4. A presence of Phosphates.</p>
<p>5. Cycle with mineral containing water. Avoid RO water.</p>
<p>6. Water must…</p>
<p>Hi Moe,</p>
<p>These bacteria exist in the atmosphere, all around us. They require a source of ammonia and nitrite as a their food. The best we can do to encourage them to grow, is by providing the following optimal conditions. For the ammonia converting bacteria :</p>
<p>1. Temperatures between 75 F - 85 F</p>
<p>2. PH 7.8 to 8</p>
<p>3. High levels of Dissolved Oxygen.</p>
<p>4. A presence of Phosphates.</p>
<p>5. Cycle with mineral containing water. Avoid RO water.</p>
<p>6. Water must not contain chlorine/chloramines.</p>
<p>7. Natural lighting is ok but direct sunlight not. No Ultra Violet light.</p>
<p>8. Ammonia levels 2ppm - 4ppm.</p> Thank you.
How do we encourag…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-01-05:4778851:Comment:5393842014-01-05T11:30:23.672ZMoehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Moe
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>How do we encourage the "ammonia bacteria" to increase?<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Harold Sukhbir said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/numbers-do-not-make-sense?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A526329&page=3#4778851Comment538875"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Hi Moe,</p>
<p>There are two specific types of nitrifying bacteria which does the work of converting nitrogen in our AP. The first bacteria is responsible for converting…</p>
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<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>How do we encourage the "ammonia bacteria" to increase?<br/> <br/> <cite>Harold Sukhbir said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/numbers-do-not-make-sense?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A526329&page=3#4778851Comment538875"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Hi Moe,</p>
<p>There are two specific types of nitrifying bacteria which does the work of converting nitrogen in our AP. The first bacteria is responsible for converting ammonia to nitrite. The second one converts nitrite to nitrate. So if you have a large population of nitrite converting bacteria and a smaller population of ammonia converting bacteria, your test will show, a close to or a zero nitrite/nitrate reading, and a noticeable reading for ammonia. Because of a larger amount of "nitrite bacteria" as soon as the ammonia converts to nitrite it will quickly change it to nitrate and plants will remove that just as speedily. Because of a smaller amount of "ammonia bacteria" conversion will be slower here and so we register ammonia in the system for a longer time. All this seems to be the logical line of thought for what may be happening with your AP.</p>
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</blockquote> Hi Moe,
There are two specifi…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2014-01-01:4778851:Comment:5388752014-01-01T04:59:10.661ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
<p>Hi Moe,</p>
<p>There are two specific types of nitrifying bacteria which does the work of converting nitrogen in our AP. The first bacteria is responsible for converting ammonia to nitrite. The second one converts nitrite to nitrate. So if you have a large population of nitrite converting bacteria and a smaller population of ammonia converting bacteria, your test will show, a close to or a zero nitrite/nitrate reading, and a noticeable reading for ammonia. Because of a larger amount of…</p>
<p>Hi Moe,</p>
<p>There are two specific types of nitrifying bacteria which does the work of converting nitrogen in our AP. The first bacteria is responsible for converting ammonia to nitrite. The second one converts nitrite to nitrate. So if you have a large population of nitrite converting bacteria and a smaller population of ammonia converting bacteria, your test will show, a close to or a zero nitrite/nitrate reading, and a noticeable reading for ammonia. Because of a larger amount of "nitrite bacteria" as soon as the ammonia converts to nitrite it will quickly change it to nitrate and plants will remove that just as speedily. Because of a smaller amount of "ammonia bacteria" conversion will be slower here and so we register ammonia in the system for a longer time. All this seems to be the logical line of thought for what may be happening with your AP.</p> Hi Harold,
As you already kn…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-31:4778851:Comment:5389092013-12-31T10:02:40.218ZMoehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Moe
<p><br></br> Hi Harold,</p>
<p>As you already know I am new to this. I like to know that you mean by "ammonia bacteria". So far, I am familiar with terms such as nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, and ammonium.</p>
<p>Please educate me, I searched it with no success.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p><br></br> <cite>Harold Sukhbir said:…</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/numbers-do-not-make-sense?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A526329&page=3#4778851Comment538496"></blockquote>
<p><br/> Hi Harold,</p>
<p>As you already know I am new to this. I like to know that you mean by "ammonia bacteria". So far, I am familiar with terms such as nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, and ammonium.</p>
<p>Please educate me, I searched it with no success.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p><br/> <cite>Harold Sukhbir said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/numbers-do-not-make-sense?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A526329&page=3#4778851Comment538496"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Hi Moe,</p>
<p>Looks like your ammonia bacteria has finally caught up to the nitrite bacteria. You should be ok with your test form now on. Keep a check on the test and report any new developments if they may happen<a style="cursor: pointer;" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Smile.gif"/></a></p>
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</blockquote> Hi Moe,
Looks like your ammon…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-30:4778851:Comment:5384962013-12-30T08:16:22.026ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
<p>Hi Moe,</p>
<p>Looks like your ammonia bacteria has finally caught up to the nitrite bacteria. You should be ok with your test form now on. Keep a check on the test and report any new developments if they may happen<a style="cursor: pointer;"><img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Smile.gif"/></a></p>
<p>Hi Moe,</p>
<p>Looks like your ammonia bacteria has finally caught up to the nitrite bacteria. You should be ok with your test form now on. Keep a check on the test and report any new developments if they may happen<a style="cursor: pointer;"><img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Smile.gif"/></a></p> I have checked the nitrite an…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-30:4778851:Comment:5385802013-12-30T06:01:34.282ZMoehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Moe
<p>I have checked the nitrite and nitrate several times. They are consistently at zero. However, the amonia decline from 4 to zero in 10 days or so. I went out and bought 10 small goldfish. I dropped them in the fish tank last night. I will see how they are doing.</p>
<p>The only reasons that may cause me not to get any nitrate reading is: bad test kit, which I eliminated by buying another test kit. The media I am using is bad which I will try to change to small rocks next year and the…</p>
<p>I have checked the nitrite and nitrate several times. They are consistently at zero. However, the amonia decline from 4 to zero in 10 days or so. I went out and bought 10 small goldfish. I dropped them in the fish tank last night. I will see how they are doing.</p>
<p>The only reasons that may cause me not to get any nitrate reading is: bad test kit, which I eliminated by buying another test kit. The media I am using is bad which I will try to change to small rocks next year and the barrels I am using which I will change. The water is filtered through a soil filter and is 7PH out of the facuet. I do not know what else could be causing this. The plans I have in the media is doing good! I cut lettuce from it and make salad every day. I have some kale plants that are growing normally-slowly. Any idea "where does the amonia go" ?</p> different kinds of Bactria gr…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-16:4778851:Comment:5368992013-12-16T17:27:29.596ZSteve Rhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/steveraisner
<p>different kinds of Bactria grow at different temps i think vlad posted recently a chart of the species and there temperatures but i can't seem to find it now. <br></br> <br></br> <cite>Moe said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/numbers-do-not-make-sense?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A536903&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment536596"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I add about 250 drops if it was 1 ppm. the following day it is 2-4, I added…</p>
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<p>different kinds of Bactria grow at different temps i think vlad posted recently a chart of the species and there temperatures but i can't seem to find it now. <br/> <br/> <cite>Moe said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/numbers-do-not-make-sense?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A536903&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment536596"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I add about 250 drops if it was 1 ppm. the following day it is 2-4, I added 250.. may be I should cut this in half. As a beginner, I did not think that too much amonia would hurt. however, when it got to be 8ppm, I stopped for couple of days till it came down. with all that the Nitrite is always zero, not even the next level.</p>
<p>Someone suggested that the bacteria will grow in PH around 8. Since mine is 6, I added some PH-UP. Just a tiny bit. I also installed a heater in the water since in the morning where I live, the water is around 60F. The heater is proving to be useless as it is undersized. The water may be heat up to 70F during the day, but for next couple of weeks we are expecting very cold weahter.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
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</blockquote> If your ammonia is always dro…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-16:4778851:Comment:5369032013-12-16T14:05:03.743ZAlex Veidelhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AlexVeidel
<p>If your ammonia is always dropping to zero and you aren't seeing any nitrites or nitrates, it's possible that you are cycled, but your plants are just eating up the excess. Since ammonia is the waste product you are trying to get the nitrifying bacteria to deal with, and as long as you aren't seeing any nitrate either, then you shouldn't have to worry about. Since there is no waste product in your system, it would seem reasonable to go ahead and add the fish. My personal opinion, anyway.…</p>
<p>If your ammonia is always dropping to zero and you aren't seeing any nitrites or nitrates, it's possible that you are cycled, but your plants are just eating up the excess. Since ammonia is the waste product you are trying to get the nitrifying bacteria to deal with, and as long as you aren't seeing any nitrate either, then you shouldn't have to worry about. Since there is no waste product in your system, it would seem reasonable to go ahead and add the fish. My personal opinion, anyway. Even if your system isn't cycled for some reason, you can cycle with fish as well as without, so it really doesn't matter. Just watch your water levels closely for the next few weeks after you add the fish. And yes, bacteria do prefer a pH of 8ish. By the time your pH is down to 6, they are growing and reproducing at 10% efficiency.</p>
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<p>So, was there a period of time where you were unable to test your water that you might have missed the nitrite/nitrate spikes? And have you always had plants in the system?</p> I add about 250 drops if it w…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-16:4778851:Comment:5365962013-12-16T10:25:23.204ZMoehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Moe
<p>I add about 250 drops if it was 1 ppm. the following day it is 2-4, I added 250.. may be I should cut this in half. As a beginner, I did not think that too much amonia would hurt. however, when it got to be 8ppm, I stopped for couple of days till it came down. with all that the Nitrite is always zero, not even the next level.</p>
<p>Someone suggested that the bacteria will grow in PH around 8. Since mine is 6, I added some PH-UP. Just a tiny bit. I also installed a heater in the water…</p>
<p>I add about 250 drops if it was 1 ppm. the following day it is 2-4, I added 250.. may be I should cut this in half. As a beginner, I did not think that too much amonia would hurt. however, when it got to be 8ppm, I stopped for couple of days till it came down. with all that the Nitrite is always zero, not even the next level.</p>
<p>Someone suggested that the bacteria will grow in PH around 8. Since mine is 6, I added some PH-UP. Just a tiny bit. I also installed a heater in the water since in the morning where I live, the water is around 60F. The heater is proving to be useless as it is undersized. The water may be heat up to 70F during the day, but for next couple of weeks we are expecting very cold weahter.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p> </p> Moe, how much ammonia are you…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-12-16:4778851:Comment:5367522013-12-16T00:39:04.712ZAlex Veidelhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AlexVeidel
<p>Moe, how much ammonia are you adding every day? When you are cycling, you should bring your levels to 2-4ppm and then record the amount of ammonia that took. Once nitrite appears, then add half that amount ever day until you see nitrate. When ammonia and nitrite both drop to zero and you have nitrates, then you are finished and ready to add fish. Your plants may be eating up the nitrate as well if you have seen it in the past, but don't see it now.</p>
<p>Moe, how much ammonia are you adding every day? When you are cycling, you should bring your levels to 2-4ppm and then record the amount of ammonia that took. Once nitrite appears, then add half that amount ever day until you see nitrate. When ammonia and nitrite both drop to zero and you have nitrates, then you are finished and ready to add fish. Your plants may be eating up the nitrate as well if you have seen it in the past, but don't see it now.</p>