Ph is too high!

[Rose]

I finally bought a test kit after three weeks of setting up my system. all the plants are green and seem healthy but they won't grow. except for my tomato plant which was turning yellow and had to be taken out of the system. it's doing Much better in dirt.  Everything i tested for came back at 0 except for my PH which is at 8.2. I'm new to this, I know the ammonia should be at 0 and my PH somewhere around 7, as for the nitrate and nitrite i have no clue. also i've been battling with algae so i don't know if the algae is the problem or would the PH be the reason my plants aren't growing? 

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Rose, Is it a brand new system? Does it have fish? Have you bought Sylvia's book?

[Rose]

I haven't heard of sylvia's book and yes, it's a new system with fish.

[steve]

Seems kinda common for a new system, I wouldn't worry too much yet. Is there a way you can shade your fish tank, and wet areas? Algae does seem to raise the PH. Are the fish small yet? How many fish lbs. per sq. ft approx.? Nice pic. by the way

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

For sure go out and  buy it, she started this website and it will get you up to speed in no time. It is called "Aquaponic Gardening" by Sylvia Berstein http://www.theaquaponicstore.com/Aquaponic-Gardening-A-Step-by-Step...

[Rose]

I planted 6 broccoli plants in the system and 6 in dirt, all the same size. the ones in the dirt are HUGE! that's mostly why i worried. I have no idea how many fish pounds. i have 6 small comet gold fish, 1 dojo loach, and 6 small minnows in a 55 gallon tank. also is it ok for the nitrates and nitrite to be at 0? lol thanks, i was trying to show my family my scared face while swimming with sting rays =D

steve said:

Seems kinda common for a new system, I wouldn't worry too much yet. Is there a way you can shade your fish tank, and wet areas? Algae does seem to raise the PH. Are the fish small yet? How many fish lbs. per sq. ft approx.? Nice pic. by the way

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Also if your Ammonia is 0 don't panic - your fish are safe and that is the most important thing 3 weeks in. Some plants won't thrive at that PH but you probably don't want to mess with it until you have a bit more experience and understanding of the biological and chemical processes in aquaponics. As your system matures the PH will come down and there will be more nutrients available to the plants. If it doesn't there are things you can do, but it is probably too soon to try them.

[Rose]

so i should just let it be for a while? Btw thanks for telling me about the book i'll look into it as soon as possible = )

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Yes it is perfectly ok for those to be a zero. What you want to test for daily in Nitrites. They will kill fish as will too much ammonia but it sounds like with that number of fish you will be fine. If it gets higher than .5-1 you may need to change out water. As for Nitrates - this is what plants need and until bacteria are creating them your plant growth will be lackluster.

[Rose]

Thank you so much for all the help and info! =D

[steve]

Rose, Is your fish tank in the sun? There are rules of thumb on this site. On home page link under start here "Aquaponics rules of thumb" Sorry do not know how to add the link. For fish numbers and ratios. Max 1 lbs. fish for 5 gal. water. So maybe you have 1lb.?? in 55 gallons water. OK to start light on the fish, they just might not be producing the fertilizer to make plants grow like crazy. I started with lettuce just to get something growing to use Nitrates. I'm new to AP also.

[Rose]

It used to be in the sun. i haven't moved it but i did put the grow bed over it to shade it but now cleaning the tank is becoming almost impossible. i have a small yard (lol more like a sidewalk) next to my apartment of 13ft by 3ft and there is no shade anywhere all morning. I'm trying to plant around the tank to shade it some more but i would like to be able to see my fish. 

[steve]

The sun has changed its position now and I am getting light hitting my tank again. I need to cover it up as my PH has been raising again. Think its from the algae.