pH Issue - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T08:29:58Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/ph-issue?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A498072&groupId=4778851%3AGroup%3A28135&feed=yes&xn_auth=noWhen you say the filtered wat…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-12:4778851:Comment:5036662013-08-12T01:33:15.227ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>When you say the filtered water is right at 7.0. What kind of filter? And did you let the filtered water sit out for a period of time before testing the pH?</p>
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<p>I agree that the Hydrochloric acid (Muriatic Acid) is a good choice for initial system pH adjustment. The left over chloride is actually a good thing for a new system that might experience a nitrite spike when you get fish since the chloride ion can help protect fish a little bit from the nitrite…</p>
<p>When you say the filtered water is right at 7.0. What kind of filter? And did you let the filtered water sit out for a period of time before testing the pH?</p>
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<p>I agree that the Hydrochloric acid (Muriatic Acid) is a good choice for initial system pH adjustment. The left over chloride is actually a good thing for a new system that might experience a nitrite spike when you get fish since the chloride ion can help protect fish a little bit from the nitrite toxicity.</p>
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<p>Another option for pH adjustment might be to use phosphoric acid. This might be a good choice if one is going to be fishless cycling using pure ammonia and seaweed extract to get the system started up since the pure ammonia and seaweed extract don't provide phosphorus. There are some hydroponic pH down products that are phosphoric acid.</p> I retested my water in both m…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-12:4778851:Comment:5038012013-08-12T00:07:11.119ZRoger Yerdonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RogerYerdon
<p>I retested my water in both my aquaponics system and from the filter. Aquaponics is still at least 8.8 and filtered water is right at 7.0. Any suggestions for pH down? I was going to use earth juice pH down on the advice of one of my friends and fellow aquaponic grower.</p>
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<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Roger</p>
<p>I retested my water in both my aquaponics system and from the filter. Aquaponics is still at least 8.8 and filtered water is right at 7.0. Any suggestions for pH down? I was going to use earth juice pH down on the advice of one of my friends and fellow aquaponic grower.</p>
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<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Roger</p> Have you tested a sample of y…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-08-01:4778851:Comment:4997162013-08-01T00:51:43.437ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>Have you tested a sample of your tap water after letting it sit out?</p>
<p>Have you tried running the API pH tests again to see if the odd results happened again? I've never had them give such conflicting readings and I've had systems that ran right at about 7.6 for ages so I often ran both tests.</p>
<p>extra rinsing of the test tubes with sample water (three times) before running the tests again might help if perhaps you used one of them to test something else that might have had a…</p>
<p>Have you tested a sample of your tap water after letting it sit out?</p>
<p>Have you tried running the API pH tests again to see if the odd results happened again? I've never had them give such conflicting readings and I've had systems that ran right at about 7.6 for ages so I often ran both tests.</p>
<p>extra rinsing of the test tubes with sample water (three times) before running the tests again might help if perhaps you used one of them to test something else that might have had a drastically different pH.</p> I sent the picture into API a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-07-29:4778851:Comment:4988482013-07-29T20:30:05.269ZRoger Yerdonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RogerYerdon
<p>I sent the picture into API and they are still working on it. I will update everyone when they reply. I guess my fish are still surviving, but my plants are a bit sad looking. Hopefully I can get this figured out. Thanks again for everyones input and time!</p>
<p>I sent the picture into API and they are still working on it. I will update everyone when they reply. I guess my fish are still surviving, but my plants are a bit sad looking. Hopefully I can get this figured out. Thanks again for everyones input and time!</p> Hi Bob,
Anything that would m…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-07-28:4778851:Comment:4985182013-07-28T13:56:23.097ZTradewindhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/GaryOdom
<p>Hi Bob,</p>
<p>Anything that would make the colors easier to match is a winner for me. I mentioned earlier that I had picked up a small kit just to test for chlorine and chloramine; it also included a Ph test as well. This one is very similar to the one I bought. It is very easy to use and the colors match perfectly. When it comes time, I think I will replace my current kit when ones made like this one. In this picture the test has been completed and the two center cylinders are showing…</p>
<p>Hi Bob,</p>
<p>Anything that would make the colors easier to match is a winner for me. I mentioned earlier that I had picked up a small kit just to test for chlorine and chloramine; it also included a Ph test as well. This one is very similar to the one I bought. It is very easy to use and the colors match perfectly. When it comes time, I think I will replace my current kit when ones made like this one. In this picture the test has been completed and the two center cylinders are showing the results the sides are the references. It is very easy to read and the results are the same as my other test kit.</p>
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<p><a href="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4647559430866286&pid=1.7&w=269&h=185&c=7&rs=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4647559430866286&pid=1.7&w=269&h=185&c=7&rs=1" class="align-left"/></a></p>
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<p><cite>Bob Campbell said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/ph-issue?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A498252&xg_source=msg_com_gr_forum#4778851Comment498252"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>@Roger - API makes a 'Wide Range' pH test kit. Sometimes marketed under different names. I like it much more than the one you are using because the colors are very easy to read/<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772249529?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772249529?profile=original" width="275"/></a></p>
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</blockquote> @Roger - API makes a 'Wide Ra…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-07-28:4778851:Comment:4982522013-07-28T06:28:28.767ZBob Campbellhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BobCampbell
<p>@Roger - API makes a 'Wide Range' pH test kit. Sometimes marketed under different names. I like it much more than the one you are using because the colors are very easy to read/<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772249529?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772249529?profile=original" width="275"/></a></p>
<p>@Roger - API makes a 'Wide Range' pH test kit. Sometimes marketed under different names. I like it much more than the one you are using because the colors are very easy to read/<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772249529?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772249529?profile=original" width="275"/></a></p> Roger, I replied to Vlad wit…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-07-28:4778851:Comment:4984022013-07-28T04:47:27.966ZTradewindhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/GaryOdom
<p>Roger, I replied to Vlad with this same comment, I am not sure but I think I have the answer to those PH numbers. When the regular PH shows 7.6 that is the limit of what it can go too, it might be 8 or 9 or whatever but it is definitely not less than 7.6 The PH high picks it up from there showing you a reading of what looks like to me 8.2. Like I have said before those colors just do not match up very well. In any case it seems to make sense.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Roger Yerdon…</cite></p>
<p>Roger, I replied to Vlad with this same comment, I am not sure but I think I have the answer to those PH numbers. When the regular PH shows 7.6 that is the limit of what it can go too, it might be 8 or 9 or whatever but it is definitely not less than 7.6 The PH high picks it up from there showing you a reading of what looks like to me 8.2. Like I have said before those colors just do not match up very well. In any case it seems to make sense.<br/> <br/> <cite>Roger Yerdon said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/ph-issue?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A498072&xg_source=msg_com_gr_forum#4778851Comment498304"><div><div class="xg_user_generated">I washed all the rocks before they made it to the grow bed and then ran the system to wash them some more. I will test the water after I let it set out a while. I am confused why one pH test shows a normal range and the other shows over 8.8.<br/> <br/> Roger</div>
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</blockquote> Hmm...I've never used the API…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-07-27:4778851:Comment:4980722013-07-27T20:14:15.370ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
<p>Hmm...I've never used the API kit...so someone else will have to chime in on that front. I don't really know if their "high/low" kit is suppose to take into account a diurnal swing, or what the deal is there? Try buying a 'regular' pH test kit at the local pet store and see what happens...<img src="http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad93/ucsycybersmiley/106.gif"></img></p>
<p>@Tradewind...it just seemed that way, sorry. Hopefully you should be done cycling in the next few days :)<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Roger Yerdon said:…</cite></p>
<p>Hmm...I've never used the API kit...so someone else will have to chime in on that front. I don't really know if their "high/low" kit is suppose to take into account a diurnal swing, or what the deal is there? Try buying a 'regular' pH test kit at the local pet store and see what happens...<img src="http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad93/ucsycybersmiley/106.gif"/></p>
<p>@Tradewind...it just seemed that way, sorry. Hopefully you should be done cycling in the next few days :)<br/> <br/> <cite>Roger Yerdon said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/ph-issue?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&xg_source=activity#4778851Comment498304"><div><div class="xg_user_generated">I washed all the rocks before they made it to the grow bed and then ran the system to wash them some more. I will test the water after I let it set out a while. I am confused why one pH test shows a normal range and the other shows over 8.8.<br/> <br/> Roger</div>
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</blockquote> I washed all the rocks before…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-07-27:4778851:Comment:4983042013-07-27T16:33:48.387ZRoger Yerdonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RogerYerdon
I washed all the rocks before they made it to the grow bed and then ran the system to wash them some more. I will test the water after I let it set out a while. I am confused why one pH test shows a normal range and the other shows over 8.8.<br />
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Roger
I washed all the rocks before they made it to the grow bed and then ran the system to wash them some more. I will test the water after I let it set out a while. I am confused why one pH test shows a normal range and the other shows over 8.8.<br />
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Roger Roger,
Frankly, it has alway…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-07-27:4778851:Comment:4981602013-07-27T16:07:41.510ZTradewindhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/GaryOdom
<p>Roger,</p>
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<p>Frankly, it has always been a bit difficult for me to match the colors up. It seems as though the colors on the chart are somewhat faded and off color. I did purchase another test kit for chlorine, chloramines, and PH. It is a clear plastic vessel with the colors on the vessel directly beside the test chamber. The colors match perfectly when a test is done. I wish the API kit worked the same way. I recently viewed a video from Nate Storey and he suggested that…</p>
<p>Roger,</p>
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<p>Frankly, it has always been a bit difficult for me to match the colors up. It seems as though the colors on the chart are somewhat faded and off color. I did purchase another test kit for chlorine, chloramines, and PH. It is a clear plastic vessel with the colors on the vessel directly beside the test chamber. The colors match perfectly when a test is done. I wish the API kit worked the same way. I recently viewed a video from Nate Storey and he suggested that we all run our PH too high. He is very successful in his field so I tend to yield to his thinking. He also points out the problems with carbonates and how they can take away your control of the system. I was wondering, did you wash your lava rock? I put mine through some very intense washing before I added it to the bed and it was amazing how much crude I got out of it. But then like Vlad says it depends on where it comes from. It did state on my bags that it was free of heavy metals, etc. but that doesn't cover all the bases. In any case, it does not appear to be driving my PH higher since if left un-tinkered with will gravitate towards 6.8. If you have another water source, you might want to try changing out some of the water out as it really could be your water. You may need to only change out a portion in order to achieve good results.<br/> <br/> <cite>Roger Yerdon said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/ph-issue?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A498206&xg_source=msg_com_gr_forum#4778851Comment498206"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>So here is another question. This has not happened to me before. I retested my water after placing the lava rocks, grow stones, and food into vinegar to see if they would bubble. Nothing bubbled. I then decided to test the pH again with a friend who regurally does this to make sure I was not doing something wrong. Below is my result. Typically the low pH is much darker than the 7.6 pH on the low test and darker than the 8.8 pH on the high test. What one do I go with?</p>
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<p>Thanks again for all the feedback!</p>
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<p>Roger<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772249611?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2772249611?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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