Comment

Comment by Holly Curtis on February 17, 2012 at 11:20am

Since I missed Sheri's class, who I have come to respect and appreciate very much, I am thinking about going to the one next week at the garden pool.  I have long wanted to tour their facility.  Here's a link to the class.  Any thing I should particularly watch out for: http://www.gardenpool.info/events/52613872/

Comment by John Malone on February 17, 2012 at 11:19am

Are readings dependent on the time of day?

I think I read somewhere that you need to do your tests at the same time of day each time to eliminate variations.

Has anyone come across this situation?

Comment by Holly Curtis on February 17, 2012 at 11:12am

6.5 - 6.8 vs 7.3   I guess they aren't too far apart.  It is interesting how things vary.  Sometimes we expect a one right answer and really, things vary.  I think I needed reminded of that today.  So, I didn't test my water last night.  Will work on that tonight or tomorrow and let you know.  I also will vacuum up some poopies and scrub down some algae.  (Notice: public commitment to help with accountability)  And I still want some pleco's.

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on February 17, 2012 at 11:10am

You know, I had initially learned that it should be in the low 7's for breeding, but ours didn't begin breeding until we lowered the PH to below 7, which happens to be when the plants became really happy, too. So I keep ours below 7 and it works very well. At higher PH the fish were doing very well, but the plants were not. Like you said, they're very adaptable.

Along similar lines, I had learned that the male is the primary nest builder. But with our colony, the primary nest builders are the females, and the males just help out a little. It's certainly a learning experience, full of surprises!

Comment by Kellen Weissenbach on February 17, 2012 at 10:26am

Actually Sheri, tilapia prefer a slightly alkaline pH.  A pH of 7.3 for breeding is pretty ideal.  They're adaptable though, so can put up with quite a wide range typically.

Comment by Holly Curtis on February 17, 2012 at 10:11am

Chickens are fun.

Comment by Jacques L. on February 17, 2012 at 10:09am

Yeah, this will be our first foray into raising chickens. We're bound and determined to make our urban farm work.

We were worried originally about the legal issues with raising the chickens. Our yard is slightly under the minimum square foot requirement, but the workaround is getting permission from your neighbors (which we got) and keeping the coop/run at least 80 linear feet from the nearest neighbor.. check! Figured the chatty Chihuahua's in the neighborhood make more of a ruckus then the chickens will, specially since there's not going to be a rooster.

Should be a fun learning experience! 

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on February 17, 2012 at 9:45am

Tilapia can handle a wide range of PH, but for breeding they need it low. Plants, on the other hand, absorb micro-nutrients better when the PH is low. So it's all-around easier just to keep all your water low. We've found the best results around 6.5 - 6.8.

Love chickens! The eggs are SO good!
BTW, We just ordered 25 meat chickens & will be running a processing class around the middle of April.

Comment by David Schwinghamer on February 17, 2012 at 8:42am

Sheri,

 

Did you tell me that PH affects plants the most?

 

Comment by David Schwinghamer on February 17, 2012 at 8:41am

Did you tell me that PH effects plants the most?

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