Raising PH

[sherrie p cockram]

I am at my wits end trying to raise my PH. My system has been setup for 10 weeks. I have two media beds and 2 floating raft beds and a 300 gallon fish tank. The PH reading from our tap water is 4.0.The PH level in my system is the same. I have tried Potassium Hydroxide and Hydrated lime. That temporarily brings it up. I have added 2 1/2 lbs. of crushed oyster shell to each media bed under the water flow pipe and dug it down into the clay pebble. That was 2 weeks ago. The PH went up to 5.0 and stayed there for 2 days and went back to 4.0. So I added 2 1/2 lbs of crushed oyster shell to each media bed again this morning. I added ammonia weeks ago, Can't get that reading down below 8...My grow is strictly indoors in my basement lake storage room. I have lettuce, spinach, strawberries and some other veggies growing and of course I have not incorporated my fish yet. The veggies are doing ok..i have added some Foxfarm ferts a few times just to keep them fro dying...Any suggestions?

 

[Keith Rowan]

do at least 50% water change.. ammonia should be closer to 2ppm for cycling.. at 8 (really above 5 or 6) you are inhibiting the cycling process... what are you using for an ammonia source?

don't know about "foxfarm ferts", i'd avoid them unless i completely researched..

[sherrie p cockram]

Foxfarm is all organic. I've used it for years. i only put it in since the fish are not in yet to keep my plants alive, but I'm ditching this grow and getting back strictly to the cycling process...The PH level is the main problem. I've never lived in a house where the PH level was low. I've owned 2 pools, always had to lower PH, not raise it. Maybe my test drops are bad. i bought them new, but heading to town for a new tester.  Still the ammonia is off and that is my fault, i added too much..I used pure ammonia...Any suggestion on that? I am draining the system Saturday and cleaning the sump tanks and floating raft beds and refilling with fresh water...

Keith Rowan said:

do at least 50% water change.. ammonia should be closer to 2ppm for cycling.. at 8 (really above 5 or 6) you are inhibiting the cycling process... what are you using for an ammonia source?

don't know about "foxfarm ferts", i'd avoid them unless i completely researched..

[Keith Rowan]

used in dirt for years.. but many (organic) products aren't meant for fish..they could contain phosphates (not good for fish) or heavy metals..

good idea to check the ph test kit.. if you're going to a pet store, bring some water with you for them to test..

but for sure,, do at least 50% water change, if this brings your ammonia down to 4ppm, wait a day and do another 25% change.. test again... ammonia is acidic and could be causing the ph to drop..so first get the ammonia lower (2 to 3ppm)

[sherrie p cockram]

Thanks so much, I have done a 1/3 water change 3 different times...I'm hoping my PH tester is bad and a new one will give proper results..I will keep you poested!

[sherrie p cockram]

OK, just used a brand new test kit…still 4.0.Tested 2 of my neighbors also…4.0…  we all have wells and live on Lake Wylie, S.C. I tested the lake water for PH  7.0 exactly….Lake Wylie is pretty polluted. We don’t even eat the fish we catch anymore…Could that water from the lake be used to fill the system once I drain it considering the heavy pollution…Now, Crescent and Duke Power who own the lake did give the OK to eat the bass this year as they say the mercury level is at a point that it is safe to eat, but not if your pregnant, well we are not pregnant and  we don’t eat the fish. I want clean food so I would consider using the lake water out of the question…just asking your opinion too! Sherrie     

[Keith Rowan]

no, i wouldn't use the lake water..

get the ammonia down with a partial water change..

personally,i'd treat my topup water with hydrated lime, others recommend a half and half mix of calcium and potassium compounds.. or alternate between the two.. nitrification won't be happening with ph that low..

[sherrie p cockram]

I have used hydrated lime and potassium hydroxide. It does raise the ph. Is that ok to do after fish are incorporated into the system?

[Keith Rowan]

it's ok, but with a big "if" - if you only raise or adjust the ph by 2 tenths (or so) a day.. a big ph swing will stress the fish..stressing fish leads to them getting infections/disease..

[Alex Veidel]

Give me a couple months; I'll start working on laying some pipes all the way to your house :) I have the opposite problem, my well water pH runs at 8.0. Let's join our wells together to create a happy medium of 7.0...

Have you considered collecting rain water for your system?
sherrie p cockram said:

OK, just used a brand new test kit…still 4.0.Tested 2 of my neighbors also…4.0…  we all have wells and live on Lake Wylie, S.C. I tested the lake water for PH  7.0 exactly….Lake Wylie is pretty polluted. We don’t even eat the fish we catch anymore…Could that water from the lake be used to fill the system once I drain it considering the heavy pollution…Now, Crescent and Duke Power who own the lake did give the OK to eat the bass this year as they say the mercury level is at a point that it is safe to eat, but not if your pregnant, well we are not pregnant and  we don’t eat the fish. I want clean food so I would consider using the lake water out of the question…just asking your opinion too! Sherrie     

[sherrie p cockram]

Thanks for the help..I will take your advice. Will post in a week or so! sherrie
Keith Rowan said:

it's ok, but with a big "if" - if you only raise or adjust the ph by 2 tenths (or so) a day.. a big ph swing will stress the fish..stressing fish leads to them getting infections/disease..

[sherrie p cockram]

Yes, we have always had a higher PH every place else we lived...I'm astonished...lay that pie and help me out!!
Alex Veidel said:

Give me a couple months; I'll start working on laying some pipes all the way to your house I have the opposite problem, my well water pH runs at 8.0. Let's join our wells together to create a happy medium of 7.0...

Have you considered collecting rain water for your system? Well I haven't thought of rain water, but it's a 300 gallon tank...could try collecting and adding though..Good idea 

sherrie p cockram said:

OK, just used a brand new test kit…still 4.0.Tested 2 of my neighbors also…4.0…  we all have wells and live on Lake Wylie, S.C. I tested the lake water for PH  7.0 exactly….Lake Wylie is pretty polluted. We don’t even eat the fish we catch anymore…Could that water from the lake be used to fill the system once I drain it considering the heavy pollution…Now, Crescent and Duke Power who own the lake did give the OK to eat the bass this year as they say the mercury level is at a point that it is safe to eat, but not if your pregnant, well we are not pregnant and  we don’t eat the fish. I want clean food so I would consider using the lake water out of the question…just asking your opinion too! Sherrie     

[David - WI]

Water with a pH that low can actually be "dangerous" because it dissolves toxic metals... you should really consider having your water tested; you don't want to put a bunch of lead or zinc or something into your system (or yourselves).

 

In general, water with a pH < 6.5 could be acidic, soft, and corrosive. Acidic water could contain metal ions such as iron, manganese, copper, lead, and zinc. In other words, acidic water contains elevated levels of toxic metals. Acidic water can cause premature damage to metal piping, and have associated aesthetic problems such as a metallic or sour taste. It can also stain laundry and cause "blue-green" color staining on sinks and drains. More importantly, there are health risks associated with these toxins.

PH Values Of Water