Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I was hoping to see pics or get some ideas on what I can do to get my pH levels back up. I currently have a large pvc pipe caps on each end. I have drilled 5mm all over it and filled it with shell grit. My pH is dropping still (getting closer to 6!) I have moved the pvc pipe closer to the pump in the expectation that there will be more water movement near it. However in the case this doesn't work, what other methods have people used with the shell grit to stabilise pH?

Thanks for ideas

Shell grit in an onion bag in the fish tank where the water returns to the fish tank or bury them in the growbed under the media.

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viewtopic.php?f=18&t=1622&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=45 (Fayes system)
http://backyardfarming.com.au/phpbb3/vi ... f=24&t=119 (Fayes garden)

Faye, into a 500L GB, how much would you put and do you just place it in one corner or all over?

If you had 3kg just spread it through the growbed and some in a stocking. Don't get hung up, on how to do it, as it breaks down until the pH is around 7.4.

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viewtopic.php?f=18&t=1622&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=45 (Fayes system)
http://backyardfarming.com.au/phpbb3/vi ... f=24&t=119 (Fayes garden)

As always...many thanks Faye.

I prefer potassium bicarb to buffer PH. After running into potassium deficiency last year this was the only way to raise PH and get enough potassium to my plants especially if growing lots of flowering type plants.. 1 tablespoon to 1000L = .5 ph adj.. so add slow and watch your tests.

I am battling a high pH 8.6.

I've been using aquarium pH Down. Gave up on counting the drops I used to try and get it down.

Any suggestions for a 10 gallon fish tank and an 18 gallon grow bed?

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Remodeled Kitchen System

Raspberry Pi

Strawberries in Minnesota

Sprouting Grains

how old is the system.. tends to naturally drop over time as the plants use up some of the nitrates they create acids which over time drops the PH.. Lowing PH is much harder than raising it... I just had patients and waited for it to come down naturally as adding acids causes PH to bounce all over the place.. Also .. what kind of media are you using?? If its gravel take a sample out place on baking sheet and drop some vinegar on the samples if they fizz they are limestone and will have to be removed. Lime stone will never allow your system to fall within parameters

I dismantled my old kitchen system. Soaked everything in bleached water then scrubbed the 10 gallon aqarium with a produce called Rust Out. It is a dilute acid to remover minerals on the glass. After that I rinsed the tank several times. Then I filled the 10 gallon tank with plain tap water from our well. Well water tested 8.4. I'm running th pump now more or less like a power head just circulating the water in the tank. Also the pump has a venturi on it drawing a lot of air into and bubbling into the outlet of water.

I'm going to take some water sample and my test kit into work and check it against an expensive pH meter.

Any way how would people use household products to lower the pH? I want to get under 7.0 before my strawberry plants come shortly.

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Remodeled Kitchen System

Raspberry Pi

Strawberries in Minnesota

Sprouting Grains

get an airstone in the water for a few hours before testing to give you a better idea of your ph

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my basement system;
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8354

Get some Muriatic Acid... Hydrochloric acid...

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Fresh By Nature - Distributor of Aquaponic Systems and Products in NSW
http://www.freshbynature.com.au

Had a good laugh the other day.

Bloke at work is worried about high pH in his new system. Beds full of hydrotron. Told him the forum I read recommends just leave it and it will adjust itself naturally in time. (thanks Mordyr - now I know why.)

Well he waited a day and it didn't move, so he chucked in some pretty strong HCL. pH came down, but the next day back up, so more HCL, went down stright away, back up the next day.

So he spoke with some lab guys at work and got hold of some phosphic acid. Chucked in some, that brought the pH down, but back up the next day, chucked in quite alot, that dropped the pH some. Came back next day - tank full of green sludge.

Apparently algea likes phosphor. Who would have known?

He agreed, he should probably have left his system alone! Hope the goldies are okay.

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Regards

Dr Bee

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=10254

Hey Bob! In all my aquariums (that I fill with my 8.0 pH well water) I use driftwood to bring the pH down and have in the past used peat in a pellet form that is available at most aquarium stores. Your well water, if its like mine, probably has a high carbonate hardness that buffers it against pH changes. Its kind of a long term thing using the driftwood and a little faster with the peat.

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My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.

Rhame

Anyone who's been on the forum for while... and that's exactly one of the reason why I always say DON'T use pH Down... as it is often phosphoric acid...

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Fresh By Nature - Distributor of Aquaponic Systems and Products in NSW
http://www.freshbynature.com.au

I have always said its best to leave PH alone. Ive seen systems run at really low levels and really high levels and flourish every time.

Messing about with PH more often sees it bouncing back just as per dr bee's example - which in turn kills fish. PH swing does more damage than leaving it at not so perfect levels.

my 2c

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