LEARNING CENTER
Easily Grow Delicious, Healthy, Safe Food!
Learn about the following four things and you're well on your way to running an Aquaponic System that'll grow a delicious Organic meal for you!
The four things are pH, AMMONIA, NITRITES, and NITRATES. Don't be thrown by bad memories of school days in chemistry class. This is much easier!
1. pH: pH determines the level of acidity or alkalinity of the water. Too high or too low and your plants and fish will have problems. 6.8 to 7.2 is the range you want.
2. AMMONIA: Fish emit waste in the form of AMMONIA. Ammonia is toxic to fish. 0 to 0.5 is the range that you want for Ammonia. More than 0.50 ppm is cause for concern (not alarm) although fish can tolerate higher than 4.0 for short periods and survive, At this level balancing is required.
3. NITRITES: Bacteria in the water convert the AMMONIA into NITRITES. Nitrites are also toxic to fish. Taking NITRITES readings is as easy as taking Ammonia readings and uses the same number range scale, 0 to 0.5 is desired.
4. NITRATES: A second type of bacteria convert the NITRITES into NITRATES. Plants absorb the NITRATES from the water as food and send clean water back to the fish. Nitrates are not a problem for fish. The reason for taking a Nitrite reading is to verify that they exist in your system.
Here's the rub... In an Aquaponic System the pH has to be kept at around 7.0 and the AMMONIA and NITRITES can't be allowed to get too high. That's it for chemistry class!
The four things are pH, AMMONIA, NITRITES, and NITRATES. Don't be thrown by bad memories of school days in chemistry class. This is much easier!
1. pH: pH determines the level of acidity or alkalinity of the water. Too high or too low and your plants and fish will have problems. 6.8 to 7.2 is the range you want.
2. AMMONIA: Fish emit waste in the form of AMMONIA. Ammonia is toxic to fish. 0 to 0.5 is the range that you want for Ammonia. More than 0.50 ppm is cause for concern (not alarm) although fish can tolerate higher than 4.0 for short periods and survive, At this level balancing is required.
3. NITRITES: Bacteria in the water convert the AMMONIA into NITRITES. Nitrites are also toxic to fish. Taking NITRITES readings is as easy as taking Ammonia readings and uses the same number range scale, 0 to 0.5 is desired.
4. NITRATES: A second type of bacteria convert the NITRITES into NITRATES. Plants absorb the NITRATES from the water as food and send clean water back to the fish. Nitrates are not a problem for fish. The reason for taking a Nitrite reading is to verify that they exist in your system.
Here's the rub... In an Aquaponic System the pH has to be kept at around 7.0 and the AMMONIA and NITRITES can't be allowed to get too high. That's it for chemistry class!
Q & A:
If I'm not using soil, what am I using? CLICK HERE to learn more
How do the bacteria get into the system? CLICK HERE!
More about pH and Ammonia CLICK HERE!
How do I raise and lower pH? How do I lower Ammonia and Nitrites?
How Often do I need to test the water?
What are the Water Pump and Gravity Siphon for?
Fish, Food and Oxygen - Great Video! CLICK HERE!
How do the bacteria get into the system? CLICK HERE!
More about pH and Ammonia CLICK HERE!
How do I raise and lower pH? How do I lower Ammonia and Nitrites?
How Often do I need to test the water?
What are the Water Pump and Gravity Siphon for?
Fish, Food and Oxygen - Great Video! CLICK HERE!