Aquaponics PH Q?

Discussion in 'Advanced Cultivation' started by Green Goblin, Dec 19, 2017.

  1. Green Goblin

    Green Goblin Cannabis Connoisseur

    I'm curious about ph...if my fish want neutral, and my plants want more acidic, will I need to provide a peat moss or similar acidic amedments to the root zone? Or do I find a happy medium between fish happiness and plant happiness? I feel foolish for not looking into this before Arggg
     
  2. nippie

    nippie preachin' and pimpin'

    I just had my stuff at 5.8 to 6.2. Didnt even adjust it, just let it cycle and never even had to mess with it
     
  3. Green Goblin

    Green Goblin Cannabis Connoisseur

    What kind of aquatic critters did you have?
     
  4. nippie

    nippie preachin' and pimpin'

    a bunch of fancy goldfish (still have), 2 koi, 3 oscars, 1 catfish (real one, not the aquarium kind) and some crayfish in 275 gallon ibc tote that i framed in with t11 siding. just used an old hydro table for my bed and filled it with hydrotron and planted in that. you can just throw seeds in it and they grow

    Worked well, never had an issue until the end of the season and got hit hard with an algae bloom. That sucked but as far as growing plants, everything worked well, got a bunch of lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, beans and carrots all in a 4x4 table
     
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  5. Green Goblin

    Green Goblin Cannabis Connoisseur

    Im surprised the oscars didn't chew all the goldfish...I kept a mating pair of red tiger oscars for almost 4 years when I lived in Phoenix.
     
  6. nippie

    nippie preachin' and pimpin'

    Oscars did eat a lot of the smaller fish at first, anyrhing roughly their size they were fine with. They were not nearly as aggressive as i thought theyd be...dirty but not aggressive.

    Its weird, the oscars were a pack at all times and prob the most friendly fish to people. The koi would hide when you came over to them, the oscars which would hide most of the time would actually come out and make eye contact with you and givr you a look like hey whats up.

    I feel bad, my heater broke and they frooze in a single day this fall. All others made it except them, water did dip to 60 though.
     
  7. Green Goblin

    Green Goblin Cannabis Connoisseur

    Bummer, sorry to hear that.

    Fish are our friends :pimp:
     
  8. Dumme

    Dumme Member

    Target pH for aquaponics is 6.4pH to 6.8 pH. Aquaponics is more of an "organic" growing situation, meaning the the bacteria, and nematodes like the pH a little higher.

    In aquaponics, I highly recommend dual root zones, with soil. This allows fungi, the other microorganism, to thrive, and help with uptake as well.
     
  9. Mrgreengenes

    Mrgreengenes Administrator

    The optimum ph range for cannabis in hydro is 5.5 to 6.5. I run mine between 5.6 and 6.0
     
  10. Dumme

    Dumme Member

    The pH for hydroponics works best set lower because salt/chelate based fertilizers dissolve easier in lower pH. Generally hydroponic grows are near sterile.

    Aquaponics, being organic, thrives bether with higher pH ranges.
     
  11. Mrgreengenes

    Mrgreengenes Administrator

  12. Dumme

    Dumme Member

    I've been growing cannabis with the aquaponic method since 2015. I get 1.5 gpw on average. My 5000L system floats between 6.4pH and 6.8pH. I teach aquaponics professionally.

    I've had it as high as 7.2pH. It's all about microorganisms diversity.
     
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  13. Green Goblin

    Green Goblin Cannabis Connoisseur

    Meaning biodiversity keeps ph in check, or makes for nutrient availability?

    What do you use to modify ph in such a system? 5000l
     
  14. Dumme

    Dumme Member

    The carbonates in tap water keeps the pH upto about 6.8-ish. The nitrification of ammonia slowly drops the pH throughout the week. Luckily, it works out about perfect in my system, as I've dialed in the proper amount of fish feed, while keeping the proper amount of fish healthy.
     
  15. Dumme

    Dumme Member

    In the past, I've had emergencies, and used hydrochloric acid.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2018
  16. Green Goblin

    Green Goblin Cannabis Connoisseur

    What caused the emergency?
     
  17. Dumme

    Dumme Member

    My garden is 1000 sqft, and I'm always upgrading. Problems usually occur with an error in design, and spills; sometimes hundreds of gallons.

    Since I use tapwater, if I add a too much, pH is upwards of 8.5, so I add acid, for the sake of the fish.
     
  18. Green Goblin

    Green Goblin Cannabis Connoisseur

    Gotcha, thanks for sharing :pimp:
     
  19. Dumme

    Dumme Member

    Hydrochloric acid, not hydroponic acid, lol ...that makes more sense damn auto correct.
     
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