PH:6 can't get it to move help needed

[toraman]

Thanks again to all of you for the advice, I dosed the system with 1 Tablespoon of Hydrated Lime in a bucket of water followed by 2 more buckets of water poured into a growbed. The reading today is PH: 6.4 do you recommend another treatment of lime today or should I leave it alone? One other thing is that the trout in this system were like leaping dolphins before the lime treatment and since then they haven't been interested in their food. Is this to be expected?

Regards

Maureen

6.4 is perfect imo, but maybe add less next time (0.4 is a largish step in one go). Enjoy a feed of oysters and put the shells in the system when you can. Check pH everyday and when it drops you could add 1/4 or 1/2 the dose, maybe invest in some eco rose if you want to go all out (use alternating days to the lime), or just add banana skins to the growbed.

Some days they just ain't interested in food, but the change in pH could be related. I'm sure the trout will be on the bite in no time.

[bigdaddy]

Hi Maureen,

I'd leave it ATM until your trout come back onto the bite, hopefully it'll only be a day or 2...I cant see that the lows have come through over night, in fact it's a nice day, although freezing this morning.... so that wouldn't be effecting your trout..... probably just the jump in pH up 4 points overnight could of put your trout off their tucker...

And yes use, Hydrated lime,If you don't have any, it's available from Bunnings Noarlunga down the back in the trade section or..... if you are coming into town next time.... Swing past our place with an ice cream container and lid... I have 20 kgs of the stuff....

Cheers.

[telmor]

Hello again, just an update on the PH which slid back again so I dosed the system again this morning with 1 tablespoon of Hydrated Lime in a bucket of water followed by 2 more buckets of water. I have just done a water test the PH 6.4 Nitrite: 0 Ammonia: .50 Nitrate: 10. I am pleased to say that the trout are active and feeding extremely well. I read somewhere today that in a 'mature" system the PH does tend to drop. I hope that the PH will hold for a bit I don't like the idea of using lime too frequently.

Maureen

[Yabbies4me]

.....

I hope that the PH will hold for a bit I don't like the idea of using lime too frequently.

Add lumps of clean limestone or shell grit to your system for longer term pH control. Break some clean limestone into fist sized lumps and place them in your FT or ST, or mix a few handfuls of shell grit into your GB's.

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[telmor]

I have just tested the PH again and it is back down to 6 again. I did put a couple of lumps of limestone in the sump tank this morning. Is it advisable to dose with the Hydrated Lime again? I used 1 tablespoon H/lime on 29th May and 1 tablespoon on 1st June and this brought the PH up to 6.4 but I can't get it to stay. I also buried some banana skins in the G/b's but I am not sure what to do about the PH.

Maureen

[Murray]

Hi Telmor,
In a healthy system the pH will keep dropping. It is good to buffer up using hydrated lime, not only does it bring the pH up it adds calcium.

Alternately, buffer with Potassium Hydroxide or potassium bicarbonate. Using one of those will buffer up and add potassium.