Aquaponics Labs

The Lab

Lives are in your hands: the fish, the plants, and the bacteria.  Doctors use lab results and imaging to diagnose pathology in patients, and you will do the same with your system.  Your imaging tools are your eyes...your lab...behold:

Follow me on a description of each lab, what they are, what they mean, and how you can salvage countless hours and dollars with as little stress as possible.  Similar to medicine, in most cases, you will see that HIGH values are the result of too much produced or too little consumed.  Similarly, you will see that LOW values are the result of too little produced or too much consumed.

Nitrates (NO₃^-). There is no concensus on the ideal nitrate level, and many sources provide figures that range from 2-150 ppm. Nitrates are not toxic to fish at comparatively higher levels, and are therefore more of a concern for plant growth than for fish health. Nitrates only come from one source: the bacteria (nitrobacter). Nitrates are removed from the system by one consumer: the plants. (See Aquaponics: The Bacteria post). Use your thinking cap to reason through this one:

• Nitrates too high: Hardly a concern.
• Nitrates too low:  Too little produced or too much consumed.
• Insufficient fish waste to feed bacteria: Not enough fish, not enough food, fish too small, too much water (dilution)
• Insufficient bacteria colonies feeding on nitrites: Immature system, improper dechlorination of municipal water, introduction of antiseptics.
• Insufficient water delivery to growth media:  Pump/valves/tubing too small.
• Excess vegitation consuming all available nitrates:  Lack of pruning, trying to grow more than the system can allow.

Nitrites (NO₂^-).  According to a number of sources, the ideal range of nitrites is 0.25-1.0 ppm.  Nitrites are toxic to fish, and we must be alert to high levels.  Nitrites only come from one source:  the bacteria (nitrosomas).  Nitrites are also removed from the system by one consumer: another bacteria (nitrobacter).

• Nitrites too high: Too much produced or too little consumed.
• Excess fish waste feeding bacteria:  Too many fish, too much feeding, fish too big, too little water (concentration).
• Nitrites too low: Not enough produced or too much consumed.
• Insufficient fish waste to feed bacteria: Not enough fish, not enough food, fish too small, too much water (dilution)
• Insufficient bacteria colonies feeding on nitrites: Immature system, improper dechlorination of municipal water, introduction of antiseptics.
• Insufficient water delivery to growth media: Pump/valves/tubing too small.

*Note:  You will almost NEVER see combinations of "Hi Nitrite/Lo Nitrate" because the nitrobacter almost immediately change nitrite into nitrate.  You will almost ALWAYS see "Low Nitrite/Hi Nitrate" because nitrobacter are eating the nitrite and converting it.

Ammonia (NH₃ / NH₄⁺).  Why are both listed? Check out Acid and Base post.  According to a number of sources, the idea ideal range of ammonia is 0.25-1.0 ppm.  Ammonia is toxic to fish and is their primary waste product.  Ammonia only comes from one source:  the fish.  Ammonia is removed from the system by one consumer:  the bacteria (nitrosomas).

• Ammonia too high:  Too much produced or too little consumed.
• Excess fish waste: Too many fish, too much feeding, fish too big, too little water (concentration).
• Insufficient bacteria colonies feeding on ammonia: Immature system, improper dechlorination of municipal water, introduction of antiseptics
• Fix action:  Remove fish for short-term fix. Add growth media and vegitation for long-term fix.
• Insufficient water delivery to growth media: Pump/valves/tubing too small.
• Ammonia too low:   Not enough produced or too much consumed.
• Insufficient fish waste: Not enough fish, not enough food, fish too small, too much water (dilution)
• Fix action:  Add fish, feed more,

pH. According to MANY sources, the ideal pH for both plant and fish health for any system is 6.5-7.0.  f you havent, read both Bacteria and Acid and Base posts, do so now. The pH for a system is a measure of acid (H+) concentration, and can affect the health of your entire system.  It affects protein structure, enzyme catalysts, toxicity to plants, fish, and bacteria.  If left unchecked, it can sink your entire operation.  The primary source of base in the system is ammonia from fish.  The primary source of acid in the system is H+ from nitrifying bacteria.  For every 1 ammonia shat/pissed out by fish in a mature system, 5 H+s are chemically generated, pushing your system WELL into acidic...and therefore a LOW pH. 

• pH too high:  Too much base or too little acid.
• Excess fish waste: Too many fish, too much feeding, fish too big, too little water (concentration).
• Insufficient bacteria colonies feeding on ammonia: Immature system, improper dechlorination of municipal water, introduction of antiseptics
• Excess addition of commercial base
• pH too low:  System working FINE but not monitored and/or treated.  System is supposed to be acidic due to nitrifying bacteria
• Inappropriate monitoring and/or insufficient use of commercial base.

Thats all for now.  More to follow.