Aquaponics Testing

Ammonia and Water Temperature

• Since fish excrete ammonia through their gills and bodily wastes, it can build up in their environment. The safest level of ammonia in a tank for fish to survive depends on water temperature. Warm water and small amounts of ammonia are toxic to fish. In colder water temperatures, fish can tolerate higher levels of ammonia. Monitoring the ammonia and water temperature levels is especially important for those with outdoor systems.

Alkalinity

• Testing the alkalinity levels reveals the water's ability to neutralize acids. It is also referred to as the ability of water to withstand changes in pH. You can use titration to measure alkalinity. It involves adding a titrant, an acid of a known strength, to a water sample. The volume of the titrant added to the water sample shows the alkalinity of the water by changing color. Aquaponics systems have various acceptable alkalinity levels.

Levels of pH

• Hydrogen concentration is one of the most important factors for living organisms in water. It can alter other molecules in a solution by causing them to change from their original shape. Water systems with low-alkalinity levels are more susceptible to pH level changes. An extreme shift in pH levels in either direction will kill plants and fish.

Bacteria

• Without bacteria in an aquaponics system, fish would die from ammonia toxicity. Plants would also starve from a lack of nutrition. The bacteria nitrification process converts ammonia into nitrates. Bacteria will colonize on all surfaces of the tank after one month of being added to the water system. It is important not to expose bacteria to chloramine or chlorine. Monitor the bacteria beds to ensure they do not become dry.