WHY pH IN AN AQUAPONICS SYSTEM IS SO IMPORTANT ?

pH levels (water hardness) are important to successful plant growth as ideal levels help the plant absorb the various important nutrients.

A pH of 7 is neutral. Plants thrive in a variety of different pH levels. Iron, a vital nutrient for plants, is more easily absorbed by the plant in a lower pH level between 4 and 6. Of course, plants will also absorb nutrients at higher pH levels, but at lower pH levels its more easily absorbed.

Fish on the other hand prefer pH levels above 7.

So what do plants prefer? Nutrients such as Magnesium, Zinc and Iron are better absorbed at a pH lower than 6.

Hmmmm.. so what should the pH level in an Aquaponics system measure? You need to find a happy balance for both plants and fish, and that would be between 6.5 and 6.9... but dont worry if it goes as high as 8.

Nature is amazing, and most systems will eventually balance themselves out once the nitrification cycle has taken hold.

How to measure pH... 

The easiest and most affordable method is to use colour coded pH paper test strips https://myaquaponics.co.za/waterlife-broad-range-ph-test-kit-75-tests/

As you get more advanced, you can purchase a variety of test meters or test pens https://myaquaponics.co.za/digital-ph-temperature-meter-ph5/