FAQs Archive

Q: Why Do I Need Testing Tools?

Without being able to see nitrifying bacteria grow, you must have some way of telling where you are in the aquaponics cycling process – typically a four to six-week endeavor. Specifically, you must monitor ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels as well as pH so that you know that all these elements are within a target range. If they are not, you may need to take corrective action. This is also the only way that you will know when you are fully cycled and ready to add your fish. Plus, watching the daily progress of the cycling process is fascinating and something you can only see through the lens of a test kit. By the way, once you reach the point that your system is fully cycled, you will need to do much less monitoring than during the cycling process. So get through the cycling process and look forward to reaping the fruits (or should we say the “fish”) of your labor. To do the testing, most aquaponic gardeners use a product by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Inc. called the API Freshwater Master Test Kit . This kit is easy to use, is inexpensive, and is designed for monitoring the cycling process in fish systems. That's why we sell this kit in our shop! You will also need a submersible thermometer to measure your water temperature. Temperature affects both the cycling rate and the health of your fish and plants once you are up and running.

Q: How Do I Create a Buffer In My Aquaponics System?

Here is what we recommend. 1) Get an API GH and KH Test Kit and figure out what your carbonate levels are. 2) If you are above 4 dKH, then you should be fine for now but be sure to retest weekly as part of your normal testing regime. Remember that as your system matures, it will create more and more nitric acid so your KH levels will drop over time. 3) As you approach a dKH of 4 or lower, we recommend adding potassium bi-carbonate ( AquaBuffer ) to your system at a rate of 2 ½ teaspoons (12 ml) per 100 gallons of system water for each dKH level you need to go up.

Can I Speed Up Aquaponics Cycling?

Unfortunately, nitrifying bacteria are some of the slowest growing bacteria in nature, and the cycling process can take as long as six weeks. There are a few things you can do to speed up this process, however.

Temperature – like most microorganisms, nitrifying bacteria multiply more quickly in warmer conditions. Their optimal temperature is between […]

Can I Speed Up Aquaponics Cycling?Tawnya Sawyer2026-04-22T14:11:35-06:00

How Do I Cycle Without Fish?

There are several ways to add ammonia to your system, but honestly, the best is to simply purchase our Cycling Kits. They come in 3 sizes – Small (< 100 gallons), Medium (100 – 300 gallons) and Large (300 – 500 gallons). They come with all the ammonia you will need to […]

How Do I Cycle Without Fish?Tawnya Sawyer2026-04-22T14:06:51-06:00

How Do I Start the Cycling Process?

Once you have your aquaponic system set up and your test kit in hand all you need to do to start the cycling process is add a source of ammonia. Traditionally this has been by adding fish and using the ammonia from their waste, but we’re not a big fan of using fish as […]

How Do I Start the Cycling Process?Tawnya Sawyer2026-06-02T15:25:14-06:00

Why Do I Need Testing Tools?

Without being able to see nitrifying bacteria grow, you must have some way of telling where you are in the aquaponics cycling process – typically a four to six-week endeavor. Specifically, you must monitor ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels as well as pH so that you know […]

Why Do I Need Testing Tools?Tawnya Sawyer2026-04-22T14:07:04-06:00

What Is Cycling In Aquaponics and How Do I Cycle an Aquaponic System?

Nitrogen cycling happens in soil and water all around the earth. Aquaponics cycling is the natural process of bacteria oxidizing ammonia into nitrates.

The Nitrification “Cycling” Process

Cycling in aquaponics starts when ammonia is present in your aquaponic system. Ammonia (chemical formula NH3) is a compound […]

What Is Cycling In Aquaponics and How Do I Cycle an Aquaponic System?Tawnya Sawyer2026-04-22T14:07:11-06:00

How Do I Create a Buffer In My Aquaponics System?

Here is what we recommend.

1) Get an API GH and KH Test Kit and figure out what your carbonate levels are.

2) If you are above 4 dKH, then you should be fine for now but be sure to retest weekly as part of your normal testing regime. Remember that as your system matures, it […]

How Do I Create a Buffer In My Aquaponics System?Tawnya Sawyer2026-04-22T14:07:17-06:00

Buffering an Aquaponics System

Creating and maintaining a buffer in aquaponics is crucial for stable water quality balancing. While fish can generally adapt to pH levels that are outside of their ideal range, they cannot handle dramatic, rapid swings in pH. We take phone calls every week from customers who are struggling with what appear to be random fish […]

Buffering an Aquaponics SystemTawnya Sawyer2026-04-22T14:07:27-06:00

What Are Carbonate Buffers In Aquaponics?

At The Aquaponic Source, we help customers with questions and concerns about pH and carbonate buffers in aquaponics each and every day. Generally, the questions fall into one of two categories:

“The water out of my tap is a pH of 8 (or more) and I can’t seem to lower it reliably. What should I do?”
“The […]

What Are Carbonate Buffers In Aquaponics?Tawnya Sawyer2026-04-22T14:07:31-06:00