Another ponder confesses ...

[zookeeper]

First confession: It's been about a year since I last tested our pond
for anything ... yep, did it once or twice last year with the pool test
kit to check ph and alkalinity. This year I ordered a Tetra pond test
kit from http://www.koivillage.com -- it has tests for ph (salt and
freshwater), nitrite, ammonia, GH and KH. And today I tested the pond water:

pH: 9.5
NO2: >0.3
ammonia: 0
GH: 1.5 dH
KH: 2 dH
CO2: 0,1 (based on a chart analyzing pH and KH)

So, if I'm reading and calculating everything correctly, I have highly
alkaline and soft water. I also have green algae water (2d confession).
Now if I add potash will the pond plants be better able to use the
nutrients in the water which will reduce the algae? Or do I want to add
gypsum, lime, baking soda, or epsom salts? Or a combination of the above?
--
Kathy B, zookeeper
3500gal pond, 13 pond piggies
Oregon, Zone 6

[RichToyBox]

Kathy,

My suggestion would be to add the baking soda. With only 2 dH on the KH,
the filter bacteria are probably mad at you. That is the reason you are
having NO2 and the pH will come down some, and be more steady, morning to
evening. Adding the potash could be helpful in reducing the green, but I
would be more worried about potential pH swings with the low KH. With green
water, the O2 will go up during the day, and the CO2 will go up overnight,
and the fish could become oxygen starved.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> First confession: It's been about a year since I last tested our pond
> for anything ... yep, did it once or twice last year with the pool test
> kit to check ph and alkalinity. This year I ordered a Tetra pond test
> kit from http://www.koivillage.com -- it has tests for ph (salt and
> freshwater), nitrite, ammonia, GH and KH. And today I tested the pond
water:
>
> pH: 9.5
> NO2: >0.3
> ammonia: 0
> GH: 1.5 dH
> KH: 2 dH
> CO2: 0,1 (based on a chart analyzing pH and KH)
>
> So, if I'm reading and calculating everything correctly, I have highly
> alkaline and soft water. I also have green algae water (2d confession).
> Now if I add potash will the pond plants be better able to use the
> nutrients in the water which will reduce the algae? Or do I want to add
> gypsum, lime, baking soda, or epsom salts? Or a combination of the above?
> --
> Kathy B, zookeeper
> 3500gal pond, 13 pond piggies
> Oregon, Zone 6
>

[Nedra]

Hi Kathy, Rich is right! To increase the KH use 1 cup
of baking soda in a bucket of pond water for
each 1,000 gallons of water. Sprinkle this around your pond.
Only treat 1,000 gallons at a time.
Repeat for 3 or 4 days.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
"zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> First confession: It's been about a year since I last tested our pond
> for anything ... yep, did it once or twice last year with the pool test
> kit to check ph and alkalinity. This year I ordered a Tetra pond test
> kit from http://www.koivillage.com -- it has tests for ph (salt and
> freshwater), nitrite, ammonia, GH and KH. And today I tested the pond
water:
>
> pH: 9.5
> NO2: >0.3
> ammonia: 0
> GH: 1.5 dH
> KH: 2 dH
> CO2: 0,1 (based on a chart analyzing pH and KH)
>
> So, if I'm reading and calculating everything correctly, I have highly
> alkaline and soft water. I also have green algae water (2d confession).
> Now if I add potash will the pond plants be better able to use the
> nutrients in the water which will reduce the algae? Or do I want to add
> gypsum, lime, baking soda, or epsom salts? Or a combination of the above?
> --
> Kathy B, zookeeper
> 3500gal pond, 13 pond piggies
> Oregon, Zone 6
>
>

[zookeeper]

RichToyBox wrote:
> My suggestion would be to add the baking soda. With only 2 dH on the KH,
> the filter bacteria are probably mad at you. That is the reason you are
> having NO2 and the pH will come down some, and be more steady, morning to
> evening ...

The NO2 measurement is less than 0.3; that is the lowest measurement on
the test -- it doesn't measure 0. The fish don't seem to be oxygen
starved -- they're not at the surface gulping air at any time of the day
or night. I'm just looking for ways to get back to "crystal" water or
something closer to it. I suspect the fish are enjoying the green water;
they're all very healthy, except the whiter ones are slightly yellow
probably from eating the algae from the sides of the pond.

I've added baking soda and will retest the pH and KH later today.
--
zookeeper

[zookeeper]

Nedra wrote:
> Hi Kathy, Rich is right! To increase the KH use 1 cup
> of baking soda in a bucket of pond water for
> each 1,000 gallons of water ...

Thanks Nedra, and thanks for the good instructions on how to add the
baking soda. I've added it and will retest later today.
--
zookeeper

[Nedra]

Just Me ... why wait until a fish dies or something equally
awful happens before you take action?

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Just Me "Koi"" > wrote in message
...
> Kathy,
> Is there an ongoing problem with your pond currently? (Dying Fish, Dying
> Plants, Foul Odor, ....)
>
> If none of the above, leave the darn pond alone! Adding all these stuff
> will only upset the balance that has taken your pond, plants, and fish
years
> to establish. And will probably lead to many more trips to your LFS to
> fleece you of your hard earned money!
>
> Just my 2 cents!
>
> --
> _______________________________________
> "The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
> like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
> The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."
>
> http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino
>
> "zookeeper" > wrote in message
> ...
> > First confession: It's been about a year since I last tested our pond
> > for anything ... yep, did it once or twice last year with the pool test
> > kit to check ph and alkalinity. This year I ordered a Tetra pond test
> > kit from http://www.koivillage.com -- it has tests for ph (salt and
> > freshwater), nitrite, ammonia, GH and KH. And today I tested the pond
> water:
> >
> > pH: 9.5
> > NO2: >0.3
> > ammonia: 0
> > GH: 1.5 dH
> > KH: 2 dH
> > CO2: 0,1 (based on a chart analyzing pH and KH)
> >
> > So, if I'm reading and calculating everything correctly, I have highly
> > alkaline and soft water. I also have green algae water (2d confession).
> > Now if I add potash will the pond plants be better able to use the
> > nutrients in the water which will reduce the algae? Or do I want to add
> > gypsum, lime, baking soda, or epsom salts? Or a combination of the
above?
> > --
> > Kathy B, zookeeper
> > 3500gal pond, 13 pond piggies
> > Oregon, Zone 6
> >
>
>
>

[Just Me \Koi\]

Exactly! But I should have taken to my own advice. Hurricane JMK hit my VF
and pond #1 today! Why you ask?

SNAKE!

While working on the expansion to my house, we saw a snake about 24" long,
1.5" diameter slither in to the veggie filter!

Either the snake goes or my family refuses to go to the backyard! So remove
everything in the filter and everything in the skippy filter in order to get
to the snake.

So I start all over now praying no prized Koi die in the process, and that
the dreaded algae bloom etc is limited! Wish me luck!

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

"BenignVanilla" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Nedra" > wrote in message
> arthlink.net...
> > Just Me ... why wait until a fish dies or something equally
> > awful happens before you take action?
> <snip>
>
> I think JMK is just saying that the numbers are not that far out of whack
so
> why mess.
>
> BV.
>
>

[Mistatee]

<snip>
"zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> First confession: It's been about a year since I last tested our pond
> for anything ... yep, did it once or twice last year with the pool test
> kit to check ph and alkalinity. This year I ordered a Tetra pond test
> kit from http://www.koivillage.com -- it has tests for ph (salt and
> freshwater), nitrite, ammonia, GH and KH. And today I tested the pond
water:
<snip>

I must also make a confession. In the last eighteeen years I havn't tested
my water for anything. If I shout the word "test kit" the fish swim a mile.
I will be honest though I have "added" things to the pond over the
years................. fishfood.

Steve...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/steve.thomas4/MyPond.html



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