KH, GH, pH ... oh, my

[zookeeper]

Okay, so I didn't listening to JMK and I messed with my pond water
today. Sorry, ;-)

Reminder -- I have green algae water and test results yesterday were:

pH: 9.5
NO2: less than 0.3
ammonia: 0
GH: 1.5 dH or 19 ppm
KH: 2 dH or 36 ppm
CO2: 0,1 (based on a chart analyzing pH and KH)

I added one cup of baking soda, then realized that if I did nothing to
bring the pH down that the baking soda would increase the pH. I have
muriatic acid on hand (for pool and cleaning aquariums) so added ~6
ounces. After two hours did the following tests:

pH: 8.5
GH: 3 dH or 54 ppm
KH: 5 dH or 90 ppm

So if I add another cup of baking soda tomorrow, the GH and KH will /
should increase again, but because I'm stabilizing the pH with the
baking soda it shouldn't increase and might even decrease? [Before I add
anything, I'll retest pH, GH, KH and ammonia in the morning.] As I
lowered the pH today (and the GH and KH increased), the water seemed
clearer. Does high pH water hold algae or other fine particles better
than lower pH water?

If GH is a measure of calcium and magnesium, why does it increase by
using baking soda? [Little rusty on chemistry, especially at 12:02 am.]
--
Kathy B, zookeeper
3500gal pond, 13 pond piggies
Oregon, Zone 6

[Sam Hopkins]

Why is your PH 9.5? Is this a concrete pond or are there concrete blocks in
it? If you are trying to combat high PH you dont want to add a acid buffer
like baking soda because you want the acid to drop your PH.

Sam

"zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> Okay, so I didn't listening to JMK and I messed with my pond water
> today. Sorry, ;-)
>
> Reminder -- I have green algae water and test results yesterday were:
>
> pH: 9.5
> NO2: less than 0.3
> ammonia: 0
> GH: 1.5 dH or 19 ppm
> KH: 2 dH or 36 ppm
> CO2: 0,1 (based on a chart analyzing pH and KH)
>
> I added one cup of baking soda, then realized that if I did nothing to
> bring the pH down that the baking soda would increase the pH. I have
> muriatic acid on hand (for pool and cleaning aquariums) so added ~6
> ounces. After two hours did the following tests:
>
> pH: 8.5
> GH: 3 dH or 54 ppm
> KH: 5 dH or 90 ppm
>
> So if I add another cup of baking soda tomorrow, the GH and KH will /
> should increase again, but because I'm stabilizing the pH with the
> baking soda it shouldn't increase and might even decrease? [Before I add
> anything, I'll retest pH, GH, KH and ammonia in the morning.] As I
> lowered the pH today (and the GH and KH increased), the water seemed
> clearer. Does high pH water hold algae or other fine particles better
> than lower pH water?
>
> If GH is a measure of calcium and magnesium, why does it increase by
> using baking soda? [Little rusty on chemistry, especially at 12:02 am.]
> --
> Kathy B, zookeeper
> 3500gal pond, 13 pond piggies
> Oregon, Zone 6
>

[RichToyBox]

Kathy,

Nothing that you added should have affected the GH. The GH test kit that I
have is almost impossible for me to run, due to the colors green to yellow,
or vice versa. There just isn't much definition, like there is with KH.
Don't worry about the small difference in the test results. Don't add
muratic acid, it just eats the KH.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> Okay, so I didn't listening to JMK and I messed with my pond water
> today. Sorry, ;-)
>
> Reminder -- I have green algae water and test results yesterday were:
>
> pH: 9.5
> NO2: less than 0.3
> ammonia: 0
> GH: 1.5 dH or 19 ppm
> KH: 2 dH or 36 ppm
> CO2: 0,1 (based on a chart analyzing pH and KH)
>
> I added one cup of baking soda, then realized that if I did nothing to
> bring the pH down that the baking soda would increase the pH. I have
> muriatic acid on hand (for pool and cleaning aquariums) so added ~6
> ounces. After two hours did the following tests:
>
> pH: 8.5
> GH: 3 dH or 54 ppm
> KH: 5 dH or 90 ppm
>
> So if I add another cup of baking soda tomorrow, the GH and KH will /
> should increase again, but because I'm stabilizing the pH with the
> baking soda it shouldn't increase and might even decrease? [Before I add
> anything, I'll retest pH, GH, KH and ammonia in the morning.] As I
> lowered the pH today (and the GH and KH increased), the water seemed
> clearer. Does high pH water hold algae or other fine particles better
> than lower pH water?
>
> If GH is a measure of calcium and magnesium, why does it increase by
> using baking soda? [Little rusty on chemistry, especially at 12:02 am.]
> --
> Kathy B, zookeeper
> 3500gal pond, 13 pond piggies
> Oregon, Zone 6
>

[zookeeper]

RichToyBox wrote:
> Nothing that you added should have affected the GH. The GH test kit that I
> have is almost impossible for me to run, due to the colors green to yellow,
> or vice versa. There just isn't much definition, like there is with KH.
> Don't worry about the small difference in the test results. Don't add
> muratic acid, it just eats the KH.

My GH test first colors the water red, then changes to green with one drop.

Since I posted last night, I've googled rec.ponds on GH and KH, and read
up on making the changes. Seems that if I keep adding baking soda my pH
may go up or down to 8.4 and hold there when the KH reaches a level of
110 ppm or so.

Will keep y'all posted.
--
zookeeper