Advice on Chemical Levels

[SA]

Hopefully someone can shed some light on this ...

I have had a few dead fish which led me to check the chemical levels in my
pond (using the same kit I have for my tropical tank) and this is my area of
concern.

pH 8.8+ (that's as high as my scale goes)
Amonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0-0.25ppm

The pond is fairly new (about 6 weeks) with a small selection of plants
(both shallow and deep). At the deepest the pond is about 60cm and has a
30-40cm ledge al round. I would suggest that it's volume is about

400 US Gallons
350 Imperial Gallons
1500 Litres

We have about a dozen small Shabunkins (8-10cm).

I have a pump and gravity fed filtration system which handles about 2000
litres per hour. The pump is in the deep section with the return located as
far from it as possible to create as much circulation as I can.

Is the high pH something that I can expect from the pond/equipment not yet
being mature, the plants, fish or something that I have done?

Any experienced advice appreciated.

Thanks

Sean

[Piers]

same old problem I think - a pond isn't a weekend project.
make a hole, fill with water, leave it a month at least
put in some plants, leave it a year at least
introduce fish
don't bother with chemicals for this and chemicals to correct the problem
created by the last load of chemicals, just wait a while

Jon


"SA" > wrote in message
...
> Hopefully someone can shed some light on this ...
>
> I have had a few dead fish which led me to check the chemical levels in my
> pond (using the same kit I h

[SA]

Thanks for that ... and I am aware that it's not a weekend project ... I've
spent enough time researching and preparing my tropical tank to know that
would never be the case.


"Piers" > wrote in message
news:VpNqc.108$6K2.48@newsfe1-win...
> same old problem I think - a pond isn't a weekend project.
> make a hole, fill with water, leave it a month at least
> put in some plants, leave it a year at least
> introduce fish
> don't bother with chemicals for this and chemicals to correct the problem
> created by the last load of chemicals, just wait a while
>
> Jon
>
>
> "SA" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hopefully someone can shed some light on this ...
> >
> > I have had a few dead fish which led me to check the chemical levels in
my
> > pond (using the same kit I h
>
>

[Dances With Ferrets]

For lowering the PH slowly and safely, try some sort of a pelleted
peat (as in peat moss) product in a mesh bag, placed in an area with
good water flow. The natural tannic acid released by the peat also
has the side benefit of making it harder for algae to thrive.
Although be warned, this product typically tends to color the water a
bit of a tea-brown color, but this is completely normal and will not
harm the fish. One of these products that comes to mind is Sera
Teichwasser Torf. But most any pelleted peat product intended for
pond use will do.

[SA]

Thanks for this.

I have added some chemical to lower the pH very slightly ... I'm not a fan
of chemicals and would much rather follow a natural solution where
possibble.

"Dances With Ferrets" > wrote in message
om...
> For lowering the PH slowly and safely, try some sort of a pelleted
> peat (as in peat moss) product in a mesh bag, placed in an area with
> good water flow. The natural tannic acid released by the peat also
> has the side benefit of making it harder for algae to thrive.
> Although be warned, this product typically tends to color the water a
> bit of a tea-brown color, but this is completely normal and will not
> harm the fish. One of these products that comes to mind is Sera
> Teichwasser Torf. But most any pelleted peat product intended for
> pond use will do.