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George scribbled :
Perhaps if the person posting his question could post his water parameters (pH, ammmonia, nitrites, nitrates, general hardness), we could give him more specific information. The results from the testing are as follows; pH= 7.6 Ammonia= 0 - 0.125ppm Nitrite= 5ppm Nitrate= 0ppm Hardness= 201-300 mg/l Anything else needed? My next step is to introduce many more plants. Are there any that are especially good, or is any plant good? -- Remove [dot] to reply Gamertag: Devil Ray UK Games: Flat Out, Worms, Links 04, RS3BA, Splinter Cell : CT, Top Spin, Halo 2, GR2, PGR 2, Doom 3, Rallisport 2, Forza, NBA Inside Drive, NFL Fever, Amped 2, Pariah, NHL Rivals |
With a nitrite level of 5, your filter has not completely cycled. That high
a nitrite level is dangerous to the fish, without salt in the pond. Add about 1 pound per hundred gallons to get a salt level that will protect the fish. Once the nitrite levels come down to 0, then remove the salt through water changes. Plants, and particularly algae, like their nitrogen first from ammonia, then nitrites, and then nitrates. With an uncycled filter, you have some minimal ammonia left, and high nitrites, so the algae is thriving. Filters are marketed with a pond size in gallons, liters, etc. This is very poor, since the size of a filter should be based on the amount of waste, which is associated with number of fish, turtles, frogs, etc., size of each, number of feedings, water temperature, etc. Most filters are over rated by a factor of at least 2. I run filters that will supposedly handle about 4 times the volume of my ponds. I am assuming, by your pH, that the hardness value you stated, is the GH hardness, not the KH carbonate hardness. KH helps to stabilize the pH and helps the filter bacteria, which consume a certain amount of it. If you have not checked it, then please do. The level should be a minimum of 100, and can be as high as 300 without harm. To raise the KH, use regular old baking soda. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html "KerplunKuK" wrote in message ... George scribbled : Perhaps if the person posting his question could post his water parameters (pH, ammmonia, nitrites, nitrates, general hardness), we could give him more specific information. The results from the testing are as follows; pH= 7.6 Ammonia= 0 - 0.125ppm Nitrite= 5ppm Nitrate= 0ppm Hardness= 201-300 mg/l Anything else needed? My next step is to introduce many more plants. Are there any that are especially good, or is any plant good? -- Remove [dot] to reply Gamertag: Devil Ray UK Games: Flat Out, Worms, Links 04, RS3BA, Splinter Cell : CT, Top Spin, Halo 2, GR2, PGR 2, Doom 3, Rallisport 2, Forza, NBA Inside Drive, NFL Fever, Amped 2, Pariah, NHL Rivals |
RichToyBox scribbled :
I am assuming, by your pH, that the hardness value you stated, is the GH hardness, not the KH carbonate hardness. KH helps to stabilize the pH and helps the filter bacteria, which consume a certain amount of it. That reading was taken from my local water authorities website at www.anglianwater.co.uk -- Remove [dot] to reply Gamertag: Devil Ray UK Games: Flat Out, Worms, Links 04, RS3BA, Splinter Cell : CT, Top Spin, Halo 2, GR2, PGR 2, Doom 3, Rallisport 2, Forza, NBA Inside Drive, NFL Fever, Amped 2, Pariah, NHL Rivals |
"KerplunKuK" wrote in message ... George scribbled : Perhaps if the person posting his question could post his water parameters (pH, ammmonia, nitrites, nitrates, general hardness), we could give him more specific information. The results from the testing are as follows; pH= 7.6 Ammonia= 0 - 0.125ppm Nitrite= 5ppm Nitrate= 0ppm Hardness= 201-300 mg/l Anything else needed? My next step is to introduce many more plants. Are there any that are especially good, or is any plant good? Hmmm. The pH is fine. However, those ammonia and nitrite levels would concern me, especially the nitrite, as it can be toxic to fish and invertebrates at that level. Ideally, the nitrite levels should be 0 ppm. The hardness is off the charts as well, and is even higher than what is recommended for salt water aqauriums. Normally, the acceptable general hardness for freshwater ponds and aquariums is about 80-100 ppm. But this is the lesser of my concerns. It can have a greater affect on the plants than the fish at that concentration. I would look into finding a more accurate kit for measuring your hardness. Are you using well water? What is the source of your water? You may need to do a partial water change to get these concentrations back down to acceptable levels. Having said that, you should test your water source first to make sure it isn't the source of these high concentrations. As for plants, water lillies are good, as are any number of other water plants. That really is up to you, as you know better than anyone else what space you have available for addition of plants, and what type of animals you have in the pond (i.e., Koi are notorious for eating/destroying certain plants). I would find a good local source for water plants, and talk to the owner/dealer. He would know what grows best in your area. |
"KerplunKuK" wrote in message ... RichToyBox scribbled : I am assuming, by your pH, that the hardness value you stated, is the GH hardness, not the KH carbonate hardness. KH helps to stabilize the pH and helps the filter bacteria, which consume a certain amount of it. That reading was taken from my local water authorities website at www.anglianwater.co.uk -- Remove [dot] to reply Gamertag: Devil Ray UK Games: Flat Out, Worms, Links 04, RS3BA, Splinter Cell : CT, Top Spin, Halo 2, GR2, PGR 2, Doom 3, Rallisport 2, Forza, NBA Inside Drive, NFL Fever, Amped 2, Pariah, NHL Rivals You are saying that the numbers you provided are in your drinking water? Hmmm. |
George scribbled :
You are saying that the numbers you provided are in your drinking water? Hmmm. Only the hardness the rest are from my pond. -- Remove [dot] to reply Gamertag: Devil Ray UK Games: Flat Out, Worms, Links 04, RS3BA, Splinter Cell : CT, Top Spin, Halo 2, GR2, PGR 2, Doom 3, Rallisport 2, Forza, NBA Inside Drive, NFL Fever, Amped 2, Pariah, NHL Rivals |
George scribbled :
What is the source of your water? The water comes from a rain reservoir, I will obtain a hardness measuring kit. My 5ppm are on the generous side, probably closer to 0 than 5. How do I go about softening an entire pond of water? -- Remove [dot] to reply Gamertag: Devil Ray UK Games: Flat Out, Worms, Links 04, RS3BA, Splinter Cell : CT, Top Spin, Halo 2, GR2, PGR 2, Doom 3, Rallisport 2, Forza, NBA Inside Drive, NFL Fever, Amped 2, Pariah, NHL Rivals |
"KerplunKuK" wrote in message ... George scribbled : You are saying that the numbers you provided are in your drinking water? Hmmm. Only the hardness the rest are from my pond. -- Remove [dot] to reply Gamertag: Devil Ray UK Games: Flat Out, Worms, Links 04, RS3BA, Splinter Cell : CT, Top Spin, Halo 2, GR2, PGR 2, Doom 3, Rallisport 2, Forza, NBA Inside Drive, NFL Fever, Amped 2, Pariah, NHL Rivals Oh. |
"KerplunKuK" wrote in message ... George scribbled : What is the source of your water? The water comes from a rain reservoir, I will obtain a hardness measuring kit. My 5ppm are on the generous side, probably closer to 0 than 5. How do I go about softening an entire pond of water? -- Remove [dot] to reply Gamertag: Devil Ray UK Games: Flat Out, Worms, Links 04, RS3BA, Splinter Cell : CT, Top Spin, Halo 2, GR2, PGR 2, Doom 3, Rallisport 2, Forza, NBA Inside Drive, NFL Fever, Amped 2, Pariah, NHL Rivals Essentially, you don't. I really wouldn't worry too much about it if the fish and plants are doing well. But if by 5 ppm you are referring to the nitrite levels, I would definitely consider doing at least a 5% water change, 10% if you can spare the water. |
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