I agree with Nedra and Jan.. pea gravel, sand, etc makes fine potting media,
instead of soil. No nutrients to leach out into the pond and cause further
algal blooms.
I use the gravel as it is lighter than the sand, and much easier to clean up
if you knock it over..
Happy ponding,
Greg
--


"Nedra" wrote in message
news
Jan, I notice you mention Muriatic Acid ... My Pond pH
is always high. I use 1 cup of Baking Soda for every 1,000
gallon of water. I do this as a matter of course. Every two
weeks or so I put in another 1 cup of Baking Soda - next
day I test KH. It has worked fine for the pond. This fish
pond water is then used to flood the lotus pond.

I notice you are using sand for a planting medium ... works
fine, doesn't it? The gals who were advising me told me not
to use sand .... I didn't listen (!) and has worked for me.
That must have been one of the things that worked for you
too. That, and adding the touch of acid to the water

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

"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 08:37:11 GMT, "jrock64" wrote:

Zone 4 NW Iowa
Temps in the low 90's
PH 8.5 to 9+

There's your problem, high temps and the plant is wanting to grow, grow,
grow, but the pH is limiting its ability to take up nutrients. Check
your
Kh, give me how many gallons and what critters resides in your pond and
I
can help you lower that pH with muriatic acid. Wonder if MirAcid makes a
spike? ~ jan

See my ponds and filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
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