If the pH is high or low, it will become more stable and nearer 8.4 by the
addition of baking soda. When the pH is near 8.0 in the afternoon, add the
baking soda. I monitor the KH with the drop type test and if it gets down
close to 100, I add about 2 pounds per 1000 gallons. The pH is always
stable as long as I keep the KH up. For my ponds with bead filters, I add
about 2/3 of a 10 pound box to the large pond and the other 1/3 to the
smaller pond, about once every 10 days to 3 weeks, based on testing.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"NewbieBill" wrote in message
m...
Okay oh helpers of the pond knowledge infirmed. I bought some strips
today and got a few more guesses at some new numbers. My afternoon ph
was once again good - 7.8/8.0. My Alkalinity reading was between 120
and 200 ppm (hard to discern those shades of green). My hardness, as
expected is hard I would say about 250 ppm. Ammonia, Nitrates,
Nitrites all 0. My morning was once again off the scale at bright
violet. My only logical conclusion is stating to be that I am off the
scale acidic (which seems worse) and not alkaline. I dont know my
color progressions. My scale starts at 7.4 which is kinda harvest
gold, moves higher ph to rust brown, dark brown, light magenta, darker
magenta. I am using an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Sal****er test kit.
I was told this would measure fine. Sal****er test on fresh will
work, but not the other way around. Their freshwater only went up to
about 7.4. The new strips I got would tend to confirm that since they
do measure Nitrate, Nitrite and ph as the same. Any suggestions? - I
am so afraid I am hurting my little fishez, but I am also afraid of
trying to adjust when its not called for. My first bloom I panicked
and was ready to drain the pond, scrub the bottom and start over. 15
days later (with experienced assurances, with a little algae fix
followed by couple of bags of cornmeal my water is clear - yippie .
Thanxx
Bill Brister - Austin, Texas