High Ph

I will probably be posting regularly for a while untill not only my
pond is in balance but my understanding of it all I have been
bringing this pond back to life for the first time, for me. I am in
sunny Austin, Texas. I felt like I was making excellent progress with
the 'health' of my pond till the last 3 or 4 days. Since then I have
noticed String Algae developing (water is clear) and my ph rising
steadily. Ammonia, Nitrates are at 0, Nitrates minimal if any. Don't
have a hardness test. While I haven't been testing it very long I
felt like my ph WAS normally around 8/8.2, apparently about the norm
around here. Now I am getting readings at bottom of my chart which
only goes to 8.8 and I suspect my color is higher than that. I may
have done (at least) 2 things wrong. Most of my numerous plants and
lillies have only been there a few weeks. When I potted them I did
use a topsoil mix which had no vermiculite, fertilizer etc. but was
somewhat loamy, sandwiched top and bottom by pea gravel. Perhaps no
coincidence 2 days after building a little in-pond stack of river
rocks and Moss Boulder to create a simulated waterfall splash (from my
outflow pipe) I noticed my ph rising (also so did the temperatures and
sunlight). I have been using the same material to raise my pots. So
I guess this post I am soliciting advice as to a direction to attack
first. Most likely the rocks, soil or other things. My first 'bloom'
I really panicked and I don't want to repot all my plants, put them on
what and take away my waterfall, if this is just a balancing thing
that requires smaller adjustments. Thanxx - Bill

On 30 Mar 2004 20:36:49 -0800, (NewbieBill) wrote:

I will probably be posting regularly for a while untill not only my
pond is in balance but my understanding of it all I have been
bringing this pond back to life for the first time, for me. I am in
sunny Austin, Texas. I felt like I was making excellent progress with
the 'health' of my pond till the last 3 or 4 days. Since then I have
noticed String Algae developing (water is clear) and my ph rising
steadily. Ammonia, Nitrates are at 0, Nitrates minimal if any. Don't
have a hardness test. While I haven't been testing it very long I
felt like my ph WAS normally around 8/8.2, apparently about the norm
around here. Now I am getting readings at bottom of my chart which
only goes to 8.8 and I suspect my color is higher than that. I may
have done (at least) 2 things wrong. Most of my numerous plants and
lillies have only been there a few weeks. When I potted them I did
use a topsoil mix which had no vermiculite, fertilizer etc. but was
somewhat loamy, sandwiched top and bottom by pea gravel. Perhaps no
coincidence 2 days after building a little in-pond stack of river
rocks and Moss Boulder to create a simulated waterfall splash (from my
outflow pipe) I noticed my ph rising (also so did the temperatures and
sunlight). I have been using the same material to raise my pots. So
I guess this post I am soliciting advice as to a direction to attack
first. Most likely the rocks, soil or other things. My first 'bloom'
I really panicked and I don't want to repot all my plants, put them on
what and take away my waterfall, if this is just a balancing thing
that requires smaller adjustments. Thanxx - Bill


What time of day are you measuring pH?

Diana Walstad reports of a sof****er lake that changed from 5.7 in the
morning to 9.6 at noon. I
this is due to the plants drawing out the CO2 from the water.
--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

Charles wrote in message . ..
On 30 Mar 2004 20:36:49 -0800, (NewbieBill) wrote:

It appears to be bass ackwards. As far as I can tell from my narrow
range on the scale it was once again 8.8+ at 10 am and 7.8/8 at 3 pm.
Would water hardness (which I can't currently measure) make any sense
of this. I would guess our water is a little hard, but not sure.

What time of day are you measuring pH?

Diana Walstad reports of a sof****er lake that changed from 5.7 in the
morning to 9.6 at noon. I
this is due to the plants drawing out the CO2 from the water.

Both readings appear to be fine to me
You can get the KH measuring 'kit' at PetSmart, etc. Very
reasonable.- around $5 to $7.
It is one you really shouldn't be without.

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

"NewbieBill" wrote in message
om...
Charles wrote in message
. ..
On 30 Mar 2004 20:36:49 -0800, (NewbieBill) wrote:

It appears to be bass ackwards. As far as I can tell from my narrow
range on the scale it was once again 8.8+ at 10 am and 7.8/8 at 3 pm.
Would water hardness (which I can't currently measure) make any sense
of this. I would guess our water is a little hard, but not sure.

What time of day are you measuring pH?

Diana Walstad reports of a sof****er lake that changed from 5.7 in the
morning to 9.6 at noon. I
this is due to the plants drawing out the CO2 from the water.

Both readings appear to be fine to me
You can get the KH measuring 'kit' at PetSmart, etc. Very
reasonable.- around $5 to $7.
It is one you really shouldn't be without.

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

"NewbieBill" wrote in message
om...
Charles wrote in message
. ..
On 30 Mar 2004 20:36:49 -0800, (NewbieBill) wrote:

It appears to be bass ackwards. As far as I can tell from my narrow
range on the scale it was once again 8.8+ at 10 am and 7.8/8 at 3 pm.
Would water hardness (which I can't currently measure) make any sense
of this. I would guess our water is a little hard, but not sure.

What time of day are you measuring pH?

Diana Walstad reports of a sof****er lake that changed from 5.7 in the
morning to 9.6 at noon. I
this is due to the plants drawing out the CO2 from the water.

On 31 Mar 2004 14:14:16 -0800, (NewbieBill) wrote:

It appears to be bass ackwards. As far as I can tell from my narrow
range on the scale it was once again 8.8+ at 10 am and 7.8/8 at 3 pm.
Would water hardness (which I can't currently measure) make any sense
of this. I would guess our water is a little hard, but not sure.

There are two hardness measurements GH or general hardness is usually
a reading of calcium and magnesium. KH or carbonate hardness
measures the buffering agent in the water that keeps the pH from wild
swings.

Plants use sunlight and carbon dioxide to make food and release oxygen
during the day, but oxygen is used at night when the sun isn't shining
and carbon dioxide is released into the pond making carbonic acid,
which lowers the pH reading at night or early in the morning.

Before you use a pH down agent check the KH, or try baking soda first
if the pH is too high. Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, is a great
pH buffer.

http://srac.tamu.edu/464fs.pdf
http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

Regards,

Hal

Hal,
KH is less complicated and easy to fix as you state -
with baking soda. pH will level out at 8.4 with baking soda...
in fact, I've been told it is difficult to overdose the baking soda.
One thing in its use .... add about half a lb. mixed in pond
water every other day.

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

"Hal" wrote in message
...
On 31 Mar 2004 14:14:16 -0800, (NewbieBill) wrote:

It appears to be bass ackwards. As far as I can tell from my narrow
range on the scale it was once again 8.8+ at 10 am and 7.8/8 at 3 pm.
Would water hardness (which I can't currently measure) make any sense
of this. I would guess our water is a little hard, but not sure.

There are two hardness measurements GH or general hardness is usually
a reading of calcium and magnesium. KH or carbonate hardness
measures the buffering agent in the water that keeps the pH from wild
swings.

Plants use sunlight and carbon dioxide to make food and release oxygen
during the day, but oxygen is used at night when the sun isn't shining
and carbon dioxide is released into the pond making carbonic acid,
which lowers the pH reading at night or early in the morning.

Before you use a pH down agent check the KH, or try baking soda first
if the pH is too high. Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, is a great
pH buffer.

http://srac.tamu.edu/464fs.pdf
http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

Regards,

Hal

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 04:20:13 GMT, "Nedra"
wrote:

Hal,
KH is less complicated and easy to fix as you state -
with baking soda. pH will level out at 8.4 with baking soda...
in fact, I've been told it is difficult to overdose the baking soda.
One thing in its use .... add about half a lb. mixed in pond
water every other day.

Depending on the size of the pond. Can we compromise with Suggested
dose 1/3 pound per 1000 gallons? That will raise KH by 20 ppm. or
about 1 degree. You can continue that as many days as necessary to
get the pH stable.

Regards,

Hal

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 04:20:13 GMT, "Nedra"
wrote:

Hal,
KH is less complicated and easy to fix as you state -
with baking soda. pH will level out at 8.4 with baking soda...
in fact, I've been told it is difficult to overdose the baking soda.
One thing in its use .... add about half a lb. mixed in pond
water every other day.

Depending on the size of the pond. Can we compromise with Suggested
dose 1/3 pound per 1000 gallons? That will raise KH by 20 ppm. or
about 1 degree. You can continue that as many days as necessary to
get the pH stable.

Regards,

Hal

Hal,
KH is less complicated and easy to fix as you state -
with baking soda. pH will level out at 8.4 with baking soda...
in fact, I've been told it is difficult to overdose the baking soda.
One thing in its use .... add about half a lb. mixed in pond
water every other day.

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

"Hal" wrote in message
...
On 31 Mar 2004 14:14:16 -0800, (NewbieBill) wrote:

It appears to be bass ackwards. As far as I can tell from my narrow
range on the scale it was once again 8.8+ at 10 am and 7.8/8 at 3 pm.
Would water hardness (which I can't currently measure) make any sense
of this. I would guess our water is a little hard, but not sure.

There are two hardness measurements GH or general hardness is usually
a reading of calcium and magnesium. KH or carbonate hardness
measures the buffering agent in the water that keeps the pH from wild
swings.

Plants use sunlight and carbon dioxide to make food and release oxygen
during the day, but oxygen is used at night when the sun isn't shining
and carbon dioxide is released into the pond making carbonic acid,
which lowers the pH reading at night or early in the morning.

Before you use a pH down agent check the KH, or try baking soda first
if the pH is too high. Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, is a great
pH buffer.

http://srac.tamu.edu/464fs.pdf
http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

Regards,

Hal