Finaly------No Ammonia!

You are right about the price. I've just gotten the system started in the
right track so I am going to keep an eye on the tests and see if the sodium
bicarbonate will maintain the pH...I'm sure it will.

Rich
"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 1 Mar 2005 07:55:49 -0500, "Richard Holub"
wrote:

I only tested for GH & KH on 01/24/05. Readings = 89.5-GH & 71.5-KH. My
test kit is only a couple of months old and I use it to test my 55 gal.
fish
tank which contain mollies. The pond is 160 gal. and contains four 10"
koi.
Both tests for the pond and the aquarium are totaly different so I know
that
the tests are "true". The aquarium used to house the koi for about one
month when they were 4" long. They outgrew the tank quickly so I built
the
pond in the cellar.

You are right, my pH does change rapidly and I am still trying to figure
this out. If you notice...the pH was pretty steady at first. The changes
started once the nitrite started to increase. At that point the nitrate
also changed (up) and the ammonia (down). I increased the pH from 6.0 to
6.8on 02.23.05 with sodium bicarbonate. I did it again on 02/23/05 from
6.4
to 7.2. I have been using "BULLSEYE 7.0" to maintain my pH but it is too
early to try, I think. I will keep an eye on my pH for now and see.

Rich

The nitrogen cycle uses up the buffer, once it is established *no ammonia
showing* one has to use frequent partial water changes (20-25%/week) to
maintain it. That's IF your new water has good KH. If not, after each
water
change you'll have to add sodium bicarb. Cheaper than Bullseye, I would
assume? Koi prefer a more alkaline environment anyway. (Okay,
I've never asked the koi I've just been told that 7.5-7.8 is their happy
place.) ~ jan


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

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