Alkalinity

Around 40-ppms........Thanks
"George" wrote in message
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"Paul" wrote in message
...
Using the test strips.
"George" wrote in message
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"Paul" wrote in message
...
How do I raise the alkalinity content in my pond water, its low.

What is the measurement you are getting and how are you measuring it?



What was the measurement that you got?

On Sun, 29 May 2005 12:51:03 -0400, "Paul" wrote:

Around 40-ppms........Thanks

I'd want to raise that too. ) ~ jan

~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

"Paul" wrote in message
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Around 40-ppms........Thanks

That is a little low, but not dangerlously so. If it were me, I'd just add
some limestone rocks to the pond and leave it at that. I have a limestone
waterfall, and my general hardness stays right at 80 mg/L, which is normal
for freshwater ponds.

"George" wrote in message
news:6_xle.10147$Is4.5411@attbi_s21...

"Paul" wrote in message
...
Using the test strips.
"George" wrote in message
news:Ewqle.12407$g66.705@attbi_s71...

"Paul" wrote in message
...
How do I raise the alkalinity content in my pond water, its low.

What is the measurement you are getting and how are you measuring it?



What was the measurement that you got?

"George" wrote in message
news:vsKme.20927$IC6.144@attbi_s72...

"Paul" wrote in message
news
Around 40-ppms........Thanks

That is a little low, but not dangerlously so. If it were me, I'd just
add
some limestone rocks to the pond and leave it at that. I have a limestone
waterfall, and my general hardness stays right at 80 mg/L, which is normal
for freshwater ponds.
=======================
And they're totally safe. They raise it slowly and gradually - no shock to
the fish.
--
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EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
Do not feed the trolls.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message
...

"George" wrote in message
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"Paul" wrote in message
news
Around 40-ppms........Thanks

That is a little low, but not dangerlously so. If it were me, I'd just
add
some limestone rocks to the pond and leave it at that. I have a
limestone
waterfall, and my general hardness stays right at 80 mg/L, which is
normal
for freshwater ponds.
=======================
And they're totally safe. They raise it slowly and gradually - no shock
to
the fish.
--

Exactly. And the limestone keeps the alkalinity from falling.

Exactly. And the limestone keeps the alkalinity from falling.

In fact, the more that the alkalinity falls (i.e., the water is
becoming acidic), the more likely the limestone will react with
the acids in the water to, um, increase alkalinity.

This is why certain fine organic sands are to be preferred in a
marine environment, where higher alkalinity is particularly
important.

C//

Like how much Limestone. One big piece or smaller ones. Thanks...
"Courageous" wrote in message
...

Exactly. And the limestone keeps the alkalinity from falling.

In fact, the more that the alkalinity falls (i.e., the water is
becoming acidic), the more likely the limestone will react with
the acids in the water to, um, increase alkalinity.

This is why certain fine organic sands are to be preferred in a
marine environment, where higher alkalinity is particularly
important.

C//

"Paul" wrote in message
...
Like how much Limestone. One big piece or smaller ones. Thanks...
"Courageous" wrote in message
...

Exactly. And the limestone keeps the alkalinity from falling.

In fact, the more that the alkalinity falls (i.e., the water is
becoming acidic), the more likely the limestone will react with
the acids in the water to, um, increase alkalinity.

This is why certain fine organic sands are to be preferred in a
marine environment, where higher alkalinity is particularly
important.

C//


I don't know that there is a specific formula as not all limestone is the
same. Limestones vary greatly in their solubility and hardness. I have
about 300-400 lbs of it built up as a waterfall and for structural support
for my biofilter in one end my 1,400-gallon pond (although not all of it is
under water). Nearly all of it is dolomitic limestone (high magnesium
Limestone containing a significant fraction of dolomite), so it is harder
than pure limestone (which has calcite as a primary mineral) and has a
relatively low solubility. Even so, enough of it gets dissolved over time
that it keeps both the pH and the alkalinity in the proper ranges. Oh, and
always clean the rock before use.

On Tue, 31 May 2005 23:04:13 -0400, "Paul"
wrote:

Like how much Limestone. One big piece or smaller ones. Thanks...
"Courageous" wrote in message
.. .

Exactly. And the limestone keeps the alkalinity from falling.

In fact, the more that the alkalinity falls (i.e., the water is
becoming acidic), the more likely the limestone will react with
the acids in the water to, um, increase alkalinity.

I've learned different people seem to have a little different
experience and I'd like to share mine. I've been using ground garden
limestone from the garden shop for a number of years. I place about
2 or 3 cups in a sock, tie the top and toss it into the flow of the
water going through the filter. I also add another couple cups
around the pond. The reason for the other couple cups is limestone
doesn't dissolve quickly like baking soda and quite frankly is a bit
frightening after a heavy rain. (Limestone dissolves in less than pH
7.8.) I just don't get the KH readings I feel I should, probably
because the limestone is working so slowly. My normal pH readings
are 7.8 to 8.2 and KH drops after a rain, sometimes as low as one
degree, (1 degree = 17.9 ppm.) but the pH never goes below 7.0 and the
fish don't seem to mind. In fact the seem more active after a rain
nibbling at the liner and collar stones they haven't been able to
reach before.

Regards,

Hal

"Courageous" wrote in message
...

Exactly. And the limestone keeps the alkalinity from falling.

In fact, the more that the alkalinity falls (i.e., the water is
becoming acidic), the more likely the limestone will react with
the acids in the water to, um, increase alkalinity.

This is why certain fine organic sands are to be preferred in a
marine environment, where higher alkalinity is particularly
important.

C//

In a marine environment, it is critical to have either aragonite sea sand
or a crushed coral substrate to prevent both Alkalinity and pH crashes.