The ammonia will be converted by bacteria to nitrites as soon as the filter
bacteria start to work. All surfaces of the pond are considered filter
surfaces by the bacteria. You will need to watch the ammonia as you add
fish and fish food, and then start watching for the nitrites. Amquel will
bind the ammonia into the ammonium form which is non toxic, but the bacteria
can still use as food. As the nitrites start to climb, the addition of 0.1%
salt, a little less than one pound per hundred gallons, will keep the fish
from taking in the nitrites that cause brown blood disease. After the
nitrite reducing bacteria build up, then nitrites are converted to nitrates,
which are just plant food and much less toxic to the fish. You will have to
go through the cycle.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"*muffin*" wrote in message
...
the testing kit is the liquid drops ( the dip stick one I did yesterday,
read way OVER 8.5 for ph/alkaline)
( I'll look for a 2 part ammonia tester tomorrow,,,,,,, do they have 'em
at
pet stores?)

umm I don't have the pump running either,, yet,( for filter & water
falls,,,, havent built the falls yet
will that help??

somewhere I read using "Amquel" to lower the ammonia? is there anythign
else? ( can *this* be purchased at a pet store??)

I have a couple gold fish ,, 'ON HOLD' at store,, needed to pick them up &
put in pond this weekend,,,,,,, umm, bad idea?


Muffin dang, had a pond 20 yrs ago & never tested anything, wonder how
it
survived!

OK,this morning tested with fresh water aquarium testing kit.
PH is 7.8
KH is in range of 200-400 PPM
GH is in range of 100-200 PPM
ammonia is 2-3 PPM

there are no plants of fish in the pond

ok, now what? is there anything to fix? & with what?
(I'll test again tonight)


everything sounds fine to me eept the amonia without fish there
should be none
which type of kit are you using dip sticks or liquid drops ?

one of our chem gurus jump in here and help with this one

John Rutz