Sue, you don't need to tell me about the rain: it *tries" to screw with my
water chemistry, too. When the rain comes from "inland" over the phosphate
mines, I've had my KH drop by 80 points in a few hours. But you've got a few
problems going on he new pond, heavy rain, and that (expletive deleted)
algae.

a. At this point, I'd stop with the epsom salts and lime, as you're GH is
getting high. Don't add any more until your GH drops by 50 points or so. I'd
try to keep it in the 100-125 range.

b. Keep adding the baking soda. I keep my KH in the 11-13 drop range
(~200 to 230). I don't even test my pH any more unless I suspect a problem,
because I know that my pH will be 8.2 AM and 8.4 PM, rock solid.

BUT. . . your pond hasn't stabilized yet. It's still new. So until it
stabilizes, you need to check the pH also, otherwise you won't know what's
going on.

c. You say "brown algae" - is it that stuff that floats to the top during
the day and drops back down at night? If so, welcome to the world of
cyanobacteria. I finally sent samples of my algae to a lab for diagnosis.
This will be a whole OTHER topic of conversation! But let me know and we can
work on that, too.

Even if it's just plain ol' algae, it's a problem. At night, plants
(all those potted ones you have and the algae) reverse photosynthesis and
use up oxygen (instead of creating it, like they do during the day), and
release CO2 (carbon dioxide), which is acid. That drops your pH. During the
day, the plants create O2, which raises your pH. So, you have a yo-yo effect
going here. Obviously, one of the best things you could do towards
stabilizing the pH would be to get the algae problem under control, which is
easier said than done. However, in the meantime, I suggest adding air to
your pond with airstones or a good air manifold. It will serve a two-fold
purpose: a) our water temps are HIGH during the day, and warm water carries
less oxygen than cooler water, so it will make the fish more comfortable;
and b) it will keep the oxygen levels higher at night, and reduce the pH
swing. Besides, my fish like to swim through the bubbles: I think it
tickles!

Let me know if there's anything else I can help with.

Lee





"Sue Walsh" wrote in message
om...
Theron wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 00:58:17 GMT, "Nedra"
wrote:

Bob, isn't the KH low though? I know baking soda will
raise the KH -and pH will stablize at 8.4 - but I have no
idea what baking soda will do to lower the pH. Seems
like the buffering should also be addressed.

Nedra

Baking Soda will also lower the Ph to 8.4. Its strange but it will
raise it if its low, and lower it if its high.

Theron

I have tried to stabilize my KH/GH/PH for a 10 day straight period I
by added baking soda and limestone every day in the amounts that Rod
recommended.
(6oz baking soda + 1 1/2 oz epsom salt + 6 oz pelletized limestone
daily to raise KH/GH each one degree daily. He recommened this slow
raise due to fish in pond).

Note: I was only able to find the one type of limestone here.

It hasn't worked. I think because of all the rain we get here in
Florida (we have had rain every afternoon for at least a month now).
I finally gave up. Any ideas on how to overcome the KH/PH flux with
all this rain?

Last reading were KH 180, GH 150, but PH bounces from 7.8 AM to 9+
late afternoon. I was not able to get either the KH or GH any higher.

Pond is in full sun so heat is also a factor as water gets to high
80's. I'm running a 22' stream into 1650 gallon pond stocked with 70
bunches of anachris, a few reed plants, a half dozen iris and dozen
water lilies which right now are covering about 1/2 the surface. Pump
is a 3600 pondmaster going thru a Savio skimmer with one filter pad in
it. Savio has only been running for the last month. Pond is stocked
with 9 Goldfish (3 are babies about 3" long, other 6 range from 6" up
to 9"). I only feed the fish occasionally (maybe once a week). Pond
has been up and running since early May and I can only see down about
10" due to brown algae. Getting ready to install my biofilter in the
next few days. Any suggestions?

Sue W