Try baking soda. It has a wonderful habit of wanting to reach 8.4 and keep
it there . . . it will raise a lower pH and lower a higher pH. Your KH is
already high, and a little higher won't hurt. 1 lb. per 1000 gals. will
raise KH by 70 points (dH = 17.9 x number of drops). You may wish to check
the "specific needs" for your more exotic fish, but a higher KH will not
hurt the koi (which is what I mostly know about).

Lee
PS: BTW, I'd *kill* for your pond!


"John A. Kostelac" wrote in message
...
Thanks to all.

What's the deal with bull frogs? One response mentioned them. Are they
worse
than the toads?

As for chemistry, I am not too concerned about chem changes. I can't seem
to
get the chemistry t ever move for any reason. We have a slightly different
pond than I have read about on the list. About five years ago we put in a
scuba diving swimming pool. It is 13 feet deep and comes to close to
50,000
gallons. After a duck invasion we converted part of the shallow area to
bog
filter/shallow fish and plant area leaving about 44,000 gallons for the
fish
and us to swim in. It has really livened up scuba practice. The chemistry
has always been odd, but steady as a rock.

pH ~ 8.8 -9.0
ammonia=0
nitrite=0
nitrate=max 20ppm
TA=250
KH300
salt=0.06%

We have a huge variety of fish from koi to pacu to angels, including
guppies, goldfish, gourami's, tiger barbs, clown barbs, 10 very large
plecos
(no string algae ever), tin foil barbs (large), sword tails (millions of
babies), water striders (not invited), two small red eared sliders, and
occasionally 3 humans. We turn the pond over via waterfall and 240 watts
UV
about 3 times a day. Additionally we have a large particle filter systems
that runs all the water through in about 3 days and a diatomaceous earth
(60
sqft) filter that turns the pond over 3 times a day. Add to this a booster
pump that pushes about 8000 GPH in a nice circle around the main bowl of
the
pool to provide current. The net is clear water kept at 77F all year
round.
Total aquatic fun.

I have been trying to convince the pH to come down to about 8.0 for the
last
4 weeks to no avail. I have been adding about 20 oz muriatic acid each
evening to one of the treatment tanks that all the water passes through.
Again, not budging. Neither is the TA. But everyone eats and plays and
grows
and BREEDS like mad. Even the tiger barbs were observed scattering eggs
(though none hatched that we could tell). So that ends up a minor worry. I
had tried a large bale of peat and running the pond water over it to see
if
it would lower the pH, but after 3 weeks I saw no diff. Any ideas anyone?

Thanks,

John


"John A. Kostelac" wrote in message
...
The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around our
pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and in
a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads
(Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On the
one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural suggestions
for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John