The level of the PH was an extrapolation since my test kit only measures to
8.6. Same kit I have been using for my aquarium. I don't have a kit to
measure KH. I would like to keep the PH in the range of 7.6 to 8.0. I
expect the PH to lower as the pond matures into the fall and would like to
make the pond comfortable for Koi. No magic number just a comfort zone for
PH. I am in Ottawa Canada so the temperature right now is varying from 58
deg F to 70 deg F. With all the fluctuations in other environmental
conditions I thought keeping a stable neutral PH would be really helpful to
Koi. I measure the PH 3 times a day now, morning 8am, 12 noon, and 8pm. I
adjust the PH in the evening by adding approx 100ml of Muriatic acid. The
variation from 8pm one day to 8am the next day, ie this morning
, is plus
0.2 PH. The reading this morning was 7.8 and if it follows the same pattern
as the last week it will continue to rise throughout the day and measure 8
to 8.2 by 8pm tonight. Remember that I have added 100ml of Muriatic acid
the night before so the change would probably be more dramatic if the acid
were not added.
Thanks,
Rob
"RichToyBox" wrote in message
news:JOuuc.27276$Ly.22418@attbi_s01...
How high did the pH go? If it did not go above 9 then it is ok. Trying
to
lower it with acid to get it down to 7 or some other magic number consumes
alkalinity as measured with a KH hardness kit. The KH is what helps you
keep a stable pH and should be around 100 or more. If it drops to less
than
40 then you are in danger of a pH crash. Are you reading the pH morning
and
evening? If the KH is low, then you will have very large changes morning
low to evening high.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"rob" wrote in message
.cable.rogers.com...
Hi,
I just finished my new pond in the spring. EPDM liner, 12 x 10 x 4'6".
I added plants which are doing well and my kids wanted some fish. I
want
to
put Koi in the pond.
I did some reading and realized that 0.1% salt in the pond was the first
thing to do since my PH was fine.
I added the salt up to 0.8% and noticed that my PH went through the
roof.
I
have been adjusting the PH by adding Muriatic acid. The PH drops
temporarily and then begins to rise. When the PH reaches 8.2 or higher
I
add more of the acid. Every day for the last week I have been doing
this.
What in my pond is causing the PH to continue to want to go high? I
have
no
concrete and only plants with unscented kitty litter as the soil. In
all
there is approximately 18 kgs of kitty litter.
Rob