"KerplunKuK" wrote in message
...
George scribbled :
Perhaps if the person posting his question could post his water
parameters
(pH, ammmonia, nitrites, nitrates, general hardness), we could give him
more
specific
information.
Will do that tomorrow and post the results. Thanks for all the advoce so
far.
--
Remove [dot] to reply
Gamertag: Devil Ray UK
Games: Flat Out, Worms, Links 04, RS3BA, Splinter Cell : CT, Top Spin,
Halo 2, GR2, PGR 2, Doom 3, Rallisport 2, Forza, NBA Inside Drive, NFL
Fever, Amped 2, Pariah, NHL Rivals
Glad to help. Got any pics of your pond? Don't post them here, but if you
can post a link, we like pond pictures when we can get them. Also, as for
using a bubbler, pH becomes a problem when it changes rapidly and as the
water heats up in summer. Koi and goldfish do best at 7.5 (neutral) but
will tolerate 0.75 plus or minus this as long as it is what they are used
to. High pH (alkaline) conditions makes ammonia more toxic. The tendency of
some koi shows to freely bubble their vats blows off CO2 and raises pH. At
that point, even minor increases in ammonia levels can cause big problems
with the fish. More of a problem, especially in bare liner ponds with high
fish loads, is loss of alkalinity. On the other hand, warm summer waters
hold less oxygen than cold winter water. Ironically, most people add a
bubbler in the winter to keep a hole open in the ice, and remove the
bubbler in the summer. I am of the opinion that as long as your pond is
not overstocked, adequate circulation and breaking up the surface with a
waterfall splash will provide adequate oxygen for your fish in the summer
without adversely affecting the pH. I have limestone rock in my pond to act
as a buffer, and as part of the waterfall. It helps keep the pH and
alkalinity stable, and slowly leaches trace elements into the water
(depending on the type of limestone). But, it is always wise to
periodically check you water parameters, especially in summer, and
especially pH, nitrates, and alkalinity.
Here is a link to my pond with the filter set up (I have more plants in the
pond than are shown in these pictures, which are a couple of years old):
http://home.insightbb.com/~jryates/filter.htm