"Billy" wrote in message
...
In article ,
wrote:
yup. high pH, bring it down.
OK but you do this by dilution or by adding acid
however. baking soda blows off as CO2,
Yes in the presence of acid. Is that what you mean? You wouldn't add baking
soda if the pH is too high (ie alkaline) as it is alkaline and will make it
worse.
need dolomitic
limestone in the pond to increase hardness.
Why? What is wrong with soft water in a pond? What benefit is hard water for
pond life?
Dolomite is roughly calcium magnesium carbonate, that will tend to raise pH,
not what is required in this case.
NaHCO3 + H+ --- Na+ + H2O + CO2(gas) --- Na+ + H2O
Ca(OH)2 + 2(H+) ---- Ca++ + 2(H2O)
Baking soda will work and it is a mild base but the sodium may
present a problem. So use INgrid's approach and use calcium carbonate
(limestone, chalk, a marble bust). The smaller the particle size, the
quicker it will work (It dissolves fairly slowly.) If the pH is
below 5, you may want to treat your pond with baking soda (stir and wait
a couple of days and then test) and then withdraw some water
into 5 gal. buckets (or larger) where you have the calcium carbonate,
Wait 24 to 48 hr.s and return the liquid, not the solids, to the
pond (repeat as needed). Don't add the solid calcium carbonate
because it works slowly and you may over shoot pH 7 and the pond
will go basic.
This is all fine for treating an acid pond. Portland cement and its products
will make the pond too alkaline.
David