Hi All

We have recently dug, lined and filled a pond.

We had someone round to lay some paving stones round the edge. They did
a reasonable job apart from one thing - there now seems to be quite a
lot of cement coating the liner all the way round.

I appreciate that this shouldn't have happened, but it has, and all I
want to know is a) will it poison my tadpoles and plants (I've no
immediate intention to put fish in the pond) and b) what's the best way
of removing it? I've tried wiping it out of the pond with a cloth but
this just disturbs it.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Regards

Will

We had someone round to lay some paving stones round the edge. They did
a reasonable job apart from one thing - there now seems to be quite a
lot of cement coating the liner all the way round.

I appreciate that this shouldn't have happened, but it has, and all I
want to know is a) will it poison my tadpoles and plants (I've no
immediate intention to put fish in the pond) and b) what's the best way
of removing it? I've tried wiping it out of the pond with a cloth but
this just disturbs it.
Will

Hi Will,

Take a water sample down to the pet store, or better, buy a high range pH
test kit. That will tell you if you've got a problem. Cement can make the
pH quite high, to the point some plants can't take up nutrients, so they
will yellow or be light green. IME, water hyacinth have actually died at pH
above 8.5. It is wise to get a tester that will read up to 9.0. So be sure,
if having the store read it, to ask how high the test kit they're using
reads. Some people figure if it is just a tad darker than the highest
color, it isn't that much higher, when that is so not true.

Hopefully you'll find out it is no problem. The tad poles should be fine,
they can survive in high pH, IME. ~ jan
--------------
See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
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