I'm still working on my pond and trying to stop all the leaks in the falls
and finally got around to buying a test strip kit. The water right out of the
tap has a high Ph. 8.4 is the highest it registers so that is what I have or
maybe higher. Is dumping a lot of "Ph Down" the answer? And just what is that
stuff, citric acid or something like that?

One other question, the test strip also tests for alkalinity which of
course is high. But what is the difference, if th Ph is high, of course it is
going to be alkaline, isn't that correct?

At least it is from a well and there is zero chlorine.

Dave
http://members.tripod.com/~VideoDave

Hi Dave,

Don't dump anything in your pond. If your pH is 8.4 that is near perfect
for Koi and plants. I would get a
good reading on it though. Suggest you buy a test kit that measures
pH 10 or 12.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"DavesVideo" wrote in message
...
I'm still working on my pond and trying to stop all the leaks in the
falls
and finally got around to buying a test strip kit. The water right out of
the
tap has a high Ph. 8.4 is the highest it registers so that is what I have
or
maybe higher. Is dumping a lot of "Ph Down" the answer? And just what is
that
stuff, citric acid or something like that?

One other question, the test strip also tests for alkalinity which of
course is high. But what is the difference, if th Ph is high, of course it
is
going to be alkaline, isn't that correct?

At least it is from a well and there is zero chlorine.

Dave
http://members.tripod.com/~VideoDave

On 28 Jun 2004 18:20:03 GMT, (DavesVideo) wrote:

I'm still working on my pond and trying to stop all the leaks in the falls
and finally got around to buying a test strip kit. The water right out of the
tap has a high Ph. 8.4 is the highest it registers so that is what I have or
maybe higher. Is dumping a lot of "Ph Down" the answer? And just what is that
stuff, citric acid or something like that?

One other question, the test strip also tests for alkalinity which of
course is high. But what is the difference, if th Ph is high, of course it is
going to be alkaline, isn't that correct?

pH is a relationship between hydrogen ions that is used to determine
if the water is acid or alkaline in nature. Fish keeping is best
done in water between pH 6 and pH 9.

KH is also called total alkalinity, referring to trace mineral content
of the water that stabilizes the pH readings. (Sodium bicarbonate or
calcium being the most popular things to add to acidic water.)
Without a total alkalinity reading (KH) of about 100 ppm pH readings
can become meaningless and the wild pH swings may kill fish.

If your water from a well is pH 8.4 you probably would be better off
to live with it rather than lower the pH. Lowering the pH would be
temporary because when you lower the pH you add an acid that reacts
with the KH to remove part of it. Adding water will add KH.

If you insist on lowering the KH the most direct route and just as
safe and a lot more efficient is using Muriatic acid (31% HCl) a doses
of approximately 2 fluid ounces per 1000 gallons per day. (Add
slowly) Mix with about 5 gallons of water and use an aquarium air hose
(1/8") to siphon it into the flow of the falls or filter. Monitor
the KH daily and if it goes below 100ppm get ready to dip out the
floaters. Adding 1/3 lb of baking soda per 1000 gal. will raise the
KH by about 17 ppm.

pH of a pond with plants varies a bit overnight because the plants use
carbon dioxide during the day to produce food and release oxygen into
the water. At night the plants use oxygen and release carbon dioxide
into the water. The carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid lowering the
pH slightly in the morning. Your pond may read pH 8.4 in the morning
and as high as pH 8.8 in the evening, but that is below 9 and other
fish keepers have pH that high and healthy fish.

Regards,

Hal

Hal said:

Fish keeping is best
done in water between pH 6 and pH 9.

I was going by a book that gave 6.8 to 7.6 as the range.

Without a total alkalinity reading (KH) of about 100 ppm pH readings
can become meaningless and the wild pH swings may kill fish.

The alkalinity measured at about 250 ppm.



Dave
http://members.tripod.com/~VideoDave

Throw that book out! LOL
If it wasn't written by an American pondkeeper with lots of goldfish and koi
it ain't worth nuthin' .... VBG

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"DavesVideo" wrote in message
...
Hal said:

Fish keeping is best
done in water between pH 6 and pH 9.

I was going by a book that gave 6.8 to 7.6 as the range.

Without a total alkalinity reading (KH) of about 100 ppm pH readings
can become meaningless and the wild pH swings may kill fish.

The alkalinity measured at about 250 ppm.



Dave
http://members.tripod.com/~VideoDave

On 29 Jun 2004 01:55:13 GMT, (DavesVideo) wrote:

Hal said:

Fish keeping is best
done in water between pH 6 and pH 9.

I was going by a book that gave 6.8 to 7.6 as the range.

Fish keepers who keep fish in an aquarium can control the parameters
more closely than those with 1500 gallon ponds. I suspect your book
author was talking about aquarium maintenance. If your well water
comes out of the ground at pH 8.4 I suspect there are lakes or at
least large ponds in your area that have a pH higher than 7.6 as well.

Without a total alkalinity reading (KH) of about 100 ppm pH readings
can become meaningless and the wild pH swings may kill fish.

The alkalinity measured at about 250 ppm.

You are fortunate. I would try living with that a couple years and
see how it works out.

If you insist on lowering the pH keep checking the KH as you lower the
pH and if the KH goes too low add 1/3 pound of baking soda per 1000
gallons to raise it about a degree or close to 20 ppm.

Regards,

Hal

Dave, KH is a function of pH. Nothing wrong with either. Do not try to
fight the ph. It is a losing battle. I personally keep my KH greater
than 120 ppm. This promises a ph of 8.3 or 8.4. Almost no need to test.
I don't anymore. I only adjust my KH with 12 lb bags of baking soda.

DavesVideo wrote:

I'm still working on my pond and trying to stop all the leaks in the falls
and finally got around to buying a test strip kit. The water right out of the
tap has a high Ph. 8.4 is the highest it registers so that is what I have or
maybe higher. Is dumping a lot of "Ph Down" the answer? And just what is that
stuff, citric acid or something like that?

One other question, the test strip also tests for alkalinity which of
course is high. But what is the difference, if th Ph is high, of course it is
going to be alkaline, isn't that correct?

At least it is from a well and there is zero chlorine.

Dave
http://members.tripod.com/~VideoDave

How big a pond Rick, and what was the pH before adding BSoda?

I've got a 1000 gallon lily pond registering 9.0, I added 4 lbs of BSoda
over 4 days and had a pH of 9.0-9.2. ~ jan

See my ponds and filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 05:27:27 GMT, Rick wrote:

Dave, KH is a function of pH. Nothing wrong with either. Do not try to
fight the ph. It is a losing battle. I personally keep my KH greater
than 120 ppm. This promises a ph of 8.3 or 8.4. Almost no need to test.
I don't anymore. I only adjust my KH with 12 lb bags of baking soda.

How big a pond Rick, and what was the pH before adding BSoda?

I've got a 1000 gallon lily pond registering 9.0, I added 4 lbs of BSoda
over 4 days and had a pH of 9.0-9.2. ~ jan

See my ponds and filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 05:27:27 GMT, Rick wrote:

Dave, KH is a function of pH. Nothing wrong with either. Do not try to
fight the ph. It is a losing battle. I personally keep my KH greater
than 120 ppm. This promises a ph of 8.3 or 8.4. Almost no need to test.
I don't anymore. I only adjust my KH with 12 lb bags of baking soda.