Serious Ammonia problem - 08/01/08 10:41 PM
Hello fellas, First post here.
I have a new/ small pond, about 60,000 gallons 30x100 5' in the center. The pond was filled for the first time mid june from my well and is aerated with a bottom diffuser.
I fertilized with 5 lbs cottonseed meal and 5 lbs of 5-20-5 within the first few days. My plan was to let the pond mature a season before introducing fish.
The water had a nice bloom about 16-18" for the first few weeks but now things have fallen apart. visibility is 8-10" and there is 4-5ppm Ammonia showing on a test.
My well has 320ppm hardness 170ppm alkalinity and 40ppm Nitrate.
One strange thing is the Nitrate has tested 0ppm in the pond for the last couple weeks.
Any ideas where the Ammonia is coming from?
Travis
I have a new/ small pond, about 60,000 gallons 30x100 5' in the center. The pond was filled for the first time mid june from my well and is aerated with a bottom diffuser.
I fertilized with 5 lbs cottonseed meal and 5 lbs of 5-20-5 within the first few days. My plan was to let the pond mature a season before introducing fish.
The water had a nice bloom about 16-18" for the first few weeks but now things have fallen apart. visibility is 8-10" and there is 4-5ppm Ammonia showing on a test.
My well has 320ppm hardness 170ppm alkalinity and 40ppm Nitrate.
One strange thing is the Nitrate has tested 0ppm in the pond for the last couple weeks.
Any ideas where the Ammonia is coming from?
Travis