I cannot recall posts concerning benefits or detriments from adding wood ashes from a stove to our ponds. So I'm throwing out a few questions.

Recently I began testing our pond water with strips marketed by Atlantic Water Gardens, specifically their Trion-TS ionizer test strips.

I am a little puzzled by the readings. pH is approx. 6.8, copper negligible, total alkalinity 40 or less. As our soils here are sticky, gooey clay, a product of Mancos shale weathering, and reportedly alkaline and basic, it surprises me that the pond water is not the same.

The main water supply for the pond is mountain derived river water delivered as irrigation water through a pipe available April through October. I have not tested the incoming water; I'll do that ASAP.

My understanding is that wood ashes are highly alkaline and basic. I have no idea if it matters what species of wood have been burned. We burn all sorts of stuff-oak, maple, two kinds of pines, aspen, elm, cottonwood, cherry, apple, plenty of others. I'm an arborist and bring home wood all the time from job sites.

So my questions are is it acceptable to add ashes to the pond, how much is enough/too much, what do I watch for other than measurable changes in chemistry?

If there are threads on the forum, please don't hesitate to link them.

Thanks. BTW three nights ago I removed a 4 pound even, 19" LMB, and a 6.8 pound RNBT from our 1/4 acre puddle. Both of these are pond records. It was great to get the bass out of there, as I have YP and am trying to continue to grow edible sized ones. The trout succumbed to the stress of capture. It was saddening to see her die. But there are more rainbows and tigers out there growing to replace her. Optimal BG.