Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization DIY Alkaline Test?

Is there a DIY alkaline test kit to determine if your pond needs lime?

You can usually find a simple one at a pool store or an aquarium supply shop.

If you want to get more serious about testing your water quality, these kits are the way to go...they have all the major water quality tests and a good instruction book: http://www.hach.com/hc/search.product.de...azJOREF3TQ==%7C ...but if you only use it once or twice a year, it probably isn't worth it.

I bought a Hach test kit quite a few years ago. I used it 3 or 4 times and then set it on the shelf. By the next year, the chemicals had deteriorated and I haven't messed with it since.

Now, I just buy pool test strips. They are general vicinity and not really what I need. However, buying new chemicals can get expensive.

I found a pool test kit and checked my ponds ph and it's about 7.8 ppm when I tested it this evening (it was about 85° F today).

How much more will a Alkalinity test tell me?

I found this recommendation for ponds.
Alkalinity above 20 ppm
pH between 6.5 and 8 ppm

Does that sound correct?

See if this helps.






https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/getFactSheet/whichfactsheet/112/

Well I bought some pool test strips that can measure total alkalinity.

They were a bust they have a range from zero alkalinity or 40 ppm on the two lowest scales. Mine looked to be closest to the zero color.

Dieselscout80

Coleparmer.com sells a total alkalinity test kit Ive used it to test some of my customers ponds it works great. The cost is about $35 bucks. If you order one the part # is K-9810

When I contacted the Ag Extension Agent in my county, he recommended I take samples from the bottom over multiple points in an 8 acre pond already filled. Other people say just a water test kit will do the job. Can you comment on these two? Can I tell how much lime I need just with the alkalinity water test kit?

Hatch has a # of test kits starting at about $ 35.

The water reflects the dirt in the watershed. Over time the water will reflect the dirt. If you have springs that will also effect results. Soil tests give more data like nutrients N , P, K etc. Good water tests can provide this also but standard alkalinity kits don't do that.

Dear REP,

I am a newbie and you can pretty well find out anything you need to know for the folks here. EWEST is a walking encyclopedia on this kind of stuff and I highly recommend your taking his advice.

I recently had similar questions as you. You can read this thread and it will already have some of the answers you are looking for:

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=274512#Post274512

The greatest advice I received was doing the soil sample. Even though you have 8 acres under water (I had almost 5) it isn't that difficult to collect the samples. All you need is an empty soup or canned vegetable can. Wash it in your dishwasher and then thoroughly rinse it out with water from your pond. About have way the side of the can, punch holes all around the circumference so water can easily drain out. Its enough to make it easier but still leaves plenty of room for your sample off the bottom. Use bailing, rebar ties or any kind of wire and attach the can to a long pole (I used one of the adjustable poles I have to change out lightbulbs in my cathedral ceiling). What you should wind up with is something akin to a small scoop.

Better yet, rather than taking my advice, just give LSU's lab a call. They were great to me. They walked me through step by step what I needed to do to collect both my soil and water samples. It costs ten bucks and was well worth it. All their contact info, website for forms, etc is in the link I posted above.

Good luck and hope things work out great for you.

Warmest Regards,
Paul

You can also use a long piece of small dia. pvc. Stick it in the pond bottom and bring it up and take out dirt (sample). Put it in a bucket or can and move to another location and repeat. Then follow the instruction from your testing agency.