Pond Boss
Posted By: Mike Berry How much lime. 1.25 acre - 10/18/15 07:42 PM
How much lime would I need to get for a 1.25 acre pond 7 to 10 foot deep surrounded by wet lands. Ph is 4.1 frown

I think the only way I will be able to get it out there is to wait until it freezes so I can spread it out. I'm in SW Michigan.

My plan is perch and large mouth bass.

-Mike

Posted By: Mike Berry Re: How much lime. 1.25 acre - 10/18/15 08:05 PM
Alkalinity (as CaCO3) See comment SM 2320 B 04/21/15 XXX Analysis cannot be performed; sample
pH is past endpoint pH.
Hardness 9 mg/L (as CaCO3) SM 2340 B 04/21/15 JHB
Nitrogen, ammonia 1.1 mg/L EPA 350.1 04/23/15 JWW
Nitrogen, nitrate <0.1 mg/L EPA 353.2 04/20/15 MHK
Nitrogen, nitrite <0.1 mg/L EPA 353.2 04/20/15 MHK
Oxygen, dissolved 8.0 mg/L EPA 360.1 04/18/15 JHB
PH 4.1 S.U. SM 4500-H B 04/20/15 JWW Sample analyzed past holding time;
result is approximate.
Phosphate, ortho (as P) <0.02 mg/L SM 4500-P E 04/20/15 EIF


Found the rest of the results. Of note I did recheck the pH with a different lab (who did it immediately) and had the result of 3.94.
Posted By: anthropic Re: How much lime. 1.25 acre - 10/19/15 12:25 AM
Mike, that's REALLY acidic! shocked

The experts will soon have their say, but until they do I'd say a minimum of five tons of lime. Six might be better. Get it worked into the soil, if at all possible.

If water runs through your pond quickly, you might even need a bit more.

My watershed is on acidic pine plantation land, though not so extreme as yours, and I had four tons per acre put on.

Just my two cents...
Posted By: Rainman Re: How much lime. 1.25 acre - 10/19/15 12:08 PM
I'd go with 3-5 ton of Agricultural Lime in the water, and at least 6-10 ton/acre in as much of the watershed as is possible. If you have ditches draining into the pond, put a 6-12" deep layer in the ditch for runoff to flow through/over. you really can't over-apply Ag Lime.

A pH ~4 is not going to be healthy for many fish. I'd suggest getting soil samples from many places in the watershed, dry and combine them. The soils sample will give you a more accurate pH assessment!

My bigger concern is your Ammonia levels! They are toxic to many cool water fish species. Is you pond surrounded by a recently fertilized farm? With such a low pH, the ammonia is likely the "less" toxic ionized version (NH4), but if pH rises, it will convert to the very toxic, unionized NH.

I'd suggest going to a pet store and getting some "Rosy Red" Minnows. These are actually Fathead minnows. Get a 5 gallon bucket of pond water to put 10-20 small FHM in. See if the fish act calm and "normal", or if they begin swimming erratically or begin trying to leap out of the water (I suspect the latter will happen). If they leap out, or begin swimming in wild circles, it is the result of the fish losing their equilibrium from Ammonia Toxicity.
Posted By: ewest Re: How much lime. 1.25 acre - 10/19/15 02:04 PM
See this on what Rex is explaining

https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/getFactSheet/whichfactsheet/111/
Posted By: DonoBBD Re: How much lime. 1.25 acre - 10/19/15 07:13 PM
IF there is no fish in there I would hit it this fall right away with 5~50# bags of hydrated lime. Glove up goggle up and mix it in good.

Like said above the run off land should see some ag lime as well as the pond in the spring.

Again if there is no fish I would hammer it with hydrated lime. This will shock any life in the pond and leave lots of food for plankton.

Cheers Don.
Posted By: Mike Berry Re: How much lime. 1.25 acre - 10/24/15 12:07 PM
Seems like good idea. No fish. Do I just dump the hydrated lime from a boat? With gloves, goggles is it safe?

Mike
Posted By: DonoBBD Re: How much lime. 1.25 acre - 10/24/15 03:36 PM
Originally Posted By: Mike Berry
Seems like good idea. No fish. Do I just dump the hydrated lime from a boat? With gloves, goggles is it safe?

Mike


Well depends on what your thoughts are on safe? Is is not good to get it in your eyes at all. It will burn. If you get it on your skin then get it wet it will burn your tender skin. You will know where all your cuts and hang nails are. It will dry your skin out as well with out gloves.

Really not good to breath it in at all. It will make you cough instantly and can burn your lungs.

So mask, goggles, and glove are a good idea. In my pond I just scoop two pounds once in a while on top of the water fall and it works its way into the pond water.

In your case I would get a big garbage pail put a bag in the bottom of it. Fill with pond water stir it up. Then pail the solution into the pond with 5 gallon buckets. Do this in a few spots around the pond. Then if you have a boat mix the pond up with the boat motor for a bit.

Basically you want to mix it in the best you can with as much of the water you can. It can be allot of work.

Cheers Don.
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