The results are in for my soil test! I also did a Home Depot water quality test of potentially dubious accuracy (though it had good reviews and the pH matched up withers soil test from the lab). Pond is filling up, so far about 95% rainwater and 5% water well - not intentionally adding more water until the dirt guy finishes up the end closest to the house.

From a water chemistry standpoint, what should I be thinking about for a good fishery and good (safe) swimming?

Are you comfortable with the alkalinity test ? Is there much difference (variation) in the dirt in the pond area ?

May need ag lime to get to a 7 pH and more stability. See below.


https://srac.tamu.edu/fact-sheets/serve/262

Hey Kris you got any current pictures of your pond?

All ponds go to Heaven.

Great stuff! I also downloaded #4100 (Liming). It does seem like I will need to add lime to bring up the pH.

The alkalinity test was a strip test, so not much to it as far as I could tell. The test may have been fine, strip tests just don't categorically seem to have a great reputation for accuracy.

Oops, wrong forum!

Wow, that was quite a typo. Great response though. Thanks!

Darn Auto-Corrupt.

Just added! http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=504413#Post504413

Is the presence of Coliform Bacteria cause for concern (or surprise) for my pond? I tried searching old threads but couldn't find much of use except when discussed as a drinking water pond.

Bump

I have to ask why the positive test result didn't show up on the written report that is on the left in the other thread?

If the water test was taken after a high water event or after a large rainfall that washed water into the pond, I'd take another sample and test it 1-2 weeks after the high water event has stopped.

esshup, those tests were all performed on my kitchen countertop and I just didn't remember to circle that one since it was a separate 48hr test, rather than a 10sec-3min test like the others. Sorry for the confusion!

Thanks for the tip. I'm in a residential area, and we've been having plenty of rainfall. No cows, but could be our dogs, I suppose. My main question is whether it is cause for concern if I were to swim in it.... which I already have!

Kris:

You are still around now, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Re-test it again after the rains have gone and post what the 48 hr test says. I don't know if I'd be sucking in water and pretending I was a fountain though! LOL

I rarely worry about bacteria testes in fish ponds. All of them have lots of bacteria.

Good advice, all around!