Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry how to take water sample (location)

I wouldn't worry about testing the water until the pond is full or nearly full unless you want to fertilize and create a plankton bloom. It will be difficult to grow a bloom if or whenever the water is muddy. Muddy water with high turbidity does not allow light penetration thus micro planktonic algae will not and can not grow very well due to lack of light for photosynthesis. The best thing regarding water testing you could do now is do a turbidity jar test to see if the silt-sediment will settle naturally in a large jar. Collect some pond water in a large jar (quart or better gallon) and let it sit for 2-4 days. If it does not settle to be clear water then make plans for an alum, lime, or gypsum treatment whenever the pond is full and the watershed has vegetation to minimize muddy runoff.