You don't have to spend $60 to check your Alk/Ph. Go to Wal-Mart and get an HTH 6 way test kit. They're cheap. It'll give you a good idea what you're pond's Alk and Ph are. It'll test for other things you don't need, but you will get Alk,Ph and Hardness, all are very important. If you want to see Nitrites and nitrates, you can get a test kit from Amazon for about $35.

The readings you posted sound more like Ph, not Alk. Everything is measured as ppm, but the Alk should read a minimum of 40ppm (but the higher the better). Ph should range from no less than 6.0 to 8.0, w/ 7.2 being absolute neutral. The higher your Alk the less swing in Ph your pond water will have. If your Alk is lower than 40, you may want to add AgLime to bring it up.

Last edited by Mike Whatley; 09/01/18 09:33 AM.
.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!