Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry PH levels of spring water

Hi all, I am new to this forum & pond management. I have a 1/3 acre farm pond that is over 20yr. old that I am trying to restore. I have recently added a new spring feed to it that will be used to power a waterwheel to aeriate the pond. The spring water has a 8.0 PH & 300 alkilinity. I realize this is somewhat high & am afraid of raising the PH too much. It has a flow of 3 gal. per minute. The pond has a 15ft. depth & is mostly rainfed but also has another underground spring feed of 5-7 gal. per min. that I asume has a similar PH. I just dont want to kill off my fish by adding this spring. Any help here would be apreciated. There is & has been heavy surface coal mining operations in the area for yrs. & most of the springs & creeks all have high alk. & PH.

The pH in my ponds is always over 8, sometimes as high as 10 and have never noticed any negative effects on fish.

Most of the literature supports the idea that high pH (over 7) is better than low pH.

There are threads on how photosynthesis and respiration cycle of plants will cause daily cyclical variations on pH in ponds, as will application of alum.

Furthermore pH will affect how much of your ammonia is in unionized form, which is toxic to fish. Aquaculturists are concerned about such things because of high density stocking of fish.

A pH of 8 would be the least of my concerns at this point. I'd look more at how water temperatures and dissolved oxygen will influence your ability to achieve your goals.

Someone else will chime in on alkalinity issues, but your numbers seem to be within normal parameters.

Dan :

The link below is the best explanation I have seen on the subject and how it fits together.

One key point is the avg. ph of fish blood is 7.4 and the closer the water to that the better. Ideal is 7 to 8 while a range of 6.5 to 9 is best.

http://srac.tamu.edu/tmppdfs/7107322-464fs.pdf

The best alka. # for LMB is 200. Alka. is a buffering agent in that good alka. #s keep the ph fluctuations down (helps stop high and low peak swings).

Rich Dentists, always blaming the Unions! :p

Will the rain water runoff that I get every time it rains hard bring the PH down also??? I have read that the acid in the rain makes the water somewhere in the 5 to 6 range. Is that correct? I have not even got around to testing the pond water at all for I was so concerned with dumping this new source of water into the pond.The pond is ice covered at this time anyway except for the areas where the springs feed it.I have fish that are over 20yr. old in that pond so I figured that it wasnt too bad till I changed something like I am now.Koi,Shovelhead cat & grass Carp that is.There are also LMB but nothing over 3lb now-a-days. Way too many small BG & small LMB.

Rain pH varies somewhat throughout the country. Who would Dan B ask to find this out?

What causes the spring to have alka. of 300 ? If it is the watershed or dirt/rock then I would think the pond soil would be close. That would be good to know. Get a soil test done. Ohio link

http://columbiana.osu.edu/ag/soil%20testing%20page.html

Your coop. extension service should have or know where to get the data.

I would think that that has come from all the coal mining that has been done in the erea for years.The spring itself is running out of a reclaimed hillside that was mined more than 22yrs. ago. Thats how the pond got to be originaly constructed. It was built by the mining Co. to catch sediments & stop soil erosion. It has a very thick all clay lining but due to the age, 15ft depth & trees growing on the dam I do have seepage at the base of the dam. It does still fill much faster than it leaks out though.

High pH and high alkalinty (Hey, Theo, didn't AlKaline play for the Tigers?)rendered great buffering capacity against acid rain, or acid input of any kind. With a steady supply of spring water, you have an outstanding opportunity to succeed. pH is great, and even though the alkalinity is high, I would rather it be as you have than low numbers. Don't worry about it, just enjoy.

WOW, Bobs an ole Tigers fan That one probably blew by the youngsters.