Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Water Analysis

I was told to get a water analysis for my pond. Here are the results.

Total Alkalinity-213 mg/l MDL-6.0
Hardness (calculateda)-344 mg/L as CaCO3
pH-8.4 s.u.

I live in Western Nebr and was concerned about water color and was told maybe i needed to Lime.
With these results you wouldn't think I would need any lime. All comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

If your results are right you will NEVER EVER EVER have to lime. You want alkalinity above 20 ppm, you have well above that. Man, we here in most parts of the SE are jealous of your rich soils. I guess we got you beat on the growing season however :p

Greg,

Thanks so much for your words of wisdom. That's what caused me to do the water sample in the first place. I was told that due to the water color (tea) that I should check my pond. Actually I took in two different samples different days and locations, and they both came in the same. YEA HAW! Yes in our area the color of water really will make you fight your head. In the midwinter all lakes and ponds turn almost ugly brown. I have a top soil fertile bottom on top of a liner and my local veternarian/(expert of all aspects of life) said that behind his clinic the pond which is a old sand pit with small bass and large carp (Master Angler) actually looks the same. He indicated the minute it warms up that it will clear and turn as his does each year. One other question Greg! I have a M.S. in animal Science but obviously never studied fish at the University of Wyoming, we are more into snow bunnies so to speak. I can keep turning my pond over with fresh well water at any time and keep lots of Steelhead Trout very healthy, (during the summer). I just have a tremendous amount of fat head minnows that are third gerneration when put in, and now i have 4th generation.They have been in the best breeding enviroment possible and are so numerous that i cannot imagine the total numbers that we see. I am alittle overstocked with trout and I am curious if I should feed in the spring and until ice. They just don't attack the feed at all, infact they almost play with it. Is it possible that you can over supply fatheads to the point that the fish won't bite? ( I'm sure you can) It was tough during Sept with 160 Steelhead 1/2 lb to 3lbs to get regular bites on a 1/3 acre lake. Should I just see what happens to their agressivness when fishing or what? Any ideas are welcome from anyone.

Thanks for your post.

Jeff

Jeff I'll leave the steelhead question to someone who knows something about 'em. Glad to hear your fatheads are doing well.