Good job Rainman. Ken I hope this helps a little.

See these.

SRAC 460 Control of Clay Turbidity in Ponds


SRAC 464 Interactions of pH, Carbon Dioxide, Alkalinity
and Hardness in Fish Ponds

http://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm?catid=25


Fish and other vertebrates have an

average blood pH of 7.4. Fish

blood comes into close contact

with water (1- or 2-cell separation)

as it passes through the blood vessels

of the gills and skin. A desirable

range for pond water pH

would be close to that of fish

blood (i.e., 7.0 to 8.0). Fish may become

stressed and die if the pH

drops below 5 (e.g., acidic runoff)

or rises above 10 (e.g., low alkalinity

combined with intense photosynthesis

by dense algal blooms �

phytoplankton or filamentous

algae).



A desirable range of

total alkalinity for fish culture is

between 75 and 200 mg/L CaCO3.



Ideally, an aquaculture pond

should have a pH between 6.5 and

9 as well as moderate to high total

alkalinity (75 to 200, but not less

than 20 mg/L) and a calcium hardness

of 100 to 250 mg/L CaCO3.

Many of the principles of chemistry

are abstract (e.g., carbonate-bicarbonate

buffering) and difficult

to grasp. However, a fundamental

understanding of the concepts and

chemistry underlying the interactions

of pH, CO2, alkalinity and

hardness is necessary for effective

and profitable pond management.

There is no way to avoid it; water

quality is water chemistry.