Working with a new client in East Texas. He's built a new pond and lined with some black clay I've never seen in that part of Texas, south of Athens.
Filled the pond mostly with well water. I put in a few fish and they died muy pronto.
I presumed it was because the fish were mishandled during stocking.
Decided to check the water chemistry. Sent in a sample to Texas A&M and it came back an astonishing pH of 2.7. Thinking there was an error in my collection technique (I put it in an empty Diet Dr. Pepper bottle), I grabbed another sample, along with a sample from each well on the ranch.
Got the results today.
pH 2.9
pH from the well that fills it, 4.11.
So, the question I started asking is, "Can well water at 4.11 hit the air, oxidize something in it to make the pH drop to 2.9?"
So far, everyone I spoken with has said, "No, I don't think so."
All fingers are now pointing at that black clay. The ranch foreman just collected a sample and is taking it in to be tested.
Any other thoughts out there? As this little saga transpires, I'll post here. For the record, I've not seen many places where the pH is 2.7-2.9.
Have you?
