Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Water test results, what do they mean?..

Got the first part of my water test results back...I have no idea what I am looking at other than numbers on a paper...Can anyone tell me what the Good, Bad and the Ugly are from them?..

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.

See this from LSU

See this that has ranges in the Water analyses

Yeah that clears it right up Eric!! If he didn't know what the above picture meant how is he supposed to know what the below one means??

Clear as mud hey ODL!! LOL....

RC

I enlarged his and looked.
Mine has optimum ranges.
Compare them for answers.

Just playing!!

ODL,

It would appear that your PH and your Total Alk. is a bit high. Your hardness seems fine.

Eric PH of 8.49 is that ok for BG and LMB or is that pushing it?

RC

From comparing and reading here an everywhere I can find I am safe to say that most looks okay or actually good for growing fish?..

What are the parts of this puzzle that lead to algae growth and suspended particles?.. I think the more I read on those the more confused I become?..

With my PH being where it is would I be safe to do ALUM treatment to try and take care of the suspended particles without affecting the fish.. And would it possible help with my algea issues I am having?

Wish I could help, but chemistry is not my strong suit. Hang in there Sean, hopefully those in the know will check in soon.

What time of day the water sample was taken has a bearing on the pH reading. It's typically the highest at the middle of the day.

Have you done the bucket test to see if you have suspended clay/dirt or is it plankton ?

I got them on my lunch hour last week.. Water should be pretty well mixed because of wind action and moving my diffusers out to deeper water already..

I have had a 1/2 gallon jar sitting on my patio since the day I took the water sample.. The water is actually fairly clear in the jar, I just have little specks that won't settle out of the water..

Since treating last week I have had a bloom take off big time.. We have also had about 4 inches of rain since Sunday.. The pond looks really good right now... I can still the the flecks in the water...

This is what I am seeing suspended... Not really affecting clarity just not as appealing to the eye as other bodies of water I see..




This is them in the jar...

If the suspended particles are actually something other than clay will Alum treatment still work to settle them?.. Say if they are dried FA that is coming off the rip rap?..

Have you turned off the aeration and seen the results. It could easily be suspended organic material from the aeration. Could also be plankton bloom. If the jar was left out in the light and it cleared it could be partially suspended clay. It could be dead plankton also.

What is your alkalinity? Take another sample and put a small amount of alum in the jar and note results.

See this

https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/getFactSheet/whichfactsheet/108/

The alkalinity on the report was 238.95 ppm...

The particles showed up before I started my air for the year...But with the wind action I have been receiving this year I don't know?..

The jar was a 1/2 gallon canning jar that I left outside on the sitting wall of my patio...They only settlement I see in the jar is a little bit of green, not much at all..

I will try and round up some Alum and do as you have asked with the jar or bucket test..