Hey Greg! I think the problem in communication rests in the way we test. I will try to paste a copy of our water test to this link, but it might not come through. Also I am not back at the lab, so excuse any spelling errors I may have in the chemical names.
Let�s take your example of a 1 acre pond:
When a customer brings in a water sample, we measure out specific amounts of water for each individual test. I am not in the lab, but I will guess at close to a quarter of a shot glass for hardness and alkalinity. Then we do the following test
Hardness: a) Add 3 drops bufferin solution
b) Add two drops on Manver Hardness
c) Add Titrent solution drop by drop until the water turns red
to blue. We then multiply that number by 17.
Alkalinity: a) Add 1 drop of Phenophthale solution (1%)
b) Add 1 small packet of Bromcresol Green-Methyl Red Indicator
c) Add Sulfuric acid drop by drop until the water turns green
to red. We then multiply that number by 17.
Using this equation, not yours, we like to see water quality above 120 (this might relate to your equations as 7ppm, I am not sure). We raise quality with Cal-plus (calcium) and Bufferin (sodium bi-carbonate). We have found that every pond is different (some absorb chemicals into the soil as you know), but on average this works well for us. Now recommendations should vary with drastic depth changes, but in a standard situation 5 of the 50 lb bags of each will raise quality from 0-51 (mind you that is using our equations not yours). Hardness and Alkalinity need to be equal!
I hope we can go about all of this in a peaceful manner as I am ready and eager to learn what works for you. Ken has been out of college for a few decades, and I for almost 12 years, so any help you could offer would be appreciated. This is just what has worked for us and our ponds.
Any suggestions without slamming me
!
Deb
