Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry Hydrated lime

I have seen several topics about ag lime can u not use hydrated if not why an I have a pH of about 6 could I use hydrated lime to bring it up or is it OK to leave it for a while very small pond about 1/4 acre plan on stocking Tuesday jus trying to get it rdy by then

Jeff,
If you do not understand Hydrated lime and how it works, I would not use it. You could kill off your entire fish population if misused. Be very careful.

I have used a little hydrated lime to adjust the ph of a brood pond, but I used very little lime to make that difference.

Jeff,

I'm not a pro but if it was my pond (and it's not), IMO I would leave it and spend a good bit of time on Tuesday doing water changes to slowly bring your stockers to the 6 PH before stocking. I would then get Ag lime to bring the PH to a safer level. My understanding is Hydrated lime is a very short term way to adjust PH to either lethal levels or to buffer additions of Alum.

Hopefully, a pro will chime in...

Bill D.

Does rain bring pH down or up I am new to all this stuff trying to figure out why my bucket bass are dying

Jeff, the answer to your question depends on the pH of your pond and the rain water. The pH of your soils in both your pond basin and watershed is what your water will reflect, mainly. pH changes, and climbs, throughout the day as Calcium Carbonate and other salts in your water neutralize the acids that form mainly at night from plant/bacterial respiration's.

In 1/4 acre, I would suggest 1000 pounds or so of Soil Doctor Pulverized Limestone or Pelletized Dolomitic Limestone, sourced from your nearest Lowe's store (lowest priced retailer with highest CCE {Calcium Carbonate Equivalency} ratings).

Adding more of those limes in the area's draining into your pond (your watershed) will help buffer and stabilize your water's pH even more....

You say your "bucket stocked" Bass are dying??? What forage fish are there in the pond? Most likely cause for older fish deaths in a newer pond is stress, from mishandling the fish in gathering, holding area, transport, acclimating, tempering, release, or any/all of those.....The gathering, transport and release of Bass needs very careful, knowledgeable handling to prevent a slow death from all the stress it is subjected to....

Ok they really hadn't had nething as of forage other than the common water bugs I did put some minnows in there not alot but plan on stocking it Tue if this dang overflow don't mess the fish truck up getting here