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....

Last edited by Rainman; 04/30/17 11:42 AM.