Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry Low pH, low Alkalinity in Fresh ponds/Lakes

The problem with low pH is that plants and algae can't utilize nutrients in the water. So, the food base will be more limited than if the pH was 40-50+. As to what fish are able to thrive in low pH waters, I honestly don't know. Our alkalinity here is naturally in the 150+ range.

But with Pumpkinseeds, Bluefill or Hybrid Bluegill you will need some sort of fish predator that has the mouth gape to handle fish up to 1 year old. Dr. Dave Willis in the Dakotas found that Smallmouth Bass alone cannot control Pumpkinseed numbers.