Essup, thank you for the info and low PH and nutrient usage by plants. I’ll consider that.

Does anyone have experience with a pine forest pond being left natural, without altering the chemistry?

Here in Delaware, all of our farm ponds (not forest ponds) will thrive naturally without intervention. (Maybe some overgrowth of algae or plants if not managed or aerated).

If I want my dream pond of a few HSB, I’ll have to lime my pond for sure. But it would be cool if Mother Nature was able to regulate the pond just enough to let acidic tolerant fish thrive.