raising pH

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raising pH #264878 07/15/11 04:56 PM
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 13 upstate ny K karmann OP
OP karmann K Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 13 upstate ny	I have a small pond with fish in it- every time I test the pH it's low, about 6.5; and I'm told it should be 7 or a little higher. What's the best way to raise it? The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. ~Nelson Henderson

Re: raising pH karmann #264884 07/15/11 05:34 PM
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 United States Bruce Condello Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Bruce Condello Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 United States	Don't make any decisions without taking reading at various points throughout the day. pH is cyclical based on photosynthetic activity. Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.

Re: raising pH Bruce Condello #264900 07/15/11 10:52 PM
Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 101 Starkville, Mississippi T tjstubbs Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
tjstubbs Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker T Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 101 Starkville, Mississippi	Fish prefer a pH between 6 and 9. One thing you should check in addition to the pH, is alkalinity. As Bruce eluded to, pH has diel fluctuations. pH will be greatest in the late afternoon, and lowest in the early morning. The alkalinity is the measure of negative ions (buffering capacity) in the water, i.e., Bicarbonate and carbonate. The greater the alkalinity, say 20 ppm and greater, the more buffer you have in your water. The buffer keeps the pH from fluctuating from one extreme to another. One way people raise the pH, especially in the south is to add agricultural limestone, which is calcium carbonate. It increases the amount of negative ions, which increases your alkalinity, resulting in an increased pH. Fisheries Biologist Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks "Success is often overlooked because it dresses up in overalls and disguises itself as work."

Re: raising pH tjstubbs #264919 07/16/11 09:35 AM
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 United States Bruce Condello Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Bruce Condello Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 United States	Originally Posted By: tjstubbs Fish prefer a pH between 6 and 9. One thing you should check in addition to the pH, is alkalinity. As Bruce eluded to, pH has diel fluctuations. pH will be greatest in the late afternoon, and lowest in the early morning. The alkalinity is the measure of negative ions (buffering capacity) in the water, i.e., Bicarbonate and carbonate. The greater the alkalinity, say 20 ppm and greater, the more buffer you have in your water. The buffer keeps the pH from fluctuating from one extreme to another. One way people raise the pH, especially in the south is to add agricultural limestone, which is calcium carbonate. It increases the amount of negative ions, which increases your alkalinity, resulting in an increased pH. Yeah, that. Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.