Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water What is a high alkalinity?

Muddy water problems. Water tested calcium 27,bicarb 240, pH 8.4, hardness 143.2, alkalinity 199.8. I have not been able to get an idea about what is typical for my area or what is low and what is really a high value. I tried a countertop test with gypsum which does not seem to do much so I am gloing to try alum and wonder if this alkialinity makes a pH crash unliklely. I am not asking what alkalinity is, but rather what is the range of typical values.

Gypsum does not work well if at all with high hardness (> 50) . Alum will be your best bet. Your alkalinity is great for fish as 100- 200 is perfect – match pH of fish blood at 7.4. See the attached links.

https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/getFactSheet/whichfactsheet/108/ -- Control of Clay Turbidity in Ponds


https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/getFactSheet/whichfactsheet/112/ -- Interactions of pH, Carbon Dioxide, Alkalinity and Hardness in Fish Ponds

Good to hear from you !!!!

Thanks, Eric. I knew you would come up with a link or two.