Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry Water Analysis Report

I just received the report from the University of Georgia on their analysis of a sample of my pond water. As info, I had 20 tons of lime added to a 2.2 acre pond near Atlanta, GA in January of this year. Does anyone see anything to be concerned about?

Thanks,
Ray.

pH: 6.9 (Desired pH range 6.5 to 8.5)
Calculated Hardness: 25 ppm
(Water hardness is due to the presence of certain dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium.)

Aluminum (Al) negligible
Boron (B) 0.01 ppm
Calcium (Ca) 5.3 ppm
Chromium (Cr) negligible
Copper (Cu) negligible
Iron (Fe) 0.93 ppm
Magnesium (Mg) 2.8 ppm
Manganese (Mn) negligible
Molybdenum (Mo) negligible
Nickel (Ni) negligible
Phosphorus (P) 0.02 ppm
Potassium (K) 2.0 ppm
Silica (SiO2) negligible
Sodium (Na) 4.6 ppm

Alkalinity is fairly important.
What are the values before and after the Lime?

Thanks for the quick response. The numbers I have prior to the lime are stated differently. Hardness was 12 mg/L
Alkalinity was 15 mg/L

I don't have an alkalinity # in the current test results.

See this for more info.

https://srac.tamu.edu/fact-sheets/serve/262

No chemist here, but the numbers I would be most interested in is, the Alkalinity. Especially after adding the Lime. You don't need to send out for that, if you have a basic pool test kit. Easy to get one, Walmart, any Pool or Hardware store.
I'd make notes on pH and Alkalinity tests for a while, do it at mornings and at evenings. Those numbers will be different. Then you'll have a better idea of your water quality.

Get the test kit.

My guess is the alkalinity has doubled +- since the lime application (12 to 25) which is a big improvement. Lime applications have a curve of effectiveness (like a bell curve). Yours will probably continue to improve for a while (year) then start to decline. This assumes no large water flow events. Suggest a soil test to provide a solid background to what you are working with. Water will over time reflect the dirt in your watershed.

I really appreciate everyones responses. Seems like the more I learn about the pond (and most things in life), the more I realize that there is so much more that I don't know.

Based on the information in the link that ewest provided, it doesn't seem that any of the values of the specific elements are anything to be concerned about.

I'm also hearing both of you clearly that pH and Alkalinity are what I should focus on. I'll begin monitoring those with a pool test kit.

Thanks again to each of you for taking time to respond.