Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,900
Posts557,086
Members18,452
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,414
ewest 21,474
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,110
Who's Online Now
13 members (dg84s, Shorthose, Sunil, Freg, IND1371, Augie, Fishingadventure, Groundhog7, Brandon Larson, Dave Davidson1, PRCS, Theo Gallus, BillyE), 798 guests, and 302 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
T
OP Offline
T
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
In April we broke ground and I finally got my dream of a pond in my back yard. Due to the sandy soil, we had to put in a liner. I also didn't have a water source, but we have a high water table, so I dug a well to fill and feed the pond. I know these are not ideal conditions, but I didn't have a lot of other options to get a pond on my property (without moving). The pond is about 85x42 feet in an oval. It slopes 3 to 1 into the center at a max depth of about 6 feet. I figure it is about 60,000 Gallons (give or take). The well water feeds into a waterfall on one corner of the pond, then the water overflows out the opposite corner into a lower swampy area in the property. I also just got an aerator, which I was running 24/7 until I read on this forum that I should only run it at night to keep the temperature down. I've not added anything to the pond except a little Blue/Green Dye. We have been loving it! Next step is fish.

Not sure if this link will work but I put the project on Instagram with time lapse video of digging and liner installation. If you are interested - I think you have to have an account and log into Instagram though.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCdwPAvHTtF/ or look up @Trapperinator on IG.

We dug the pond in a very dry spring when the water table was low. I was paranoid about the pond liner being pushed up by our ground water when the neighboring farmers start to irrigate. So I decided to pour concrete on top on the liner in the bottom to secure it (It's not going anywhere). I also added rocks and sand on top of the liner. It's doing its job, but I did not consider what the concrete might do to the pH. I'm guessing the concrete is leaching out some lime or something and raising my pH. I have a high pH of 9 or greater (the kit I have only goes to 9). My well water in right about 7, so it's not my water source. I assumed that eventually the pH may drop as I'm feeding between 2,000-4000 gallons of new neutral water from my well each day sending the same amount out the overflow. But so far, still very high pH.

I'm planning on putting some BG in there in a week or 2, but the fish guy told me I need to get my pH down or I'll likely have stressed or dead fish. He recommended I just go to the pool supply store and get some PH reducer.

My Alkalinity is high. I bought 10 pounds of Sodium Bisulfate from Lowes and 15 pounds of Alum from Amazon. I was going to add some tonight, but thought I'd ask some advice first. Do I just sprinkle in the pond, mix with water first and pour into the pond? I'm also reading that the Alum will cause a sludge that will sink or float in the pond. Is that safe to leave on the bottom of the pond with my kids swimming in it? I assume it will just be part of the slime on the bottom?

Thanks

Trapper

Last edited by TrapperUtah; 08/03/20 07:41 PM.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 103
C
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
C
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 103
I recommend you wait for advise from one of the knowledgable folks here! Good luck!

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,474
Likes: 264
E
Moderator
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Online Content
Moderator
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
E
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,474
Likes: 264

Last edited by ewest; 08/04/20 11:03 AM.















Joined: May 2020
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
T
OP Offline
T
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
Thanks for the link. Very interesting. Makes me wonder since I dont have fish yet, only a few plants and Algal growth, if low CO2 is largely to blame? Does that mean that adding fish would reduce ph since they breath oxygen and exhale co2?

This also confirms that the Alum would be good, but I still am not sure how to apply it and what to expect with the agglomerations it makes. If anyone with Alum experience can weigh in, I'd appreciate it.

Joined: May 2020
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
T
OP Offline
T
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
Does anyone have a good source for Alum online? Pretty sure I overpaid for 15 lbs. on Amazon. My local farm store couldn't find a supplier.

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,414
Likes: 792
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,414
Likes: 792
Try calling one of these that are close to you:

https://www.suppliersof.com/fertilizers-agricultural-chemicals/us/Utah/80363437

I'd go with Helena Chemical if they were close enough to you. Watch that you don't drop the pH too quickly.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Bob Lusk, GaryK, GrizzFan, PhotographerDave
Recent Posts
Working on a .5acre disaster, I mean pond.
by Sunil - 03/28/24 03:32 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/28/24 02:50 PM
1 year after stocking question
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/28/24 02:44 PM
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by Sunil - 03/28/24 12:39 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by esshup - 03/28/24 10:39 AM
Brooder Shiners and Fry, What to do??
by Freg - 03/28/24 09:42 AM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by esshup - 03/28/24 08:36 AM
Dewatering bags seeded to form berms?
by Justin W - 03/28/24 08:19 AM
Reducing fish biomass
by FishinRod - 03/28/24 08:18 AM
Questions and Feedback on SMB
by Donatello - 03/27/24 03:10 PM
2024 North Texas Optimal BG food Group Buy
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/27/24 08:15 AM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5