Month of heavy rains changed PH

[MajorDan]

Since I started up the pond with water having a PH of 9, we have had one heavy rain after another. I have watched the PH in the pond steadily drop to today at 6. With this big of a change I am wondering if this would have killed fish if I had added them already. It seems the number of limestone rocks currently in my temporary waterfall are not enough to act as a buffer.

Should I attempt to adjust the PH with more limestones or even just add some lime to restore the PH or just let it ride. My gh kh test kit has not arrived yet so I do not have those results. I am not planning on adding fish until the pond cycles. Current tests are:
Ammonia 2 ( added ammonia to kick start process), Nitrite 0, phosphate 0, and PH 6.

No algae growing yet but water lillies have pads growing and bog plants are growing. Water is really clear.

My last calculation on amount of water is 1275 gallons. The aqua surge pump with 2” PVC lines is turning over the pond about 3 times an hour. I have two filter pads in the water fall with a layer of filter floss between the pads. The output from the pump is split between the waterfall and the bog.

I will be adding a small upper pond adding another 150 gallons of water that I will add with water having a PH of 9.

 

[MitchM]

It's really important that your KH level is maintained during cycling, so I would suggest adding 1/2 pound of baking soda.
You can add it all at once to an area of good water circulation.
I know you can't measure your KH now, but that amount of baking soda will do no harm.

 

[MajorDan]

Thanks Mitch. Added baking soda to pond just now. Will see how it responds tomorrow when I do the tests again. Really would like to get to where I can add some fish

 

[sissy]

Have you used a liquid test kit that is up to date .

 

[MajorDan]

Test kit is brand new and new And gh kh test kit should arrive tomorrow or Tuesday.

 

[MajorDan]

We have had monster rain storms. Last night was 2.74”. Weather station in backyard. 5.87” since April first and 32” so far this year.

 

[addy1]

My ph was always low, (well water at 5.4) I added crushed oyster shells to the bog (where water flows over them all the time) that buffered up the hardness of our water and finally the ph settled on a nice 7.6 range.

 

[sissy]

pic of them and you can get it at farm stores or walmart

 

[MajorDan]

Thanks Sissy, will go looking for them today.

 

[sissy]

I buy it and put it in a laundry bag in my water pond and in both of my filters .I buy the fine mesh laundry bags at the dollar tree

 

[MajorDan]

Good news, the pond finally has algae growing on the waterfall rocks and liner. Maybe the cycle will get going now.