Pond water test results

[anthony21078]

~1000 gallons
5 weeks since filled
(30) 2" goldfish since week 1
Water has a greenish tint for the last 2 weeks

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20-80 cant tell?

Is the tube supposed to be positioned on the white section of the paper, off the paper or directly over the color? In the shade or direct light?

 

[mrsclem]

You get the best reading if you position it over something white, I prefer direct light. Do you have any plants in the pond?

 

[Stephen Noble]

Agree with mrsclem. I take my samples to a brightly lit room (or outside) and have my wife read them. I am not at all color blind but she can see the subtle differences easier than I am able to do so. Her color rendition is superb. I held your image against my color card and it looks like 80 but best to have someone with you check.

 

[anthony21078]

You get the best reading if you position it over something white, I prefer direct light. Do you have any plants in the pond?

I only have a few plants at this point. I know I need more but I was planning on waiting until spring time

 

[Stephen Noble]

That is a nice pond. I would run the nitrate test again and pay particular attention to the time intervals.
Are you in an area where it freezes?
It looks like you have an internal filter...perhaps a pondmaster? If it has been awhile, you might clean the filter medium. That will help if it needs cleaning. A partial water exchange will also help but I would first re-run the test, clean the filter (if needed) and then re-run the test again perhaps the next day.

 

[anthony21078]

That is a nice pond. I would run the nitrate test again and pay particular attention to the time intervals.
Are you in an area where it freezes?
It looks like you have an internal filter...perhaps a pondmaster? If it has been awhile, you might clean the filter medium. That will help if it needs cleaning. A partial water exchange will also help but I would first re-run the test, clean the filter (if needed) and then re-run the test again perhaps the next day.

I waited the 5 minutes for the color to turn but I can run the test again which I'm sure will be the same.

My area does experience freezing temps in winter. I have 2 tetra flat box filters on the bottom of the pond. I cleaned them 2 weeks ago after the pond had some runoff from rain water which caused a lot of dirt to enter the pond. I was planning on cleaning them once more before the cold weather comes because I have to get in the pond to take them out (yes I know I need to hook up a wire or string to avoid getting in lol).

A partial water change is a good idea

 

[anthony21078]

50% water change and filter pads were cleaned also. I used a battery powered pool vacuum to clean some of the debris from the floor as well. The filter pads were dark brown.

24 hours later the floor is clearly visible and the nitrates are somewhere in the 20-40 range. Looking much better now