Second season, but first spring

[pugle1]

Ok... FINALLY! ... got to my complete water testing.

Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrates - 0 to 5 ppm
Nitrites - 0 ppm

Now here's where I'm stuck... pH levels.

I've been using the test strips and have been getting a consistent 7.0 to 7.5, but I used the High / Low pH solutions in the test kit and based on it, the low is a little off the chart, and the high pH test shows 8.2 or so. Which do I believe? The strips or the solution? I know what to do if the water is acidic, but If the water is alkaline, what do I do? Most of my waterfall stone is dolomite / limestone / shale, so I know I'm bound to get some calcium from that alone.

All seems well though with the exception of the return of the string algae. Not a major bloom, but it's starting again.

One question regarding the algae... barley straw breaks down and released peroxide into the water, and that's what controls the algea, right? Is it possible to add a small amount of some 3% peroxide USP solution to the water now and then to achieve the same thing without harming the fish and snails? Just asking.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

[addy1]

8.2 for ph is not bad, the main thing is to have it stable.

I used to use peroxide to keep algae out of my arizona pond, never bothered the fish or snails.

 

[pugle1]

Hi addy1,

Thanks again for your help. The pH is stable based on the strips I've been using for the last 5 weeks or so, but this was the first solution test, and I did that twice with the same result about 8.2 both times. As for adding peroxide, did you find it helped control the algae? ... and any idea of how much to use if I do try it?.

 

[addy1]

I usually only used it around june, my pond in arizona would get a huge outbreak of string algae. huge, like trees growing. I would clean out as much as possible then put in 1 liter per 1000 gallons. Did that once a year, string algae gone for the year. I never tried it as a preventive measure. If you want to try preventive, I would make the dose a lot lower. Not sure how it would affect plants in your pond etc. Mine did ok, but it was just a once a year hit.

The pond here I don't have that problem, have not had to treat algae for the last three years.

The first year of my pond, our ph was in the 5.5 range, I added some feeders they all died, that is when I figured out our well is acid water. That first summer it was a non stop job to try to get the ph up and to stabilize it. Now it sits in the 7.8 or so range, never varies more than a little.

 

[pugle1]

Think I'll give it a shot. My pond is about 800 - to 1000 gallons ( estimate based on the volume guessing measurements ). Maybe I'll try 250 ml and see what happens.

All I have for plants right now are mini cat tails, some hyacinth, a few water lilliess and some duck weed. I know 3% peroxide is a fairly weak solution and just breaks down to water and oxygen.... so as long as I don't over-do it, I should be ok

 

[addy1]

Always best to start low and add as you go, easy to add, no way to remove. lol

This pond is my easiest to maintain, the bog/plants etc keep it clear and algae free, just love it.

 

[pugle1]

That's what I'm striving for. The hyacinth is annual here sadly. I put in 3 plants and they're already starting to spread. The lilies have 10 leaves up so far with 4 more that I can see under water, and my cat tails are really spreading nicely. I think the fish were spawning a couple weeks ago because they seemed to be putting on a cage match show in the shallow water around them. I want to add some of the ones (plants) you and others suggested earlier, but it has to be as budget allows. Now that the hyacinth are in, the water's calm enough that I think I can go and scoop another pail full of duckweed from Lake Simcoe. I think that must be where my snails came from. I think they're called tadpole snails (common name).​

Work's kind of slow, so it may not be until next year that I can get the rest of the rock and stone I want. So..... the work in progress continues. I'd just be happy with high quality water right now ​

 

[addy1]

ponds take time, when you drive around look for rocks laying by the road lots can be found lol

 

[j.w]

Oh yes here I am one of the specialists here on collecting rocks. See what you do is go for nice long walks and along the way you will see some very nice specimens. Next thing to do is start piling the rocks in non-conspicuous places (so as not to lose your good fortune to other rock hoarders,lol) and then next time you go out in your car you stop along the roads where your piles are and collect them all at one time. Just keep doing that and you will not only get lots of rocks but your vim and vigor from the walking will be limitless :helm2:

 

[pugle1]

Oh.. I'm a rock finderer..er...r my self...lol. Lots of nicely weathered niagara escarpment cubic limestone around here. Mainly it's the river stone I need... you know 1 to 4 inch round ( washed ) stone. I could use a good yard to yard and a half. That might take a while using my pockets to carry them home with, and too ... the darning 'O' the pockets! .... Hmmmmm... stone washed jeans?.....lol. What I really need is some good large pieces of flagstone (slate preferably) to finish off the "viewing" side of the pond, and the river rock to tie it all together. Then there's the landscaping plants. I'd like to boarder it with hostas, day lilies which I already have a lot of, and some nice baltic ivy as ground cover under my sumac trees.

The basics to the pond are there. It's all the "finished" landscaping that needs the doing, and more water plants as well.

As for walks .... We love hiking the Bruce trail. It stretches for 400 km from the Niagara gorge all the way up to Tobermory at the tip of the Bruce penninsula which divides Lake Huron from Georgian Bay. So many places to go for hikes along there with many of the trails atop 300 ft high limestone cliffs overlooking Georgian bay.

 

[j.w]

No need to fill your pockets. I use a back pack sometimes when entering area's where no car can go or take my bike w/ side bags. Amazing how little of rocks it takes to really load you down to a crawl. Lots of Ibuprofen throughout the day helps the after effects quite well.
Sounds like you have some lovely places to hike to all over your area!
Hope you find some nice rocks for your pond!

 

[pugle1]

There really are some beautiful places to hike around here. As for rock hunting .... I tend to ambush them in road-side ditches.... easy to sneak up on them that way

Lots of nicely naturally weathered large pieces to be had like that. It's the small stuff that's a pain to get. I'll just wait until it's in the budget to have a stone herder corral them up for me and ship them here, Then I just have to round them up in my wheel barrow and release them into their new environment.....lol

 

[j.w]

Sometimes you can get them at a local rock/concrete company for a reasonable price. Have fun w/your rock roundup

 

[pugle1]

addy1,

I tried adding a 500ml bottle of 3% peroxide, and it stopped the growth of the string algae, but it didn't kill it. However, I noticed no adverse effects to the plants or fish, so I'm going to up the dose to 1.5 litres ( 1500 ml ). The other algae growing in the pond seems to be keeping the snails happy. One thing I did was make a portable (temporary) filter. I scrubbed the string algae off of the water fall rocks with a good stiff brush. That made the pond water cloudy, but the temp filter took care of that in one day. The peroxide seems to be keeping the string algae at bay for now, but now I think I'm going to try a larger dose. My sumac trees that are over my upper feeder pond for the water fall have some good large leaves now, so there's shade-a-plenty for the waterfall ( mainly where the string algae is a problem). I figure a good 1.5L dose of 3% peroxide should do the trick, and my hyacinths are spreading nicely, so I figure in a week or two the string algae shouldn't be an issue any more.

 

[addy1]

Great glad to hear it is working for you. I would have been devastated if it caused you issues.