Everybody Ought to Know about Garden Pond pH And Buffering!
Control PH Swings To Maintain Healthy Pond Water
The subject of water chemistry and in particular pond water pH is extremely complex. A mathematics degree would certainly come in handy hear; unfortunately I do not have one but do know a bit about pond keeping and how you can prevent massive swings in pH levels.
The Pond Professor “Tony Roocroft”, a chemical engineer by profession sums up the complexity of the pH variable nicely. He states: “pH is an extremely complex pond variable. It is almost impossible to make an accurate adjustment even in the unlikely event you have measured the result correctly and you have taken the sample at the right time of day. So why measure it? … Well as I suggested before; don't.”
Tony goes on to say that “There are mathematical reasons and chemical reasons for this difficulty ... the math problem is due to logarithmic variability and not simple proportional or linear variability but we are already getting too complicated.”
I agree and believe that you do not necessarily have to understand exactly why something occurs. It is far more important to know how to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Buffering prevents pH Swings
Buffering, as the name implies does exactly what it says on the label; it buffers, insulates, minimizes, or protects against swings (massive changes) in pond pH. Pond water pH is affected directly by changes to the alkalinity or acidity of the water. Soft water, which is low in buffering capacity, will show large increases or decreases in pH when acid or alkali is added to the pond water or removed from it. In ponds containing soft water there will be significant pH swings between day and night, due to the behavior of aquatic plants and pond algae. At night plants use up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. During the day the opposite is true. The activity of the plants and algae is known as photosynthesis and respiration. Photosynthesis produces oxygen during daylight and removes carbonic dioxide (acidic) until the sun goes down.
Tetra Pond Laborett Test Kit
Provides accurate measurements for water pH level for both freshwater and pH saltwater, carbonate & general water hardness levels, nitrite, ammonia and carbon dioxide levels. Supplied with 2 x test vials, water withdrawal syringe, color scales, instruction booklets with recommendations and helpful hints.
USA Visitors Click Tetra Pond Laborett Aquarium Test Kit | UK Supplies
Avoid Fish Stress And Avoid pH Fluctuations
Pond fish, particularly Koi carp become stressed when there are changes to their usual habitat. You have heard the term “Stress is a killer”. This term is particularly pertinent when it comes to fish keeping. When Fish become stressed they become susceptible to the ever present bacteria, living in the pond water.
The addition of pond chemicals to your pond or drastic changes to a pond fish’s environment may cause stress to raise its ugly head.
It is always a good idea when introducing a new fish into your existing pond to allow the temperature differential between the water temperature in the bag and the temperature of the pond to equalize. In other words let the bag containing the new Koi or gold fish float on the surface of the pond for a while. It is also a good idea to add small amounts of pond water into the bag.
Endeavour wherever possible to reduce the opportunity for stress. In doing this you will reduce the likelihood of fish disease problems. Large daily pH fluctuations also create stress.
What is Water Hardness and How Can I Measure It?
Water hardness is broken down into what is called temporary hardness and permanent hardness ...
Temporary hardness is the levels of calcium and magnesium hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates in the water. It is called temporary hardness because it is easily removed by boiling water; the boiling water releases carbon dioxide and leaves insoluble calcium carbonate behind (lime scale).
Permanent hardness is the level of sulphate and chlorides, for example in the pond water.
Is Hard Water Or Soft Water better For My Pond?
In the vast majority of garden ponds, hard water is better as it buffers the water. Buffered water (high in carbonates) prevents pH swings and helps to prevent impurities such as copper from becoming a significant problem for your Koi and gold fish. Hard pond water also helps your pond fish to regulate its own metabolic processes, thereby helping to reduce the susceptibility to stress.
Is Hard Water Acid Or Alkali Water?
Hard water has a pH above pH7, meaning that it is alkaline.
As an example to illustrate the effect that water hardness has on the pH level of a pond, consider the following extract, courtesy once again of the Pond Professor (Tony Roocroft) ... "If pond water just before darkness falls has a pH of 8 and a low hardness of say 0.3 and carbon dioxide released by plants or algae amounts to say 5 units overnight then the pH at dawn might be as low as 6.8 because the released carbon dioxide is naturally acidic. Now if the same water with a pH of 8 had a hardness of about 2.0 then by dawn the pH would have fallen to only 7.5 due to the same amount of carbon dioxide being released. The hardness has "buffered" the water from excessive pH fall.”
This process is reversed during daylight hours, resulting in the pond water becoming more alkaline (pH above 7).
Water hardness plays a significant role in either preventing or allowing pH swings to take place … Read the interaction between ammonia and pond pH for further information relating to the affect pH has upon ammonia levels.
Can Pond Water Hardness Be Too Hard?
The simple answer is yes! Pond water that is too hard will often suffer from blanket weed and string algae problems. If you are having problems with blanketweed or string algae then try Viresco Koi or Viresco Aqua, a guaranteed way to eliminate this common pond problem. It is a UK product that can be shipped to any where in the world at a very low cost. It really is a miracle cure, no exaggeration!
How Can I Soften Or Harden Pond Water?
You soften hard water by mixing it with soft water ... e.g. from a home water softener unit. Water hardness can be improved by adding sodium bicarbonate.
