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Maintaining the health of fish and plants is directly related to the quality of the water in which they live and grow.

The water was tested for the following:

__ pH
Your results _____________________

The pH of the water is a measurement of acidity and ranges from 0 to 14. Below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and above 7 is alkaline. In a pond pH may fluctuate due to the filter activity, KH (buffering) and carbon dioxide levels in the water. Carbon dioxide from fish metabolism, plant respiration, mineral acids from pollution, organic acids from decaying debris, and impurities leached into tap water all lower pH. A deficient KH (carbonate level) in the pond will cause the pH to crash. Very slight pH variations will not harm fish significantly as long as they do not go too low or too high. Koi and goldfish, however, prefer a pH between 6.8 and 9.0. A proper KH (carbonate) level in the pond will keep the PH from deviating from a level of 8.5 which is acceptable for koi and goldfish.

__Nitrite
Your results _____________________
Acceptable ranges are: zero

Ammonia is converted into Nitrite by Nitrosomonas Nitrite is converted into Nitrate (plant food) by Nitrobacter. Nitrites are highly toxic to fish. Nitrites cause damage to the gills and interferes with the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. Lack of oxygen in the system is "brown blood disease" Salt at .1% will protect fish until the filter is established. Nitrites can only be controlled with proper filtration and water changes as needed.

__Nitrate
Your results _____________________
Acceptable ranges are: below .5

Routine water changes are the very best step to controlling Nitrates. Trickle tower filters (wet/dry) systems also are very good at eliminating nitrates. Increases in lighting will stimulate green algal growth in the recently cleared areas. Algae will consume Nitrates at a prodigious rate. Cleaning the pond bottom of brown algal growth and removal of the filth-holding slime in the pond is advised, but the pond needn't be "sterilized" or impeccably cleaned. Plants may be employed. In order to force the plants to use waterborne nitrates and phosphates, a soil-less potting media may be used so the plants can send out viable root systems but all their nutrition is derived from the water. Because feeding and stocking rates influence this so dramatically, a reduction in stocking density and feeding rates can make an improvement in the accumulation of Nitrates.

__Alkalinity (KH)
Your results _____________________
Acceptable ranges are: KH - 100 ppm minimum

Alkalinity is the ability of water to resist (buffer) changes in pH. Alkalinity (also known as Carbonate Hardness or KH) is the measure of carbonate and bicarbonate ion concentrations. These minerals are present in all tap water regardless of their source. An alkalinity value of 100 to 300 ppm is good. These levels provide greater buffering and more stable pH. If alkalinity is less than 50 ppm then wide pH swings are common and a filter crash is imminent.

__Ammonia
Your results are______________________
Acceptable: Zero

Ammonia is the first waste product of your fish. High protein foods left in the pond and decaying debris also add to the Ammonia load. Ammonia is more toxic at pH above 8.0. High Ammonia levels will burn fish gills and tissues. If left unchecked it can harm gills beyond repair. Ammonia is removed from the environment by beneficial bacteria called "Nitrosomonas". You can control Ammonia with proper filtration and partial water changes. Salt at .1% can protect fish temporarily until the filter is established.

__Salt
Your results are______________________
Acceptable levels: Optional

Fish require electrolytes for their metabolic processes. The electrolyte content in tap water is often lower than their natural habitats. A high quality diet will aid in providing this. Adding salt is optional. Many pond keepers are moving away from salting at a maintenance dose because of recent reports of fish immunities to salt treatments for parasites. Plants will tolerate a .1% salt solution. For treatment of parasites a salt level from .3 to .6% is recommended over a period of 2 weeks. An acceptable alternative to adding salt for electrolytes and minerals is “Koi Clay” (carbonate Benodite).

Sue Emerick is a hobbyist who lives in the south suburbs of Minneapolis (Savage). She is a member of the Minnesota Water Garden Society.