Did my first water test

[bagsmom]

Results were:

Ph -- somewhere between 6.5 and 7.
Both hardness types - 0
Nitrate and Nitrite - 0

I have a biological filter and have been adding beneficial bacteria as directed, to establish the colonies on the filter media.

Anything else I should be doing? I have 4 one-inch fish in there somewhere, but they hide!

 

[Meyer Jordan]

I have a biological filter and have been adding beneficial bacteria as directed, to establish the colonies on the filter media.

Please elaborate. Product name?

 

[Ruben Miranda]

Hello
Need to test for Ammonia
Don't know how big your pond is or how long it has been up and running.
But a cycle goes like this
Ammonia the first colony eats the ammonia and turns it to nitrite this colony turns the nitrite to nitrates.
So what you want
Ammonia at 0 ppm
Nitrites at 0 ppm
Nitrates at 20 ppm are almost harmless to fish but you do want to keep it at a harmless level.
Floating plants are great for this also water changes
Oh also keep a I on phosphate

Ruben

 

[bagsmom]

Please elaborate. Product name?

Savio F100 (brain cramp -- bio falls? bio filter?)
Maybe Savio Filter Falls F100.

The bacteria is: Helix Life Support brand dry beneficial bacteria and enzyme treatment -- All season

Brand new pond. It's been going about 5 weeks, I believe. Lots of fluffy algae.

First water lily leaf reached the surface today.

Are these test results pretty much what they should be for this stage of the game?

 

[MitchM]

I think you may have made a mistake with your water hardness tests.
You should have positive readings, unless you're using reverse osmosis water.
You might want to re-do those tests.

 

[bagsmom]

I think you may have made a mistake with your water hardness tests.
You should have positive readings, unless you're using reverse osmosis water.
You might want to re-do those tests.

Mitch -- you are right!!!!!!!

I don't know what I did when I was transposing the numbers - between the test strip and the computer, I had a brain cramp.
Nitrate and Nitrite are, in fact, showing 0
GH - is somewhere between 0 and 30.
KH is 40
Ph is between 6.5 and 7

 

[Meyer Jordan]

The bacteria is: Helix Life Support brand dry beneficial bacteria and enzyme treatment -- All season

A waste of money especially in a new pond. Does absolutely nothing that aids in cycling the biofiltration. These types of products are colloquially called 'Muck Busters' as the bacteria that they contain rely on organic Carbon for a food source, so are helpful in breaking down accumulated organic matter. Doubt that you will have this issue for some time to come,

 

[bagsmom]

Thanks, Meyer! Good to know! I will put it on the shelf for a while.

I guess I'll just let those wee little fish do their thing to get stuff going.

 

[MitchM]

Mitch -- you are right!!!!!!!

I don't know what I did when I was transposing the numbers - between the test strip and the computer, I had a brain cramp.
Nitrate and Nitrite are, in fact, showing 0
GH - is somewhere between 0 and 30.
KH is 40
Ph is between 6.5 and 7

You might want to start using liquid drop tests instead of test strips.
Knowing more accurate KH and GH numbers will help you manage your water quality better.
API makes an inexpensive master pond test kit plus you can pick up a couple of individual tests that the master kit may not come with.