Lowering PH

[jupiter1]

I have read some on lowering PH . Some say use peat , vinegar or even muriatic acid . Problem is info is vague . Anyone have guide lines for amount per gallon of pond for these solutions to lower PH ?

 

[fishin4cars]

Peat is the safest as it lowers the ph naturraly and slowly. Lowering slowly is a big key, If you use vinegar or muratic acid make sure it's very small changes at a time. If I were going to use muratic acid I would first dilute it and then drip it in at a rate of 10% muratic acid to 90% water and drip in about a cup a day until desired PH is read. What is the PH, Unless it's a extreme it most case high PH is not really that big of a problem unless over about 8.5 or higher even at 8.5, Personally, I would mess with it. Would let it naturally come down, or use peat.

 

[addy1]

Peat will add a brown tone to your water

 

[CometKeith]

I would be careful with muriatic acid if you haven't used it before. I had some workman clean a cement floor with it. They didn't dilute it enough and it smelled for 5 years after that. Plants will lower ph. Also eliminating pond water from touching cement or limestone products will lower ph because these contain lime. Just curious how high is your ph and what kind of fish do you have?

 

[fishin4cars]

Also, if you do use acid, read and reread the instructions carefully, acid MUST be added to water, NEVER add water to acid, it can and will explode. USE EXTREME CAUTION if you decide to go that route!

 

[addy1]

jupiter my ph was high, once the plants got going it went down

 

[stroppy]

how high is your PH, and have you tested what your tap or well water is? my understanding is high PH is not so bad as PH that is not stable

 

[jupiter1]

Thanks for the replys . I know about working with muriatic acid as I have used it for the swimming pool for the last 17 years . I can't imagane ever adding it to water containing fish ! Last resort , no hope maybe but I don't think so . Will try peat first .

I know any changes to PH must be slow . I have 9 five to six inch goldfish and a 5 three inch koi in the 800 gallon pond . The PH reading I took yesterday was almost 10 . This was after a heavy rain , could the rain have caused the high reading ? Raining hard again right now can not take another reading . Also recently repotted 4 water lily's in baskets with wal-mart kitty litter and fertilizer tabs , Litter and fertilizer tabs causing increase ?

 

[addy1]

My well is 5.5 my pond was around 5.8 over time it climbed to 10ish if not higher. I added crushed oyster shells, 100 lbs. It is now sitting nicely at 7.5. That is all I did add the shells.

I have kitty litter and use the tabs and ph still sitting around 7.5

 

[jupiter1]

My well is 5.5 my pond was around 5.8 over time it climbed to 10ish if not higher. I added crushed oyster shells, 100 lbs. It is now sitting nicely at 7.5. That is all I did add the shells.

I have kitty litter and use the tabs and ph still sitting around 7.5

Well the fish seen happy dispite the high PH reading but I think it's due to the
temperature decrease from the recent rains . I am thinking maybe I just got a bad test ( fingers crossed ) . If the rain lets up I'll test again .

 

[jupiter1]

I added crushed crushed oyster shells, 100 lbs. It is now sitting nicely at 7.5. That is all I did add the shells.

crushed oyster shells. Is'nt there a product they sell at feed stores for chickens that is basicly the same thing ? Scratch I think it's called .

 

[j.w]

Yes they actually sell the crushed oyster shells at the co-ops and feed stores in bags of 5, 10 or 50lb bags I believe. I bought the 10lb bag and put about a quart in my 2500 gal pond to see what would happen. I guess I should check now and see how the ph is but it's been raining a lot here so I procrastinate.

 

[jupiter1]

Yes they actually sell the crushed oyster shells at the co-ops and feed stores in bags of 5, 10 or 50lb bags I believe. I bought the 10lb bag and put about a quart in my 2500 gal pond to see what would happen. I guess I should check now and see how the ph is but it's been raining a lot here so I procrastinate.

Thanks , seems like it would be less messy than peat .Theres a feed store just down the street from me .

 

[fishin4cars]

reading these few post I think I need to explain what Oyster shells do. Oyster shells break down in water and raise the buffering level of the water, the higher the buffering level the more stable PH becomes. If you have and maintain a low level PH, (Under 7.0) you would use peat to stabalize the PH, In alkaline water you use a buffer. You really want to add the oyster shells once you have the PH where you want it. Adding it when the PH is high will make it harder to lower the PH, adding it when the water is soft will cause the PH to bounce. So long story short, Once you have the PH where you want it, Then you add the oyster shell and monitor your GH and KH levels, the more stable those two are and the higher they are the more stable the PH will be in the pond.

 

[KennethO]

Hi.
What kind of test are you using? Stips or liquid? Strips are highly inaccurate. One time my strip read a 6.5 ph. I knew it was wrong and did a liquid test. Was 7.5. Will never use a strip test again.

Any concrete or limestone touching the water? Concrete pavers or cinder blocks? Oysters are nice but you need to try to get it lower before adding them like fishin said. If you can get it to 8 or lower then that's all you need.