Newbie to Ponds

[don't ask]

hmmm.. tap water is high ph as well...unfortunately the best and easy way is probably not available to you and that would be ground water or rain water... i would hold off using chemicals to lower ph unless absolutely last resource... if you have an aerator and air pump that can help lower it as well.... i would give it some more time and see if it lowers...did you backwash or clean/rinse out filter?

 

[thehumphries]

I have cleaned it, nothing out of the ordinary.

I desperately need to find something to lower the PH, anyone tried any of these products:

http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydro...e=UTF8&qid=1341001334&sr=8-1&keywords=ph+down
http://www.amazon.com/Biosafe-6401-...e=UTF8&qid=1341001553&sr=8-6&keywords=ph+down
http://www.amazon.com/API-Pondcare-...d=1341001823&sr=8-1&keywords=pondcare+ph+down

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[thehumphries]

Also, to rule everything out, I think I want to switch up foods. Can you guys recommend foods that work well for koi and shubunkins?

 

[addy1]

dr foster and smith web site has some good foods, so I have read on forums. Right now my fish are getting expensive koi food that I won, when it is gone I will need to figure out some other food to feed the herd.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/?ref=4136&subref=AA&cmpid=PPC-B-4136

 

[thehumphries]

Well, yesterday I drove my remaining fish into a credible milwaukee store that I use once in a while. They inspected the fish, and said it has to be something internal (paraside/infection). So, i purchased some PondCare stuff to try to fix that.
They also tested my water, and while the PH was high, they said it shouldn't be killing off my fish.

I also switched up my food to Blue Ridge Mini food.

I am also thinking about purchasing this for parasites:
http://www.amazon.co...e+Pond+Treament

Anyone have any experiences with parasites? Shouldn't I see something? I know last year when I was on vacation, my wife found red/redish small worms in our pond. By the time I returned from vacation, however, they were gone.

In good news, we did buy a dozen of comets to try to test w/ the new stuff in our pond.
In more good news, when cleaning out the pond and inspecting it this AM, I found baby fish!. probably 1/4" - 5/16" long and they were not there yesterday. I have seen 4 or 5 so far today. Are they hatching right now? Anyway to tell what type of fish they are?

Also, a bit of feedback if I can ask too: Here is where my water comes out to my "waterfall", do you think this provides enough aeration? My fish aren't gasping for air, but I want to make sure.

Thanks for all the help guys! I appreciate it greatly!

 

[don't ask]

I am gonna say that's a bit low and looking back you said a 1500 gph filter, guessing no more than a 3 foot head to top of falls, i would think water should be coming out faster..did you check everything on filter/pump to make sure nothing clogging? i try to stay away from the chemical products nut have had success with pondzyme products... i might say do a water change and use the de-chlor before using the ph down stuff...did you test to see what your ph is coming from faucet?

 

[thehumphries]

I have some rocks in the front of it, so disperse the flow coming out. Otherwise it shoots out into the water as a stream.