Removing the ice

[Meyer Jordan]

Ammonia pond water 0
Ammonia ice melt 0.25
Nitrate pond water 0
Nitrate ice melt 0

Which makes sense since there would be decaying organic matter caught in the ice and no sufficient bacterial population to break the ammonia down.
It looks like the ice on top of the pond is essentially a nutrient bomb that will release excess nutrients into the pond as it melts.

Don't know about the 'bomb' description, but this does add support to what I have been led to believe...that water does not necessarily 'shed' pollutants/impurities as it freezes.
Thanks for the test results.

 

[MitchM]

Maybe a little dramatic?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Maybe a little dramatic?

And maybe not.

 

[MitchM]

A sample of ice 4 - 5 inches deep read 0 for ammonia.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

A sample of ice 4 - 5 inches deep read 0 for ammonia.

I would strongly suspect that the results of the same tests conducted on a pond in a urban area would be very different. Atmospheric pollution for your location should be very low. Isn't most of your area undeveloped?

 

[MitchM]

Yes, the prevailing wind is from the west, which is the Rocky Mountains.
Large urban developments to the west are a few hundred miles away.

 

[cas]

@MitchM I love it that you take the time to test these things and post the results so we can all learn something.

 

[morewater]

I dont see any harm in this but I figured I might as well ask people with more experience... Is there anything wrong with removing the ice from my pond as its breaks up?

No harm at all.

Sure, there's no harm in it, but what's the point?

It's going to melt anyway.

That's akin to standing in front of a microwave and screaming "HURRY UP!!".

 

[MitchM]

@MitchM I love it that you take the time to test these things and post the results so we can all learn something.

Thank you cas. I'm learning too.

 

[Lisak1]

I'm learning too.

I like your experimental mind - I'm a questioner myself and find that testing ideas and theories is a great way to learn and extrapolate.