Water

[Joyy]

Hi everyone
I am new to ponds and in December last year I lost my fish and don’t want this to happen again.
I cleaned out pond and has new water has been sitting there for couple of months so it can cycle I havnt hooked up my filter yet but I just tested my water to see where I am at and I am little confused so hopefully someone can help

my ph was 6.6
Ammonia was 0
Nitrite was 0
Nitrate was 0

so I am just wondering is nitrate meant to be 0 or is this to low ? And if so what can I do to increase it ?

 

[Jhn]

Did you add a source of ammonia to the pond to start the cycle? Be it a few fish, some type of matter that will decay or pure ammonia added directly to the water. If not the pond hasn’t properly cycled. Also hook up and have the filter running while this is going on.

There should be a biofilm on the wet surfaces in the pond by now, just not much Beneficial bacteria In the biofilm.

Any plants in the pond? How big is it?

Here is a link to fishless cycling.....http://spec-tanks.com/how-to-fishless-cycle-a-new-aquarium/

 

[Joyy]

No I havnt added anything just literally have let it sit for last couple of months all my levels look ok so I was going add plants and a couple of fish and keep an eye on levels but I am confused if my nitrates should be 0 ? Or if they need be higher and it’s 1200 litres

 

[IPA]

Sorry you lost your fish. I recommend doing a fishless cycle using ammonium chloride. Look for Dr. Tim's Aquatics Ammonium Chloride Solution for Cycling Aquariums, 2-oz bottle. Chewy sells it for about $3. Also, Your pH is a little on the low side, consider purchasing a GH/KH water hardness test kit. You’ll want the KH between 100 and 200.

 

[WaterGardener]

Your pond will never cycle unless there is ammonia present. Just having it sit there does nothing but let the water stagnate. You should hook everything up and add some plain ammonia to get to the level of at least 2 ppm.

Please research fishless cycle to get a better explanation. Adding fish before a cycle can be harmful to the fish.

Also your pH is very low. It will be hard to establish any beneficial bacteria in your system at that level of pH. It's easy to raise that with baking soda.

If you have more questions, please ask, but if I were you, I wouldn't add fish until the cycle has been establish. That will take a couple more months.

 

[Joyy]

Your pond will never cycle unless there is ammonia present. Just having it sit there does nothing but let the water stagnate. You should hook everything up and add some plain ammonia to get to the level of at least 2 ppm.

Please research fishless cycle to get a better explanation. Adding fish before a cycle can be harmful to the fish.

Also your pH is very low. It will be hard to establish any beneficial bacteria in your system at that level of pH. It's easy to raise that with baking soda.

If you have more questions, please ask, but if I were you, I wouldn't add fish until the cycle has been establish. That will take a couple more months.

Thank you ! I am in no rush so want todo it right