What should amonia and PH levels be?

[koikeepr]

yes, that's exactly where you want it as per photo #3 above. An air stone on top of the pond does nothing.

 

[BennyLava]

Here's a photo of what a waterfall does:

Ok I understand what you are saying. But if you are circulating all the water in the whole pond, 1 time every hour, how would there be enough time for the water in the bottom to become oxygen depleted?

I mean, 15 minutes ago, the water on the bottom was probly at the top. Where it was oxygenated by the waterfall. See what I'm saying? It just seems to me like it would be circulating so fast, that there wouldn't be enough time for the lower area of the pond to become oxygen depleted.

That is if your pond is like mine, and the whole pond goes through the waterfall in 1 hour. Maybe I just don't understand how fast the water loses oxygen. Maybe it only takes like 5 minutes to become depleted or something.

 

[koikeepr]

Circulating water is exactly what the term implies--you are just moving it around. It is not injecting air into water. Also, you are moving around water that is part of an existing water column, and not fresh water--so oxygen does become depleted.

Now add plants into the picture, and they are producing C02 whenever there is no sunlight, like in the evenings. So, that depletes even more oxygen. So, even if you just run your air in the evening, you are giving your pond a big boost.

 

[BennyLava]

Ok. So what should I use for an air pump? Just one of those cheapo little ones from wal mart? Will that be enough?

 

[koikeepr]

honestly, no. You want to use something that can withstand the use though the winter.

I'm sure folks will give you brand that will work. Dolphin, pondmaster, alita, medo, hakko are some good ones that come to mind. Anything else is low-grade and short-term.

 

[Squidhead]

Ok I understand what you are saying. But if you are circulating all the water in the whole pond, 1 time every hour, how would there be enough time for the water in the bottom to become oxygen depleted?

I mean, 15 minutes ago, the water on the bottom was probly at the top. Where it was oxygenated by the waterfall. See what I'm saying? It just seems to me like it would be circulating so fast, that there wouldn't be enough time for the lower area of the pond to become oxygen depleted.

That is if your pond is like mine, and the whole pond goes through the waterfall in 1 hour. Maybe I just don't understand how fast the water loses oxygen. Maybe it only takes like 5 minutes to become depleted or something.

How is the water getting from the pond to the waterfall?

 

[BennyLava]

How is the water getting from the pond to the waterfall?

Sucked through the pump and spat out into the waterfall. Through pvc tubing that I buried underground.