Good fishing ponds are the result of a wide variety of factors, ranging from the grass, water depth and bottom composition to the fish that call these waters home. All these factors are important, but the greatest variable that affects quality the most is the chemical balance. But what do these parameters mean for the pond owner that lacks a chemistry degree?
Typically, water-chemistry analysis can check for a wide variety of offerings, including: fluoride, calcium carbonate, chloride, nitrites/nitrates, phosphorus and conductivity. All of the chemicals measured in a typical pond water-analysis report play a role in the success of a fish pond, but the most important for a pond owner to know are pH, alkalinity, hardness and nitrite/nitrate.
The pH level is the most-important test indicator. It is the acid-base balance to which almost all of the chemical reactions in pond water occur. Depending on the pH, different elements will bond with others. Since the blood pH of fish is 7.4, the pond water should be as close to that pH as possible. A pH range between 6.5 and 9.0 is preferred. In acidic waters where the pH is less than 6.5, fish growth is stunted, and waters with lower pH values will prevent successful reproduction.
The water pH changes throughout a 24-hour period due to carbon-dioxide levels and photosynthesis. But alkalinity, by definition, is the water’s ability to resist changes in pH. It is the total concentration of carbonates, hydroxides, phosphates, borates and bicarbonates. Hardness is also related to alkalinity, which measures calcium and magnesium. A high alkalinity of 20 ppm or higher and a nearly neutral pH is preferred for a high rate of primary productivity or the building blocks of phytoplanktonic growth.
Nitrites and nitrates come from animal waste and runoff from other forms of waste inputs. High levels of nitrites and nitrates are a sign of a problem that can be corrected by cattle exclusion and buffering from upstream runoff sources. Extremely high levels of these compounds can be toxic to fish if pond owners allow them to rise. Nitrite and nitrate levels should be as low as possible, but there is not a severe problem unless these concentrations reach 0.5mg/L for nitrite or nitrate.
While further chemical analysis can be conducted on ponds for a laundry list of parameters, preferred levels of alkalinity, hardness, nitrate/nitrite concentration, and an ideal pH range will insure productive fish ponds for a lifetime of enjoyment. Make sure to perform routine water-chemistry analyses annually or at least every two years to maintain a healthy pond.
Be the first to comment