Quick Question?

[koifishgirl]

Hi, I had ask some to back about my ph swings in my mud pond, in the morning the ph would be fine, later on that day it would get high, was told if I am not mistaken that it was ok. Can someone please tell me what cause's this. Do it have anything to do with algie?

[koifishgirl]

Ok, maybe I should reword this. What causes PH swings?

[luke frisbee]

algae...

I am typing more right now because the website insisted that i give you a longer answer i hope this is long enough, but the answer is

algae

[Arthur]

KFG,

In a mud pond (assuming no lime or anything of the sort), algae is the main culprit for pH swings. Algae, like all plants, release CO2 in the water during the night. CO2 dissolved in the water makes carbonic acid, which drags the pH down.

Algae in a mud pond is a good thing as it is contributing to the denitrification of the koi by-products. However, too much algae can cause problems as pH swings increase with algae contents. This is why in extreme cases, some kind of algae control is required in a mud pond.

It is not as simple as that of course :-) since if you remove algae, denitrification will be impaired. It is all a question of balance between fish load (ammonia) and algae, where the fish load does not require too much algae for denitrification, and so on (remove the fertilizer and the algae won't grow). Even this is simpler than what really happens butt gives you the idea about your question.

[koifishgirl]

Thanks, I just wanted to make sure I did not get this wrong, one of my friends needed some help with this and I told him I thought it was the algae causeing the problem, so I guess I can go tell him to get rid of the algae and problem will be solved.


Thanks guys,

Judy

[luke frisbee]

let me simplify it a bit more.....if you got too many fish in there and they need too much food..... there will be too much algae.....
too much food = too much algae
FEED THEM LESS

[koifishgirl]

Yep that is what I told him, I think I will tell him to add some plants to help eat up the poop to.

Less food less algae
more plants less algae
more shade less algae and add some salt and maybe some liquid barley and algae problem gone

[luke frisbee]

kfg,
no.
IT IS THIS SIMPLE
less food less algae...decrease the food amount slowly...
too reduce algae you need to reduce one component. Reducing all of them alittle won't result in a reduction in algae....eliminate one and you eliminate the algae.

[koifishgirl]

Ok, got ya, All I told him to do was to stop feeding for a while and then start back with very small amount of food untill the gets the algae under control. No poop no bloom.

[luke frisbee]

kgf,
no you don't got me...
if you suspend feeding you'll likely get an algal die off and have a big problem...he needs to slowly cut back on feeding them