Low PH and high Ammonia...Is the BIO still active?

[aquitori]

Low PH (range 4.5-5) and high Ammonia (off the scale)...Is the BIO still active? Any remendy to this?

[Clay]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Low PH (range 4.5-5) and high Ammonia (off the scale)...Is the BIO still active? Any remendy to this?

We need some more specifics. I would do a 40% water change (if it is a very small pond I would do more of a water change if it is over 10000 gallons less). Either way after the water change with dechlor added, an ammonia binder is a must until you figure out what it going on.

Tell us about the filtration that is on the pond and pond size. What is the pH of the source water and the kH readings. With pH that low a pH crash could occur and kill everything in the pond soon. If source water and kH readings are low you will need to buffer the water with something. Some use baking soda and I would think this would be better than doing nothing, but your source water will give more clues to the final deposition on this. What is the water temp?

Need more info,Aquitori.

[aquitori]

As this isnt my pond I will ask more specs on the pond....

[Clay]

I didn't think that was your pond. Something is broken somewhere. I bet that the owner doesn't do water changes on a regular basis, feeds heavily and has very poor filtration that needs more maintenance for it's design and the owner is not willing or knowledgable enough to do what needs to be done with his current system.

The wonders of modern filtration design isn't that it accomplishes that much more than older styles of filtration but that the newer styles accomplish the same tasks with so much less maintenance and labor. For the average ponder, if it is easy to maintain - it will get done; if it is difficult - the system maintenance just doesn't get done.

I'm guessing a lot here and making general comments that I believe are true but not neccessarily what are going on with the specific pond in question.

Rick

[Rich L]

Good thing they contacted you.

Change lots of water and bind the ammonia before raising the pH. Unionised ammonia is a very small part of the ammonia present at that low pH and may not exist at all. It will build up to toxic levels as the pH is raised.

Don't take a lot of time doing it.

I doubt the bio is working. Treat it as a new pond ( daily water changes, neutralyzer, stop feeding, etc.). Does the pond owner have a med tank with a working filter. A working filter is the best source of seeding material for a new filter.

If the pond needs culling, now's the time.

[Rich L]

What do you think happened?

The pond may be heavilly stocked?
Is the construction such that the alkalinity isn't aided by the construction material?
Is the KH high enough to keep the alkalinity up with the water changes the owner is doing?
Does the owner take KH readings?

[MysticKoi]

Rich,

Exactly... heavily stocked pond, with little or no water changes over many many months (or years). Biofilter consumes the carbonates - pH crashes - reactor goes down. One must be careful here, a water change will raise the pH, thus rendering any residual ammonia toxic.

Kind Regards,
Bill