High pH water source JR?

[MikeM]

Are you sure zinc is 5.0 mg/liter?

[bardies]

That is what the analysis says. Seems awfull high. I looked up the specific test and it was done way back in 95. I'm going to call the water guy and ask about it, if there might be a typo or if there might be a more recent test.

ok, further research says that 5mg/l is acceptable for drinking water, that the element is considered essential and non-toxic, and that the reason for the level being set at 5mg is that above that, water gets nasty tasting and developes and oily feel when boiling (yuck!).

So, I wouldnt be surprised if that is a for-real number. Any ideas on what it would do to fish? Make them greasy when boiled?

Kim

[PapaBear]

If the most recent test is from 95 I'd go ahead and have the Irrigation Test run by the extension agent. $12 is pretty cheap to get a thorough analysis on today's water and that way you'll know for sure what you've got to work/deal with.

[bardies]

I am with you there, PapaBear!

Kim

[bardies]

I did the first dosage of acid, some minor drop in pH, (but not being agressive either). On the next dosage - the next morning. Saw significant drop (but not TOO significant) with only a 5th of the intended dosage. At that point, had to deal with the dog chewing into the pH test kit bottle.....vet visit, induced vomitting, and charcoal...then a trip to all the local pond/pet/aquarium stores to find a high end test kit that didnt involve strips or tablets....and lets just say that we went to all but one of my possible options before finding something. Some very knowledgable folks at Wet Pets in Norman, who specialize mostly in aquarium and salt water fish....but by virtue of that fact, seem to be pretty darn good at messing with the water. It so goes against all of my pond upbringing, but when dealing with a water source like this...oh well!
Anyway, got test kits for calcium and mag., and my levels are pretty low - too low.
Upon arriving back home, pH in pond back up to 8.8 (can you tell - I got an electronic pH meter ).
Abort acid treatment....back to store...they have stuff to remove KH, fix pH, set GH and KH back up, then supplement Ca and Mg....How cool is that!? and even better...the stuff they were selling for (ok, not as good as acid) 8 or so bucks a pop, treats 3000 gallons. So not dirt cheap, but not pet smart 'treats 5 gallons' either.
I dont know what I would do with my time if I didnt have a pond to obsess over.

[ChrisC]

Hi Kim, Chris Charbonneau here--hoped you'd have a softer landing in OK, but the club folks there are super and will help you, met a bunch of them at the seminar a couple of years ago.

We'll try to get photos of your entrants up so you can see them, and take virtual part in the WKWGS show from there!

[PapaBear]

At the club meeting next week you'll get to meet several members who've been in the hobby a lot longer than I have, and they can likely give you some good advice. We also have the good fortune to have Langston University not too far away, and the head of their Aquaculture Dept. also happens to be a Koi Keeper. He gave a very informative seminar at our last show, and comes in pretty handy from time to time

[bardies]

There was a spawn when the fish first got here...wonder if that had anything to do with anything - but besides the baby I found yesterday (one month later) and a little activity that I witnessed - no other signs that I generally hear about.
To top it all off, have only been making minor water changes - with a tap water who's pH now is very close to pond pH, and the pH of the pond seems to be going up...as in a gradual creep. What the h??? Additional biological load - new group of healthy fish (the last of my WA fish). Only about a sixth of the pond covered by water hyacinth that are only somewhat recovering - if at all. Fish so far seem happy though.