Adjusting hardness and pH

[kntry]

I have 0 hardness and my pH fluctuates between 8.5 a.m. and 9 p.m.. I adjusted the hardness to 80 last night. Would it be better to leave the pH alone and keep the hardness between 80-100 or should I add BS to try to bring the pH down to 8.3?

This pond has only been set up about 2 months and the water is green right now. I also added bentonite clay last night.

[MCA]

flucuates how much?

I use powered limestone from the garden department of the DIY stores. I adds buffering more slowly that baking soda. It also adds trace minerals. I have baking soda for an emergency.

[sactownkoi]

I was wondering the same thing. I have a bead filter and pH around 7.6-7.8 and kH is 80 ppm should I add baking soda to it to make kH around 150ppm?

[kntry]

Michael, it doesn't fluctuate more than about .5, not really enough to worry about.

I'm more concerned with how high the pH is. It's always been this high but I've read that high pH ruins the skin.

I don't use much BS at a time. I've only used it a couple of times in the past and didn't continue it. The pond is 5560 gallons and I will be adding 3 lbs. a day.

How do you use the powdered limestone?