Got home from a BBQ tonight to notice 2 of the water lily leaves totally curled up from the edges in...and the pickeral leaves having black tips. I tested the ph and it was bluer than the pickeral flowers...aarghhhhh. I took out about 3 inches of water-added dechlorinator and ph down, tomorrow I'm going to try taking out 50% and getting out some of this stupid algae. Plus we're going to start a heat wave...the fish will never survive that. I do have an extra pump spitting but it won't be enough for this week.

I'm sorry about your pond problems. If I remember correctly, you never could figure out a cause for the pH going up as far as anything leaching (cement, mortar, bricks, cinder blocks, limestone, rocks, etc.)? We just though it was from algae? It doesn't seem right that natural processes alone would bring the pH up that much. I suggest buying a higher range pH test if your kit is off the chart. It helps to know exactly what the pH is as opposed to say above 8.5. If your tap water is lower in pH, I suggest water changes to help bring it down as well as the pH down acid. 50% seems like a lot of water but may really help. How big is your pond again? I suggest buying an aquarium aerator to put in an air stone during the heat. I have a Luft pump (for ponds) but in an emergency, I have a bunch of both battery and electric aquarium air pumps. If the pet store doesn't have battery air pumps, try the bait/fishing store. I've been adding cool water to the pond to top it off each afternoon while it's in the 90's here. My pond water was 78 degrees F at noon so it's not too bad. I wish I could help you out. I know you said you would be fretting all night about your pond.

I rerouted my 'spitter' pump so it's more like tiny droplets hitting the water. This weekend got so screwed up I won't be able to do a drastic water change till next weekend. I've been putting in ph down, only enough for 300 gals. ( my pond is about 600). It's gotta be the algae, put media around the pump. Water temp. is staying in the 70's, so not bad. So far the fish still seem happy and active.

Ok. I hope things get better. I wonder if the algae is so out of control that a total water change (fish set aside in pond water while you change) might be in order. I usually don't recommend those but sometimes they're necessary for things like poisonings. The new water would have to have dechlorinator, have maybe salt, be pH tested, and be heavily aerated for a few hours before putting the fish back in.