Title: Why My Fish Died
diannemc - October 10, 2007 06:51 PM (GMT)
I think I am sure it is our water...Since all my fish died I put baking soda in pond and the ph can back up around 7.4... So i ran water in the pond put chorine buster in it and waited a day then checked it again..It had bottomed out 6.0...So I went in side and checked my tap water...It was 6.0.. That's bad...Call my water company and they said it should not be that low.. so they were going to check it...added water was the only thing I did each time....that was the same....so now what? If I get the ph up can I add fish and each time I add water do I need to add baking soda?
SadieMay - October 10, 2007 08:34 PM (GMT)
Is it possible for you to get some plastic stock tanks/ closed rain barrels? Basically you would be holding (for example: a 50 gal. plastic drum) water on the side that you can monitor and use to top off your pond?
Robyn - October 11, 2007 08:06 PM (GMT)
Sadie, that's a good idea to have some pretreated water ready to go. But, she would have to worry about algae and mosquito larvae growing in the sitting water.
Diane, if your tap water is 6.0, then you should raise the pH as you put it into the pond each time. You might also want to consider getting a full house system to adjust your water's pH for all household use. If not, adding sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, etc. are all options to raise the pH above 7. A pH of 7.5 or so would be ideal if it is buffered (stable pH).
SadieMay - October 12, 2007 01:01 PM (GMT)
You could get the rain collecting barrels, which are a near-closed collection system. Plus conserve on the water bill too...using the rain, topping it off with the hose. Regulate and use for the pond.
diannemc - October 12, 2007 03:40 PM (GMT)
Thanks for your help... I don't have fish.. We are having lows around 48 at night and 78 to 80 here in Mississippi.. Could I add fish if the PH is right???
Robyn - October 12, 2007 07:18 PM (GMT)
It's still warm enough to try adding fish if your water's pH and other parameters are now testing ok. If the fish still die, then there's a problem beyond the pH. I suggest only trying a few small fish if you do.