Home  

  Main Index MAIN
INDEX 		Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS 		Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE 		Log in LOG
IN

Home: KOI Talk: Pond Water Quality:
Carbonate hardness dropping quickly

 





 


Norbert Somlai
Koi Lover

Sep 29, 2001, 5:47 AM

Post #1 of 6 (3502 views)
Shortcut
Carbonate hardness dropping quickly Can't Post
Hello,

I have a carbonate hardness problem. I have built a 1600 litres pond about 2 months ago, it's now starting to stabilize (nitrite is down from 10 to 0.3 mg/l). I noticed once that the kH is around 3 so I did a 50% water change with water whose kH is 10, pH is 8. Immediately after the water change the kH was around 8, but it dropped to 3 again after a week. (The pH is always 9, still stable.)

Anybody could help what can cause such a kH drop and how can it be stopped? The pond has several types of plants (water hyacinth, pistia, one water lily, cerophyllum demersum), 2 small goldfishes and rocks (andesit and a few of some bright white rocks whose name I don't know, especially in English :-))

Thanks a lot, Norbert


dttk
Senior Member

Sep 29, 2001, 11:53 PM

Post #2 of 6 (3501 views)
Shortcut
Carbonate hardness dropping quickly [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Norbert, welcome to the forum. What type of pond do you have? Concrete, liner or fiberglass? When bacteria converts ammonia into nitrites into nitrates, carbonates are used up. This results in kH dropping. You could add baking soda(sodium bicarbonate) into the water to bring up the kH fast and you may also put shells(oyster, cockles) into your last stage of filtration to act as a source of carbonate. 100g of baking soda raises kH of 1 ton(1000L) of water by 1 dkH or 17.9ppm. You need not change water just to raise kH. have a nice day. Smile


Norbert Somlai
Koi Lover

Sep 30, 2001, 6:22 PM

Post #3 of 6 (3501 views)
Shortcut
Carbonate hardness dropping quickly [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi,

Thanks for the quick reply. I have a liner pond (pictures at http://vnet.hu/somlain/to). Is it possible to use up carbonates by bacteria that fast (i.e. one week)?

Regards, Norbert



TonyG
Koi Lover

Sep 30, 2001, 11:51 PM

Post #4 of 6 (3501 views)
Shortcut
Carbonate hardness dropping quickly [In reply to] Can't Post
Dear Norbert

Yes it is very possible for KH to drop drastically in a week time. Personally, i experience KH drop from 10 to 4 in a week. I add baking soda to up the KH. Now my KH is maintain at 8 and to maintain the KH, i add in 2 teaspoon of baking soda every 3 days. Mine is a small 700 liter tank. Hope this information helps.

Regards

Tony


Norbert Somlai
Koi Lover

Oct 1, 2001, 10:28 AM

Post #5 of 6 (3501 views)
Shortcut
Carbonate hardness dropping quickly [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Tony,

Thanks a lot. Just to be sure: baking soda = sodium bicarbonate, right?

Regards, Norbert


TonyG
Koi Lover

Oct 1, 2001, 10:43 PM

Post #6 of 6 (3501 views)
Shortcut
Carbonate hardness dropping quickly [In reply to] Can't Post
Correct

Some of the packaging stated Bicarbonate of soda, they are all the same.

Cheers

Tony

 
 
 



Search for (options) Back to Koi.com.my Main Page

  Disclaimer  Privacy Statement     
Copyright 2001~ 2002 Hileytech Sdn Bhd , All Rights Reserved.  
No part of the forum postings can be copied without prior permission from Hileytech Sdn Bhd and the Author of the Posting.
For comments and Suggestion, Please contact the Webmaster at koi@hileytech.com