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Home: KOI Talk: Pond Water Quality:
How to increase water hardness

 





 


Bancherd
Koi Lover

Aug 24, 2000, 8:44 PM

Post #1 of 13 (3084 views)
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Hi Forum members:

Is there a quick and easy way to increase water's total hardness(GH)? I measured my pond, and GH only registered about 3(I have rain water drained into my pond). I have been using baking soda to maintain my KH at about 5-6.

I am in Thailand.

Thanks,

Bancherd


rahim
Koi Lover

Aug 24, 2000, 11:51 PM

Post #2 of 13 (3082 views)
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Hi Banchered,

I have the same problem with my pond. The problem is from the tap water supply itself. The GH reading is less than 1 dH.

I used to wrote some e-mail to Roark for help sometimes ago. He recommended me to use Calcium Chloride but I never find it in any Hardware store in Malaysia. Even more frustrating is that the one Roark uses is made in Malaysia.

Then I used liquid lime ( I guess it is Calcium Carbonate) but it will drive pH up to the roof very easily and will make the fish jump out of the pond. One spoonful to my 700 gallon pond will drive the pH about 0.5 but almost no effect to GH. I need 4 to 5 spoonful to raise GH to 1 dH. But I will end up with pH 10. Try to do that over a week. But it is also waste of time because I will do 20% water change every weekend. Finally, I give up.

Hope someone will help us on this because the young kois will need a lot of calcium for their young bone.

thanks


ET
Koi Lover

Aug 25, 2000, 1:45 PM

Post #3 of 13 (3082 views)
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HI ,

From what i have learn from friends in sg ,
they teach me to use the baking soda to push up the pH value . By adding it , it also push up the GH and KH in the process . As the pH will stop going higher than 8.4 pH , it should be ok to add baking soda to the pond to pump up the KH and GH .

- ET -


ROG
New User

Aug 25, 2000, 6:58 PM

Post #4 of 13 (3082 views)
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Baking soda will not rise the Gh or the Kh of your water. Baking soda will only rise the TA. If you want to rise the Gh of your pond you should try Plaster of pairs. Mix the plaster and pour it in to molds. Let this dry completely then place the "puck" of plaster in to in to the pond where water will run over it. This will not only rise the Gh of the pond but will buffer the pH as well. Be sure to use only Plaster of Pairs that has no additives. Cheack out this web site for more on this. http://www.koivet.com/phpill.htm
ROG.


bil wight
Koi Lover

Nov 26, 2000, 3:42 PM

Post #5 of 13 (3082 views)
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I use oyster shell in a trickle tower, and submerged limestone. They keep my GH at a proper level If you want to speed it up, you could try grinding oystershell to a powder and mixing it with water. The water goes a bit milky, but not for long. How effective that would be, I can't say, but it ought to work. bil


Doc Conrad
Koi Lover


Jan 19, 2001, 12:03 AM

Post #6 of 13 (3082 views)
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Plaster of Paris contains a large percentage of calcium sulfate, which is soluble to about 2000 PPM, and should drive GH of the pond above the recommended values if you use too much of it. So be careful to add the right amount of the molded plaster of Paris if you go this route.

I agree with Roark that Calcium chloride is the best choice, and it is very cheap and available locally where I live in Charleston, WV, USA. They sell big bags of calcium chloride for melting the snow and ice here in the Winter in all the stores at very low prices, around $4 for a 50 pound bag.


Marine
Koi Lover

Jan 19, 2001, 3:59 AM

Post #7 of 13 (3082 views)
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Hi ET,

What would be the dosage of baking soda for a 3-ton pond ?

KOh


JOHNNY
Koi Lover

Apr 20, 2001, 7:00 AM

Post #8 of 13 (3082 views)
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Any body knows where to buy calcium chloride in malaysia?
I measure my water hardness ia only 1 dh.


Geo Mar
Koi Lover

Apr 21, 2001, 1:14 AM

Post #9 of 13 (3082 views)
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What is the best reading for hardness and the variations (+ and - tolerance)?

Thank you.

Geo.


denniskweh
Koi Lover

Apr 28, 2001, 1:31 PM

Post #10 of 13 (3082 views)
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hi bil
You mentioned using oyster shells and submerged limestones? I did put some handful of limestones which were used as decorative fringe outside my other fountain pond - those used on the floor to give a white landscape look. Are they limestones to begin with?
Pardon my ignorance on this.

Thanks in advance,
Dennis


denniskweh
Koi Lover

May 16, 2001, 3:27 AM

Post #11 of 13 (3082 views)
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I understand that using oyster shells, cockle shells and other shells can act as ph buffet. Should they be boiled and sterilised before introducing to the tank?

Thanks
Dennis


Mark
Koi Kichi

May 16, 2001, 3:35 AM

Post #12 of 13 (3082 views)
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If you want to be double safe dip them in water with 1 to 2% salt added. 20 to 30 minutes should be good enough to rid out all bad bugs.


denniskweh
Koi Lover

May 17, 2001, 1:00 PM

Post #13 of 13 (3082 views)
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Hi Mark
As my PH is stsble at 7.0, I think I need a ph buffer. I am thinking of buying 500 grams of limestones and put them in a netting bag into my tank. Will this be better than putting oysters?

Thanks
Dennis

 
 
 



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