Water Quality

Fish naturally produce ammonia, but high levels are very toxic to pond life. Ideally, there should be 0.0 ppm (parts per million) of ammonia in the water. Even 0.25 ppm could be harmful. Ammonia imbalances can be remedied using Sludge Remover or Pond Cleaner Tablets. 

Bacteria in the pond break down ammonia into nitrite. There should be less than 0.25 ppm of nitrites in the water, as nitrite can cause severe health problems to fish and other pondlife. Nitrite imbalances can be remedied using Sludge Remover or Pond Cleaner Tablets. 

Nitrite is broken down into nitrate by bacteria in the pond. Nitrate levels should be between 20 ppm and 60 ppm, and it is less harmful than nitrites. Nitrate imbalances can be remedied using Sludge Remover or Pond Cleaner Tablets. 

Varied species of fish have their own needs regarding pH and water hardness – and sometimes the limits can be narrow – and it is important to be sure that the water in any pond suits the specific requirements of its inhabitants. Testing the carbonate levels is helpful because it gives an indication of the stability of the pH; carbonate and bicarbonate ions act as buffers, stopping the acid/alkali balance from shifting too quickly – and fluctuating pH is harmful to fish of any kind. Carbonate hardness (KH) should be between 50 ppm and 200 ppm for a pond or lake with fish. 

Oxygen dissolves naturally in water, though the amount held varies with temperature – warmer water contains less, which makes the possibility of low oxygen levels a potential summer problem – precisely when fish require more, rather than less. Dissolved Oxygen levels should be around 6 ppm for pond life and 8 ppm for Koi. Aeration provided by a fountain, waterfall or spitter should help ensure that sufficient oxygen is added to meet their needs but remember that although plants contribute abundant oxygen to the water during daylight, they also use it at night. If the pond is heavily planted, or green with algae, the combined drain of fish and plants may deplete oxygen levels as dawn approaches, especially if the previous day warmed up the pond. Another way to resolve dissolved oxygen deficiency is using Sludge Remover. 

Fish and plants need a stable pH that remains in the 6.5 to 9 range. A fish's natural pH is around 7.4, so anything too far away from this can stress their bodies. If the pH level falls below 6.5, the water becomes too acidic for the fish to live.

The overall mineral content in water is called general hardness. Minerals found in water include calcium, magnesium, borate, silica, and iron. These minerals are a natural result of rain dissolving mineral-rich rock found in sediment, rivers, and streams. The more dissolved minerals that are produced in the water, the harder the water is. General hardness levels should be between 140 ppm to 210 ppm.