March 2012 Pond Conditions Calendar
3/5/2012
water temp 42*, air temp 30-55*, pH 8.2
After a few warm days the temp in the pond reached 60* only to plummet to 40* with this weeks cold snap. It should warm up again during the week.
Not long to spring now. No ammonia or nitrates registering on tests despite feeding last week. water is sparkling clear due to lots of rain and weekly filter cleaning. Fish seem healthy.
3/8/2012
water temp 58*, air temp 45-70*, pH 8.2
Warmer days, warmer pond. Expecting rain and cool temps over weekend. Going to WetPets this weekend for spring opening sale.
3/10/2012
water temp 60*, air temp 45-70*, pH 8.2
Performed weekly filter cleaning and got a nice whack on the nose from the garden hose. Putting the air under the mats did not seem to do anything different. So I think I will keep the air above the mats so debris in the lower chamber can settle. Test strips indicate my hardness is still below 60 and that there is no ammonia or nitrates.
3/16/2012
Water temp 64-66*, air temp 55-75*, ph 7.8, Ammonia/Nitrates 0
Weather is warming up nicely and so is the pond. But of course so is the algae. While the water is clear, there is a bunch of algae in my bio filter mats, just waiting to explode I’m sure. New fish are doing well and only ended up in the skimmer once so far. Feeding small amounts of Hikari Saki multiseason food daily. Hyacinth has bloomed and died back. Waiting for the Japanese maple to leaf out. Water hyacinth are just putting on new buds and not much growth. Still looking for some watercress to put in the veggie filter. Need to do a good veggie filter clean out next weekend.
3/24/2012
Water temp 68*, Air temp 60-75*, pH 7.9, Ammonia/nitrates 0, GH,kh barely reading on test strip
Weather is warm during day and cool at night. Pollen is very high and we have had very little rain.
Filter cleanout showed tons of pollen and algae collected. I raised the grid that supports the matting another 2″ to see if I can get more settlement in the bottom and less on the mats. Pond is holding water with minimal leakage/evaporation. Lots of flower/pod debris from the tree above the pond. Water is slightly greenish but I think that is due to debris and pollen, not algae. So may need to do more frequent water change until clear again. Fish seem healthy, except for pinkish mark on the kujaku. Keeping an eye on her. Still only feeding small amounts daily. Will likely step up to 2x day this week.
3/26/2012
Water temp 68*, Air temp 60-75*, pH 8.1, Ammonia/nitrates 0, GH,kh barely reading on test strip
3/30/2012
Water temp 66*, Air temp 55-75*, pH 7.8(morning), Ammonia/nitrates 0, GH,kh barely reading on test strip
Did a mid-week water dump/refill of the box filter. Purchased new ammonia test kit but reading is either zero or between 0 and .25. There is not much color difference there. Feeding twice a day now. Fuzzy algae is growing inside the pond now and the fish are munching on it, but the string algae is not growing on waterfall rocks yet.
PLANTS: Crocus and Hyacinth have bloomed and faded already. Water Hyacinths are sprouting leaves in the veggie filter, Irises are growing in the wet tank. Japanese maple leafed out this week and it looks lovely. The Hosta has shot up a new plant and even the azaleas are trying real hard to bloom and grow (I don’t seem to have much luck with them.) Other plants have popped up in the raised bed but I’m not sure all are desired or anything I put there. The Mugo pines were struggling but I gave them a good dose of water and a little gunk from the pre-filter and they seem to have perked up.
Pond Budget
2 new fish $45 each = $90
1 filter mat $29
Water bill $14 (1290 gallons)
Ammonia Test Kit $10
