Author Archives: esearing

Cost of operating a pond

Like all hobbies pond and fish keeping is expensive. Beyond the initial outlay of cash for the pond build and the purchase of fish, there are additional expenses one must consider. Electricity required to run pumps, UV Sterilizers, Air Pumps, … Continue reading

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October 2012 Pond Conditions Calendar 10/3/2012 Water Temp 68*, Air temp 54-78*, pH 7.5, Nitrate 10 lots of rain on 10/1 but pond is clear and stable. leaves are beginning to fall from the bradford pear tree but it has … Continue reading

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Shinju Koi Food

9/2/2012 – Trying a new Koi food; Shinju White Pearl – Premium All Season. supposedly gives stronger whites and leaves little waste (similar to Hikari I have been using). It sells for $90 (local retail with tax) for an 8lb … Continue reading

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September 2012 Pond Conditions Calendar 9/2/2012 watertemp 76* air temp 70-90*, pH 7.4(early), Nitrate 10 Weekly water change 15% and filter clean. Made a DIY air diffuser out of 3’x1″ PVC and replaced the small diffuser I was using. It … Continue reading

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API Test Kits Review

To monitor the Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrates in my pond I have used a couple of different kits. I have even used the test strips but found they were not informative enough to really know what was going on. I … Continue reading

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Microbe-Lift PL review

Since I gave the Buffer a bad review I thought it only proper to also review the product suggested by Mark Krupka: Microbe-Lift PL. “Denitrification is the reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas, and an excellent way of removing nitrogen … Continue reading

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August 2012 Pond Conditions Calendar 8/2/2012 water temp 82*, air temp 75-93*, pH 7.5, Nitrite 0-.25 I turned off the UV a couple of weeks ago and the pond is still relatively clear. There is some string algae and much … Continue reading

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Microbe-Lift 7.5 pH Buffer Stabilizer Review

This week I tested Ecological Labs Microbe-Lift 7.5 pH Buffer Stabilizer to determine if it would stabilize my pH at 7.5. It did not. My pond continues to fall below 7.5 at both morning and night. The goal is to … Continue reading

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July 2012 Pond Conditions 7/4/2012 water temp 78*, air temp 75-98*, pH7.8, Ammonia .25, Nitrite .8, Nitrate 10 Went on vacation for a few days and about 24 hours before I returned my fish sitters were unable to restart the … Continue reading

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Using baking soda to adjust pond pH

If you are reading this you are probably experiencing the dreaded pH drop most of us fish keeper see sooner or later. My pH has been steadily declining this summer and my water hardness is almost zero. Most koi sites … Continue reading

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