Re: [gardeners] OT (sort of) Carbonate Hardness in water?

Carol J. Bova (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Sun, 05 Aug 2001 10:48:50 -0700 

--=====================_132715054==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Terry,
Check at
www.clearpond.com
I've used their products to maintain a reflecting pool at work. They have a 
whole range of pond products and beneficial bacteria. Haven't used their pH 
Up and pH Down.. but they sound made to order for your need.

You might ask them about your specific problem before buying anything. You 
can email them from the site or here's their info:
412 Calle San Pablo, Suite 201
Camarillo, CA 93012-8502
Tel: (805) 389-8131
Fax: (805) 389-8129
Email: jcaquatic@aol.com

HTH!
         Carol
         Sunland, CA  where's it's living up to its name today
         Zone 19


At 10:05 AM 8/5/2001 -0700, you wrote:
>Is anyone on the list familiar with the implications of KH (carbonate
>hardness) of water?  Last week I decided to setup a whiskey barrel pond and
>include some goldfish.  I have the fish in an aquarium until the pond is
>ready.  I've been having a h*** of a time balancing the pH.  I've finally
>figured out that the problem is the carbonate hardness of our water.  The KH
>is so high (9 dKH or 161.1 ppm) that pH wants to stay around 8.0 and I want
>it to be 7.0 (which it is, right out of the tap but becomes more alkaline as
>it loses CO2)  Even adding a 7.0 buffer is not helping much.  Does anyone
>know of any tricks besides using deionized water?
>
>Now, I'm also wondering about the implications of carbonate hardness on my
>garden soil and plants?  It might explain a few things.
>
>Terry (off to boil some water for a partial aquarium water change wondering
>how my simple whisky barrel pond became so complicated :-/)
>E. WA. zone 4

--=====================_132715054==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
Terry,
Check at
www.clearpond.com
I've used their products to maintain a reflecting pool at work. They have a whole range of pond products and beneficial bacteria. Haven't used their pH Up and pH Down.. but they sound made to order for your need.

You might ask them about your specific problem before buying anything. You can email them from the site or here's their info:
412 Calle San Pablo, Suite 201
Camarillo, CA 93012-8502
Tel: (805) 389-8131
Fax: (805) 389-8129
Email: jcaquatic@aol.com

HTH!
        Carol
        Sunland, CA  where's it's living up to its name today
        Zone 19


At 10:05 AM 8/5/2001 -0700, you wrote:
Is anyone on the list familiar with the implications of KH (carbonate
hardness) of water?  Last week I decided to setup a whiskey barrel pond and
include some goldfish.  I have the fish in an aquarium until the pond is
ready.  I've been having a h*** of a time balancing the pH.  I've finally
figured out that the problem is the carbonate hardness of our water.  The KH
is so high (9 dKH or 161.1 ppm) that pH wants to stay around 8.0 and I want
it to be 7.0 (which it is, right out of the tap but becomes more alkaline as
it loses CO2)  Even adding a 7.0 buffer is not helping much.  Does anyone
know of any tricks besides using deionized water?

Now, I'm also wondering about the implications of carbonate hardness on my
garden soil and plants?  It might explain a few things.

Terry (off to boil some water for a partial aquarium water change wondering
how my simple whisky barrel pond became so complicated :-/)
E. WA. zone 4
--=====================_132715054==_.ALT--