Testing and Meaningful Test Results:

Testing is important, knowing how & when is more important

As a former schoolteacher – I can tell you that test efficacy is the key to meaningful test results.  Testing results are more meaningful when testing over a period of time is compared to the baseline measurement recorded the first time you test. Monitoring test results over a period of time indicates how well the eco system is functioning and what steps may be needed to have clean and healthy pond.
The simplest test is observation. Pay attention to how the pond looks and smells, but more importantly, how the fish behave on a daily basis. Of course noticing there is something wrong will not help you determine the problem and may lead to loss of fish while you find the culprit causing the problem. Therefore, using test kits for testing your pond is essential.

Personal Observation Tests
Smell
Place your hand in the water and then bring it up to your nose, does it smell fishy or "off"? Water should have an earthen smell, similar to the smell after a good rain on a summer's day. Fishy or strange smells, warrant further immediate water testing, as high Ammonia, Nitrites or Dissolved Organic Compounds (DOC) could be present.

Appearance
Is your water cloudy, milky, green or brown? A simple test is to fill a clear glass with pond water and place a white paper behind the glass. Observe the color of the water, a slight green tinge is normal, cloudy, milky water may indicate a bacterial bloom, brown water indicates decaying plant material e.g. Tannins or iron rich water. Small particles FL in the glass indicate an inefficient, undersized or poorly maintained filter system.

Kit Testing
Knowing how and when to test is the secret behind successful testing. Again, keeping records of test results is the key to understanding your pond and its special needs. No two ponds are alike so your records indicate the appropriate measures suited to your particular pond. We would like to familiarize you with some important information about testing and test kits too extensive for this newsletter, so we have the following informational articles available for your perusal in our Library.

For details and more information on the importance of testing; what to test; as well as  when and how to test  please click the following link “Testing: What You Need To Know” in our Library. Article will discuss the following:

• Chlorine/Chloramines
• pH 
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Ammonia NH4
• Nitrites NO2
• Nitrates NO3
• Alkalinity or KH
• Salt
• Temperature

We have  prepared a list of the kits we offer but first please read “Testing: What You Need To Know”

Then for a list of available Test kits click the link “Test Kits” also available in our Library.

These tips apply to pH regulation and Dissolved Oxygen levels needed for a healthy pond.

• Keep your pump running 24 hours a day
• Be sure your pond volume turns over the water no less than twice hourly.
• Create turbulence with streams, or waterfalls, spitters and fountains.
• Minimize algae blooms and many submerged plants