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Thread: Tap water dilemma
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09-12-2018, 09:31 PM #1
Tap water dilemma
Hi
I just tested my water and both my nitrates and nitrites were high. But then I tested my tap water and the nitrites are higher than the pond's. But the nitrates are zero.
Is it safe to add?
TIA
SHumit
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09-12-2018, 11:13 PM #2
Hi.
What are the readings, which test kit did you use to get them, and what does your water company say should be in your water (their website will give you an analysis)?2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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09-12-2018, 11:51 PM #3
readings
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10-12-2018, 12:12 AM #4
Ah ok. The strips are really pretty crap for anything like an accurate reading. I would invest in a proper liquid drop pond kit and you may well find your readings are totally different.
2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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10-12-2018, 11:21 AM #5
as said above get a new test kit
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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10-12-2018, 04:30 PM #6
test kit
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10-12-2018, 05:00 PM #7
the API pond master kits are good,ive always used them,andi https://www.amazon.co.uk/API-Pond-Ma...oding=UTF8&me=
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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10-12-2018, 05:13 PM #8
i use both api and columbo
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10-12-2018, 07:05 PM #9
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11-12-2018, 04:36 PM #10
I got the Blagdon pond test kit - it was on sale!
it showed completely different results but a similar dilemma
Pond Nitrates 50 mg/l - Nitrites 0.1 mg/l
Tap Nitrates 50 mg/l - Nitrites 0 mg/l
Have tested twice. So should I be using tap water to make water changes?
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11-12-2018, 04:38 PM #11
you should be putting it through a dechlorinator,and use sodium thiosulphate to get rid of chlorine,andi
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11-12-2018, 04:50 PM #12
zero out ve the tap ? is blagdon a strip test kit ? buy some dpd4 tablets to check chlorine and as said use a purifier
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11-12-2018, 05:43 PM #13
nitrates
Hi, I do all that. The Ph is good - I have been doing a lot of water changes but now I suspect this does nothing to the nitrates.
All my research suggests I put lots of plants into the pond or add a bog filter. These are not ideal now as I was going for a full pond build in the Spring. Anything I can do now?
thanks
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11-12-2018, 06:02 PM #14
Yes use tap water for your water changes, it's the safest way as rain water is not suitable.
Your max water change in one go would be 25% of pond volume. If you're having to do it daily because of a nitrite issue though I would do something like 10% per day. Too much water changing can delay the filters and water fully maturing.
Don't worry too much about the nitrates- they won't actually harm your fish. It's the ammonia and nitrites that are harmful and need to be as close to zero as possible. A nitrite of 0.1 is not disastrous though. Keep doing your dechlorinated water changes to keep it diluted out until the filters mature enough to deal with all of it.
The easiest way of reducing nitrates is to have plants or a veggie. filter area, but you could also consider an anoxic filter setup. There are other types of. filters that claim to be able to reduce nitrate, such as trickle towers, but won't work in every individual situation. Filters that keep nitrates down by helping 'gas off' ammonia before it's converted won't help you much if your tap water is adding nitrates to the system.2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
Every day feeding container?
Good shout, I'll have a look at Takazumi :)