Understanding pH Levels
A pH level describes the amount of hydrogen in your water. The standard pH scale represents the number of hydrogen ions in relation to hydroxyl ions. Ultimately, the more hydrogen in the water, the more acidic the water. If there is more hydroxyl in the water, the more basic the water is. Animals and plants cannot live in extrememly acidic water, nor can they survive in extremely basic water.
Understanding pH Levels - The Standard pH Scale
The standard pH Scale is numbered from 1 to 14. Seven (the middle point) is neutral. If you land on the pH scale above 7, the water is considered basic. If below 7, the water is considered acidic. Ponds with pH levels above 7 also have fairly hard, alkaline water.
When a pond has hard water, it means that the water has large amounts of minerals in it, specifically calcium and magnesium. When large amounts of these minerals are present, calcium build up can result and can damage pumps, filtration units, etc. When the water is alkaline, this means that minerals beyond calcium and magnesium are present in larger than normal amounts, resulting in very basic water. This makes it hard to live in because not only does it affect the mineral levels within the water, it also affects the amount of oxygen the can remain in the water.
Understanding pH Levels - The pH level of your pond
An average pond has a pH level anywhere from 6-11. Anything within 6 and 11 is neutral enough for both fish and plant life. If the water is above or below these levels, nothing will be able to survive. To check your pH levels, you can purchase test strips. These can be found at your local garden centre.
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