EP290: When Testing Pond Water REALLY Matters!

When and why testing pond water is important is Eric's focus today. He shares his decades of experience with fish keeping, arguing that while some professionals emphasize frequent testing, it isn't always necessary in established, healthy ponds. He highlights situations where testing is vital, such as during the cycling of a new pond, when fish are being temporarily housed during renovations, or if fish show signs of distress. Eric also touches upon testing for salinity, particularly in the context of quarantine or figuring out pond volume using salt and a hydrometer, and mentions his perspective on the nitrogen cycle and pH testing. Ultimately, Triplet asserts that visually assessing the pond and fish, along with experience, can often indicate water quality issues before formal testing is needed.

Key Takeaways:

• During a remodel or when cycling a new pond, especially with fish, test for ammonia and nitrite vigilantly, even multiple times a day.
• For experienced keepers with established, healthy ponds, visual inspection of fish behavior and water clarity can sometimes indicate when testing is necessary, rather than routine testing.
• When testing is needed, simple test strips are often sufficient to determine if detectable levels of ammonia or nitrite are present.
• If fish in an established pond are not doing well despite seemingly normal test results, consider testing specifically for ammonia spikes after feeding.
• Use salt testing to accurately determine your pond's gallonage, which is critical for safe medication dosing.

Resources:

• Contractor Sales Secrets: ContractorSalesSecrets.com
• Fitz Fish Ponds: Koi Trips
• Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett
• The Pond Digger: https://theponddigger.com/
• LA Pet Fair: https://www.lapetfair.com/
• Atlantic-Oase: https://www.atlantic-oase.com/
• Helix Pond Filtration: http://helixpondfiltration.com/
• TWT Contractor Circle (Facebook Group): TWT Contractor Circle
• TWT Contractor Power Circle (Facebook Group): .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}