Secret water quality parameters for warm water fish ponds

Dissolved Oxygen = greater than 4 mg/L, preferably 5 mg/L, or more.

Total Ammonia Nitrogen – In addition to water temperature and pH, is needed to determine un-ionized ammonia (NH3) concentration.

Un-ionized Ammonia (NH3) = Chronic or long term problems 0.06 mg/L Acute or short term mortality 0.6 mg/L

pH = 6.5-9.0 Affects NH3 concentrations. Each one unit of change in pH is a factor of 10X!

Chloride = 30 mg/L or more, obtained from rock salt

Nitrite (NO2) = Concentration should be less than 10 times that of chlorides in water.

Example: Nitrite is 0.5 mg/L, chlorides should be at least 5 mg/L. Total alkalinity = 50 -150 mg/L the ability of the water to buffer changes in pH

Total hardness = 50-150 mg/L the amount of calcium and magnesium mineral content in the water

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) = less than 10 mg/L, run aerators to drive off excessive CO2 Water temperature:

Ideal water temperature for warm water fish = 85 F (30 C)

Water temperature critically influences dissolved oxygen and un-ionized ammonia concentrations!

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