Thanks for all the responses and encouragement. I began two months ago knowing absolutely nothing about water condition and ponds (altho I did spend a few summers as a lifeguard at a swim club and had the duty of testing the water for chlorine and pH). After reading a bit about water garden chemistry, I did the first test for ammonia and the results blew me away!-- off the scale! I learned later that this was fairly normal in a new pond, but at the time it set me off to learn everything I could about this new (to me) ecological balancing act. I added 10 lbs of ammo rocks, not even really knowing what they did or how they did it. Little difference. Then, by sheer luck, I happened upon a post on Dave's Water Gardens forum about pond water that was the color of iced tea. Several of the replies mentioned Microlift PL; so I got it and added 2 gallons (somewhat hesitantingly, since that seemed excessive). Within two days the ammonia was almost zero, but the pH shot up to 9.0 -- I can live with that for the time-being, but it has now created a lot of bubbly foam on the surface. From my swim pool experience, I know that this foam is often the result of a pH that is too alkaline. I'll wait a few days and see what happens there before I add any of the commercial foam-reducing chemicals. One can get carried away (and indeed driven crazy) by adding chemical after chemical. Right now the balance seems to be working. The fish are lively as hell, and the plants are thriving; in fact, the Rain Lily produced its first bloom this morning. (Still waiting for even just one of the $200 in water lilies to burst forth in bloom, however.) Meanwhile, attached is a pix of the Rain Lily. If you look at the previous photos, it is "planted" on the grate of the filter at the top of the upper waterfall as the foremost plant, showing no blossom or bud -- and that was just a week agol Things happen fast when yer havin' fun!
PS: I just today learned that there are hardy and there are tropical lilies. I dont know which kind I bought. The "time and temperature" (as bank marquees proclaim) will tell the difference .
Jim
in Merchantville, NJ
