If you’re testing pond water for quality you’ll need to know a few simple facts to help you know when you should be concerned with the ecological system in your pond. If you’re able to recognize the warning signs of a pond about to make a turn for the worse before they get out of hand you may be able to save your entire setup.

The first thing any new pond owner needs is a good reference guide. You’ll be able to find great pond guide books at most larger pet stores or pet supply warehouses, and you may even be able to find them at stores which cater to the needs of landscapers. Having one of these guide books on hand is always a good idea so you will be able to refer to it when you are needing information on testing pond water for quality.

The most important test kits you will need will test water for pH, ammonia and nitrite. Simply having fish in a pond will cause a build up of naturally occurring chemicals in pond water. Fish waste and excess food, plant and biological materials in pond water are transformed into ammonia thanks to bacteria and fungus. A healthy balance in your pond will allow another biological bacteria to change the ammonia into nitrites, which can then evolve into nitrates because of still another bacteria. Pond fish are not affected by these bacteria and they cannot eat them, but the plants and algae in the pond do eat them, and fish do eat plants and algae. pH indicates whether the pond water is acid or base. This can also affect plant life and your fish.

The reason these tests are so important is that they will tell you what actions you need to take to maintain optimum health of plant and marine life. The things you may need to do can range from changing a filter in a pump to a partial water change. Your test kit is an important element in pond care. If you are able, other great test kits for testing pond water for quality are tests for alkalinity, salinity and nitrates, just to make sure you can keep all the levels in your pond under control. It is always better to be extra cautious.

Knowing what test kits to have and why you will need them is an important factor in having a healthy pond. Testing pond water for quality will help you know what to expect from your pond.