Pond Ecosystem Tier 1 - Water
The entire pond ecosystem is reliant on water. Therefore, you must always ensure proper water quality to allow the other ecosystem levels to thrive. Proper water pH and ammonia levels need to be monitored constantly.
pH stands for “potential of hydrogen” and is measured on a scale of 1 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral. The higher the pH is, the more acidic your water is, and the lower the pH is, the more basic the water is. A pond with a balanced ecosystem should have a pH in the range of 6 to 11.
Fish and frogs will produce waste, which will add ammonia content to the water. Ammonia is toxic to fish and frogs. An ammonia test kit can be purchased from commercial stores. Therefore, the only acceptable ammonia reading for a pond is ZERO.
A well-designed and balanced pond ecosystem should be able remove ammonia naturally (as opposed to using chemicals). A well-balanced pond ecosystem should contain beneficial microscopic bacteria that are able to convert ammonia into harmless fertilizers (nitrates).