Cookie Policy
We use cookies to help improve the experience you have on this site. You can find out more here.
Most problems you will face with your pond will stem from spikes or fluctuations in your water parameters. Quickly measure and modify 6 levels that are all important to the health of your pond and fish. Fish need properly balanced and stable levels of Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, pH, Phosphate and KH. These levels can change rapidly and create harmful conditions when fish waste, uneaten food or other organic matter accumulate, or when untreated water is added.
Kit Includes:
Ammonia:
Any ammonia present in the pond water will cause major health problems for the fish. Toxic ammonia can build up in aquaria where there are not sufficient beneficial filter bacteria to deal with the total waste from all the fish in the pond.
Take a 5 ml sample of pond water into the test tube. Add 5 drops of the reagent Ammonia 1 and 5 drops of Ammonia 2 and 5 drops of Ammonia 3. Replace the test tube cap and mix. Wait 10 minutes, and then compare the colour of the sample to the colour scale provided. Zero ammonia is represented by a yellow colour. Any hint of green in the sample indicates the presence of ammonia.
Nitrite and Nitrate:
Although not as toxic as ammonia, nitrite is still very damaging to the health of the fish. Nitrite itself is broken down into nitrate which in low concentrations is much less harmful. Though high levels of nitrate can still be dangerous. Any nitrite present in the aquarium will be very damaging to the health of the fish.Toxic nitrite can build up in aquaria where there are not sufficient beneficial filter bacteria to deal with the total waste from all the fish in the pond.
To carry out the Nitrite test, take a small 5ml sample of water from your pond. Shake the nitrite solution well, and add 5 drops. Once finished wait 2 minutes and match the water colour to the colour chart on the reverse of the box to find out your pond’s nitrite level.
To carry out the Nitrate test, take a small 5ml sample of water from your pond. Shake the nitrate-1 solution well, and add 6 drops. Repeat this process with the nitrate-2 solution. Once finished wait 10 minutes and match the water colour to the colour chart on the reverse of the box to find out your ponds nitrate level.
Phosphate:
Phosphate is less toxic to established pond fish but exposure to excessively high levels can be damaging and lethal to delicate species. Phosphate is also a major nutrient for plants and algae. Excessive phosphate in the water is a major contributor to the excessive growth of unwanted algae.
Take a 5 ml sample of pond water into the test tube, preferably using the syringe provided. Add 5 drops of the phosphate reagent, place the cap on the tube and mix gently for a few seconds. Wait 5 minutes for the test to develop, remove the cap and look down through the test tube to determine the colour. Compare this colour to the colour chart provided to determine the phosphate concentration.
KH Total Alkalinity:
This is the measure of the buffering capacity of your pond water. The buffering capacity refers to how well your pond water can resist changes to pH. A spike either way in pH can be leathal.
Take a 5 ml sample of pond water into the test tube. Add one drop of the KH reagent and the water should turn pale blue. Keep adding drops slowly until the water turn yellow. Every drop added is then equal to your KH level. If one drop turns the water yellow your KH is at a dangerous level.
PH:
Different species of pond fish require different pH levels. Fluctuations outside these preferred values can cause stress to the fish. If the water becomes too acid or alkaline the fish soon die. It is important to regularly test the pH, as pH can occasionally rise in new ponds, and older aquaria tend to acidify over time.
Take a 5 ml sample of pond water into the test tube. Add 5 drops of the pH reagent, replace the test tube cap and mix. Compare the colour of your sample to the colour scale provided.
Should you have any further concerns regarding your water quality please visit your most local store with a water sample and our friendly staff members will do their best to help and advise you on further steps.
Delivery
Delivery costs for your order will be calculated during the checkout process based on your delivery address and the contents of your basket. You will only pay one delivery charge for your order. Express delivery is FREE for online orders OVER £39 unless any of the points below become a factor.
We only ship to the UK and cannot ship internationally.
We aim to dispatch items that are currently in stock on the same working day if they are ordered before 2.45 pm (excluding Bank Holidays). Orders after 3pm will be dispatched the following working day, unless it fits any of the below criteria:
Returns
If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase online from our website, you can return the product and get a full refund or exchange the product for another one, for up to 21 days from the date you purchased it.
We strongly suggest signing up for an account with fishkeeper.co.uk as this will allow for some additional returns options like return to your local store.
If you checkout as a guest you will need to return the product to Maidenhead Aquatics, PO Box 619, Egham, Surrey, TW20 2BS, please package the order (along with a packing slip or a note including your name, address and order number).
Large pallet items like aquariums are deemed delivered successfully with no damage once the the driver has left the property. If a report of damage is submitted after the driver has left we may be unable to assist with replacements. We recommend refusing a damaged delivery, this is the fastest resolution.
Our full terms and conditions can be found here. When you place an order with us online you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.
For delivery before Christmas, orders must be placed on or before 3pm on Wednesday 20th December. We cannot guarantee delivery of these orders pre-Christmas as we are reliant on our couriers, but will use our best endeavours to get orders placed on this date out to you before Christmas. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here
Please note: online orders placed after 3pm on Friday 22nd December will not be dispatched until the New Year. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here