Are Water Storing Crystals Toxic ?

[Nyboy]

Today when I checked my pond all the fish where dead and floating. The water had a strange brown tint it never had before. Yesterday I potted up mail ordered water canna. I used bagged organic soil I used for my window boxes, I topped soil off with new white marble chips. I put the canna in pond last night today all dead fish. When I looked at bag of potting soil I noticed it has water storing crystals. There is a warning on bag not to swallow or get in cuts. Did the water crystals kill my fish?

 

[seedcorn]

Don't think so.

I'd think nitrogen from organic soil.

 

[Nyboy]

Will test water tonight

 

[thistlebloom]

Bummer, sorry you lost all your fish.
Will the dead fish skew the water test results?

 

[Nyboy]

I don't know, I did bury under my favorite shrubs.

 

[ninnymary]

Don't think so.

I'd think nitrogen from organic soil.

What are you supposed to use?

Mary

 

[seedcorn]

I'm a lousy aquariumist (is that a word?). When you add a nitrogen source, you have to allow the nitrogen to denitrify. Usually 1-2 weeks? There are those here that would be better to explain.

 

[Carol Dee]

BUMMER ... we have had fish die offs. When DH got plants to pot and set in pond he used dirt directly from the yard. No added nutrients, weed killer, in that area. Good luck setting things straight again and getting fish and plants to coexist.

 

[Nyboy]

Water test PH 7.4 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1.0 Nitrate 0

 

[Nyboy]

I did add 10 gallons city water to pond, I opened new bottle of dechorinator to treat water. I feel real guilty killing fish going to bed now