Pond Care

API Pond pH Up

PondGradual

API Pond pH Up raises the pH of pond water gradually, which is the only safe way to do it with fish in the pond. Low pH comes from the acids that accumulate as waste breaks down, and it does two kinds of harm: it stresses fish directly and it suppresses the bacteria in the biological filter, so ammonia and nitrite climb at the same time. Test first with the Wide Range pH Test Kit, then add 10 ml for every 189 litres, preferably into the water flow. Wait 24 hours, test again, and repeat if needed. The bottle holds 473 ml.

View at Jungle Aquatics

Live pricing and stock on jungleaquatics.com — purchase through Jungle Aquatics, with delivery across South Africa.

Dosage calculator

Enter your pond volume and the calculator works out how much API Pond pH Up to use for each rate on the pack.

Pond volume

Measured in

Use length × width × average depth in metres × 1 000 = litres.

Single dose10 ml per 189 litres
Enter a volumeAdd to the water flow, then retest after 24 hours

Raise pH in steps — test with the Pond Wide Range pH Test Kit between doses.

A guide only — always follow the dosing instructions printed on the pack, and measure with the bottle's cap or a syringe rather than by eye.

Technical details

Product type	Liquid pond pH raiser
Pack size	473 ml
Dose	10 ml per 189 litres, added to the water flow
Retest	After 24 hours; repeat as necessary
Suitable for	Garden and koi ponds
Safe with	Pond fish and aquatic plants
Test with	API Pond Wide Range pH Test Kit (5.0 – 9.0)
Made by	Mars Fishcare, USA

My pond pH is low — how do I raise it safely?

Test first: the Wide Range pH Test Kit reads 5.0 to 9.0 and tells you how far you actually have to go. Then dose 10 ml per 189 litres into the water flow — about 265 ml in a 5 000-litre pond — and leave it a full 24 hours before testing again. Repeat in the same steps until the pond sits between 7.0 and 8.5, which suits koi and goldfish. Going faster is the mistake to avoid; fish tolerate a wrong-but-stable pH far better than a rapid correction. If the pH keeps falling back, the pond is short of carbonate hardness and is worth testing with a KH kit as well.

Slow on purpose

A fast pH change is more dangerous to pond fish than the wrong pH. This formulation neutralises acid substances gradually so the pond moves in steps, with a full day between doses and a test each time to see where it has got to.

Protects the biological filter

Nitrifying bacteria slow markedly in acidic water, so a pond with a falling pH often shows ammonia at the same time. Bringing pH back up restores the filter’s activity as well as the fish’s comfort.

Test, dose into the flow, test again

Use the Pond Wide Range pH Test Kit to read the starting point, dose 10 ml per 189 litres near the pump outflow or waterfall so it disperses, and retest after 24 hours before deciding on a second dose. A 5 000-litre pond takes about 265 ml per treatment.

Frequently asked questions

How often can I dose Pond pH Up?

Test 24 hours after each dose and repeat only if the pH is still too low. Gradual steps are safer for fish than one large correction.

Why does low pH matter in a pond?

Acidic water stresses fish and suppresses the biological filter, so ammonia and nitrite tend to rise alongside a falling pH.

Where should I add it?

Into the water flow — near the pump outflow or waterfall — so it mixes through the pond rather than sitting in one area.

Is it safe for pond plants?

Yes. It is formulated to raise pH without harming pond fish or aquatic plants at the label dose.

Is API Pond pH Up available in South Africa?

Yes — the 473 ml bottle is available from Jungle Aquatics in Fourways, Johannesburg, with delivery nationwide; live pricing and stock are on jungleaquatics.com.

Stocked & supported by Jungle Aquatics

South Africa's leading pet and aquarium store since 2007 — with the API range on the floor in Fourways, advice from people who test water every day, and easy ordering from anywhere in the country.

Visit or contact the store Shop online →