Murky Water

Are you saying the water is green?

have you not got a UV and biological filter?

If you have when did you last change the UV lamp and clean the filter?

if you haven't have you considered one?

 

I dont have any filters in my pond. Just a pump to keep the water moving.My pond is more of a wildlife pond with a few goldfish. It has lots of oxygenating weed.It is sited in half sun/shade.
It always used to be crystal clear but in about august last year we decided to make it bigger - so effectively started again. Since then it has remained murky with a green tinge. I can just see the marginal shelf but little any deeper.Apart from the heron that has stirred things up a bit recently I dont understand why it is so murky.
I have never given UV filters a thought as I have never had problems before with murky water. To be honest as it is a wildlife - type pond I really dont want to get one - apart from the expense!

 

if you are worried about the expense, turn the pump off and take it out.

A true wild life pond has no moving water, but does have lots of plants. Some for shade (lilies) and some for oxeygenation.

Moving water does not stop it from turning green.

 

The pump is only on occasionally in the summer.

I do have loads of oxygenating weed - could this "go off"?
I also have lots of marginal plants and some lilies...

 

I am not a plant expert, but if your pond water is turning green it is because algae is being allowed to grow.
This happens because of nutriants that are in the water and sunlight reaching the water. I know in general we have not had a lot of sun this year, but i had a water feature that rarely turns green turn green starting just before Christmas, the longer i left it the greener it got.

By having plants these are supposed to use the nutriants in the water, and lilies with their big leaves cover the water surface area leving less water exposed to the sun.

I think your problem is not unusual this year, just like my water feature that turned green, its not been that cold for long enough to kill algae.

on the other hand i might be completly wrong.

 

Hi All,
I am very pleased you have water in your pond, green,brown or clean. As you can feel I am quite upset, I've just been out to look at my pond and my neighbours hens have pecked holes in the liner, my tadpoles are trying to swim in a layer of mud - HELP!

 

Oh dear! what a shame...I hope you manage to rescue your " babies".
What will you do about your neighbours chickens?

 

derwent, the chickens were probably trying to get the taddies.

 

Hi derwent. I`m not sure but I think you can get `patches` designed for this. I`m not sure if they will work very well but must be worth a try. Hope this helps. Cheers...freddy.

 

Wilroda, you could try just throwing some water cress in, it roots very quickly, grows like mad and is easily pulled out.
It must use up lots of nutrients, being that it just roots in water.

 

pete, it roots in water ?

 

Yep, no soil needed.

Marginals and lillies all need soil. adding to the nutrient in the water, the oxegenators dont, but most places tell you to start them off in a pot.
Water cress can be bought in the supermarket and just thrown in the pond.
Sometimes they only sell the leafy bits so try a farm shop or similar, they tend to leave the stems in as well.

 

I have never used soil for my marginals or lilies. Years ago I was told that the plants would get all the nutrients they need from the fish poo and the water. I was advised to plant into gravel or grit to avoid adding too much nutrient to the water and have done so ever since.

All my plants look great too.

I did use watercress years ago as an oxygenator but it wasnt very successful. Elodea does the trick for me

 

So is elodea working for you or not? :confused:

 

Not sure i understand your question.

The pond is still murky despite everything mentioned.