Pond Advice Needed

[leon-b]

Ive got a small pond and for months now its been covered with some sort of light green surface weed and the water smells stagnent
Should i do something about this ? If so what ?
Cheers Leon

[Kayleigh]

You need about 10 bunches of oxygenating plants.
Paul Bromfield Aquatics - Pond Plants, Water Plants, Aquatic Plants, Water Lilies

You will have to wait till spring now then get the duckweed off the top. The water smells stagnant as it needs the oxygenators to keep it fresh. Have you got any fish in it? Don't use tap water either to top it up use rain water.

[tufftie]

Though plants are better, for all sorts of reasons, you can also get solar oxygentors now - they also help with algae growth to some extent. A neighbour uses barley straw pads with success - you could put them in now. there's also pond cleaner (organic and harmless to wildlife) that will help get rid of the pong!

[m1.carson]

Hi,

Last time we used a pond cleaner " harmless to all etc." it killed all our lillies, burnt the roots, and yes we used the right dilution.

Too many oxegenators can kill off your fish, the plants take oxygen from the water at night.

Kayleigh, we've used tap water for umpty ump years, but only changing three quarters of the pond at a time, and haven't put any fancy additives in it either.

Max.

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by m1.carson

....Too many oxegenators can kill off your fish, the plants take oxygen from the water at night. Max.

Good point Max - especially true in the warm summer evenings. I'd recommend the use of an air pump which will oxygenate your water all year round.

Jeff

[zan]

Even something simple like a small fountain might be enough just to keep the water moving and keep air circulating into it.

[Kayleigh]

Leon's pond is only 3ft X 3ft. I have a half barrel that is also small. I think in this case the best way to keep the water fresh with such a small pond is with plants. I have had my barrel 3 years now with just plants in it. I find using tap water increases the Blanket weed problem.

[naturelover]

i have always yoused tap water for at least 20 years never had any trouble,thing is my pond is about 12x9 feet in size plus 4feet deep in the middle,waterfall one end biological filter at the other so its always on the move,if its a small pond its a bit dodgy to add a lot of tap water too many addatives,for some reason this year i have a layer of duck weed across the surface,this i have never had befor it dosnt bother me but why has this happend this year and not others?.

[m1.carson]

Hi naturelover,

Your pond size is about the same as ours, we find the duckweed comes in with new plants from the aquatic centers, the only one we asked about it said, " if your fish are any good they'll eat it " they never did, we had to scoop it out.

Max.

P.S. I've tried to send you an e-mail and PM, but the authorities said "not allowed" anyhow, thanks for the tip about bricks and no-nails.

Max again.

[Dan Salter]

Leons pond doesnt have any fish...

I did think he was supplied with pond plants by generous WAB'ers earlier this year though?...

I agree...no tap water!...I always top up with water from our water butts.

And the barley straw idea works well for the algae/blanket weed...im not sure how much of a bundle he would want in such a tiny pond though?

I would be inclined for the moment to skim or rake out the blanket or duck weed....empty a third of the pond and top up with fresher rain water from a neighbours water butt perhaps?...and then we need to rethink your pond plants....are the plants you put in still there? or did they die off?

Dan
p.s...dont be too disheartened...ponds are tricky things and can take a year or two to get the ecological balance right....plus even though it doesnt look or smell too good i can bet there are things alive in there ( just)

[naturelover]

Originally Posted by m1.carson

Hi naturelover,

Your pond size is about the same as ours, we find the duckweed comes in with new plants from the aquatic centers, the only one we asked about it said, " if your fish are any good they'll eat it " they never did, we had to scoop it out.

Max.

P.S. I've tried to send you an e-mail and PM, but the authorities said "not allowed" anyhow, thanks for the tip about bricks and no-nails.

Max again.

hi max my email is betty.boo2@talktalk.net now you can all email me if you want to.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Leons pond doesnt have any fish...

I did think he was supplied with pond plants by generous WAB'ers earlier this year though?...

I agree...no tap water!...I always top up with water from our water butts.

And the barley straw idea works well for the algae/blanket weed...im not sure how much of a bundle he would want in such a tiny pond though?

I would be inclined for the moment to skim or rake out the blanket or duck weed....empty a third of the pond and top up with fresher rain water from a neighbours water butt perhaps?...and then we need to rethink your pond plants....are the plants you put in still there? or did they die off?

Dan
p.s...dont be too disheartened...ponds are tricky things and can take a year or two to get the ecological balance right....plus even though it doesnt look or smell too good i can bet there are things alive in there ( just)

I sent Leon a few plants to start him off. But I think he may need more. I put 20 bunches of Elodea crispa into my large no filtered wildlife pond. I put about 10 bunches into the wildlife barrel. This seems to keep the water clear.