dirty water

[peom]

Hi

my new pond was doing really well, started mucky but after about 2 weeks was lovely and clear, last week I bought a new plant (grass type thing) and put it in the water in a basket with aquatic compost, pea gravel on top and sunk it in, almost immediately the water took on a murky look and a faint scum appeared on the surface of the water, over the next few days the water went from looking drinkable to a mucky grey brown colour.

I took the plant out to see if it improved but put the plant by the side of the pond out of the pot just in case any wildlife was hidden in the plant it could get back in the pond, the high winds however blew the plant back in so today it was floating on top, I have removed it and the water looks really mucky, cant see more than an inch or two below the surface and the scum is worse with a foamy type appearance,

Any ideas much appreciated. My remaining tadpoles are ok but are moving slower than usual (could that be the drop in temp) but all the froglets have dissapeared.

Thanks

[Kayleigh]

Hi,

Maybe you just need to let the water settle. Did you wash the gravel.

I have no idea what the foam is.

[peom]

No I did not wash the gravel but the bag said it was prewashed , could the gravel have contaminated the water?

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by peom

No I did not wash the gravel but the bag said it was prewashed , could the gravel have contaminated the water?

You always get murky water when you disturb it, See if it settles in a day or so.

[peom]

Thanks Kayleigh

if it is no different say by weekend is there anything I could try to clear it,

thanks for your help

[kaitkaitkait]

The bags of "prewashed" gravel still need to be rinsed thoroughly with clean water until it runs clear. I fill an old collander with gravel and let the waterbutt run over it if I'm topping planting baskets, because I too have made that mistake of just putting it in!

What's left is mostly sand and grit but I think industrial washing uses some sort of soap, because when I put some in my very first pond (now a bog garden) without washing I got the sand-coloured "scum" which lasted some days. It did settle eventually but I was paranoid - skimmed the gunk off the surface and hoped I hadn't killed anything. Not a major catastrophe by any means, as it turned out but in future don't trust what it says on the packet.

[Kayleigh]

Hi peom,

You didn't say whether you have oxygenating plants as they will keep the water clear. Do you have a pond pump.
I think the foam is from the gravel. Don't worry about that as my pond has a gravel edge and it did settle in time.

[peom]

Hi yes I have several bunches of oxygenating plants, the water is a little better now but still not clear. I also have a pale spotted snail in the water, kind of pale yellow with faint spots, i think it may have come in one of the oxygenators.

One other thing is I have a Lobelia Cardinalis at the edge and it appears to have been eaten, it had 6 tall stems which have all been biten through about 2/3rds from the bottom and are floating in the water, any ideas, could it be a rat or something?

Thanks
Pauline

[tony a]

Lobelia Cardinalis at the edge and it appears to have been eaten

Similar thing happend to mine last year, but they were in the centre of the pond and still got eaten. I put it down to water snails.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by peom

Hi yes I have several bunches of oxygenating plants, the water is a little better now but still not clear. I also have a pale spotted snail in the water, kind of pale yellow with faint spots, i think it may have come in one of the oxygenators.

One other thing is I have a Lobelia Cardinalis at the edge and it appears to have been eaten, it had 6 tall stems which have all been biten through about 2/3rds from the bottom and are floating in the water, any ideas, could it be a rat or something?

Thanks
Pauline

You may need more oxygenators also yellow flag irises act like a filter so help keep the water clear. I don't think you have a major problem with your pond I think it will clear in time...
Remember spring is notorious for green water as the plants need time to get to work after the winter..

I agree with Tony about the snails eating the Lobelia..

Keep us up to date and try to get a pic, it may help to see what's going on.