New pond looking a little too green

[Mikel]

A while back I posted that Watercress had cleared my pond of horrible green algae...so it did,but now it's as bad as ever.I put more in...no effect.

The plants that have been growing happily for years are now all dead..like skeletons of plants with no leaves floating on the surface.The man at the water garden centre suggested "Frost damage"...But I can't really believe this...it never happened before...it's as if the pond is poisoned.

Normally,I have loads of creatures swimming about,but this year there's nothing...No "Water boatmen" as we used to call them when I was a kid.(I don't know their proper name).There are a few snails...but there used to be lots of them..I think I now have three or four.

I did dip a jar in the pond...the water that came out was absolutely teeming with tiny beetles,and little worm like creatures that wriggle about to swim.

I also caught a glimpse of a frog...I haven't had many of them for a few years,since "Red Leg Disease" caused lots of frog deaths in this area.

Any ideas,anyone ?All help would be appreciated...oh,I forgot..a week ago I put a raft of barley straw in the pond,but no effect yet.

[Malcolm Banks]

Hi Mikel, I also gave the flora and fauna in my (relatively) new pond a real jolt by topping it up during a hot dry spell last summer, so I have an idea how you feel The problem in my case was that the top up water was taken from a butt, the water to which drained off a shed roof that I had recently refelted using thick, black, tarry adhesive. It did recover but took about 5-6 weeks.

Have you added any water to the pond, or used containers that might have had residual toxic material in?
Have you used weed and feed on a lawn that might run off into the pond?
A bit of a mystery really, since if it was something toxic, you might expect the beetles and wriggling wormy things (possibly mossie/midge larvae or blooworms?) to be equally susceptible.
How deep is the pond, since the frost theory (in the absence of other more obvious candidates) is still possible - it was an exceptionally cold winter?Sorry can't help more than that
In relation to barley straw, I have found that although it can help clear a single cell algal bloom, it is singularly ineffective against the filamentous algae, such as blanketweed.
On the positive side, you would expect that it can only improve from here, and, unless the cause is still present, your pond may well bounce back to ilfe in a month or two.
M

[tom00_uk]

the cress might have been copper treated - most inverts are very sensitive to copper and will quickly die

in time they will return as the copper is locked onto the sediment

[Kayleigh]

You don't know the water cress is responsible for the contamination.
Have you had the water tested Mikel....If you take a sample in a bag or sterilised clean jar to an aquatic shop they will test it for you..

Anything can contaminate pond easily, rat poison slug pellets that other people use in their gardens and brought to yours via wildlife.
I have had water cress in my pond for 4 years now and never had a problem.
Wonder if you use organic watercress..

[sparkkwing]

Seems these 'relaxing' ponds cause more stress than anything. Find myself looking at the water quality on a daily basis and worrying about it! Ha ha! The watercress I threw in has all sprouted but still seems to be drifting about the pond, but I have noticed that algae seems to be building up again, with blanket weed developing around a couple of the plants that came along with some pond snails I bought.

All the tadpoles are growing well and currently much appreciating a little cooked minced beef. I have spotted daphnia and cyclops swimming about, also alot of midge larvae and litltle red worms which I assume are bloodworms. Also there is a great diving beetle larvae which must have sneaked a ride with some pond water I used to 'kick start' it all.

The pond lilly has also rreached the top, so time to put it a bit deeper.

Oh it's so exciting - and neve racking!

[Kayleigh]

Don't forget yellow flag irises have a filtering affect and if you don't use tap water you wont get blanket weed.
I had daphnia and the newts came along and now its all gone. Its great having newts in the pond.