Green water

[RobinP]

Can anyone suggest a remedy for green pond water? I have oxygenating plants and a solar-powered fountain and I have tried proprietary products without success - it is still green!

On the plus side the wildlife is still flourishing though, I just can't see it!

Robin

[kathateria]

I changed half the water in mine.
Did the trick.
Try some watercress in there.

[tom00_uk]

Originally Posted by RobinP

Can anyone suggest a remedy for green pond water? I have oxygenating plants and a solar-powered fountain and I have tried proprietary products without success - it is still green!

On the plus side the wildlife is still flourishing though, I just can't see it!

Robin

what products have you tried?

as suggest above - a water change using low nutrient water will help, our tap water is very high in nutrients here, so even after treatment for the chloroamine and chlorine its still not ideal for ponds, so rain water is used.

the fountain will have no effect on the water, a UV pond clarifier would kill off the algae but not address the cause, most likly excess nutrients

once the higher plants and the grazing population increase then the nutrient levels will start to be used up, though addressing why they are so high in the first place will also be required. Is the pond getting feed aimed at the flower bed, soil run off, the wrong type of planting medium used, under a bird perch/roost?

Green water is not a bad thing though if its not harming the organisms in the water, though oxygen depletion events are more likely to occur in such pools on warm nights

[RobinP]

Hi Tom

I have tried a couple of products by Blagdon which had no effect whatsoever.

The pond is in direct sunlight most of the day but I can't see where excess nutrients could come from; it does not get soil run-off and is not near any bird feeders, also I have only used tap water to top it up recently, and that was after the water turned green.

It does not bother me that much but I would like to be able to see more of the pond life, e.g the newts and frogs so I may conside getting a UV clarifier.

Thanks for the info and good advice.

Robin

[tom00_uk]

Originally Posted by RobinP

Hi Tom

I have tried a couple of products by Blagdon which had no effect whatsoever.

The pond is in direct sunlight most of the day but I can't see where excess nutrients could come from; it does not get soil run-off and is not near any bird feeders, also I have only used tap water to top it up recently, and that was after the water turned green.

It does not bother me that much but I would like to be able to see more of the pond life, e.g the newts and frogs so I may conside getting a UV clarifier.

Thanks for the info and good advice.

Robin

there's your answer to why its staying green "I have only used tap water to top it up recently". There is quite a nutrient load in tap water, safe to drink but will trigger algal issues in a pond. If the water went in untreated you could potentially knock out the microbes and some inverts so their ability to deal with these nutrients and or the resulting algal bloom is lost.

If you polished looking water, and you can not do water changes with rainwater, then you still try doing water changes with treated with tapsafe water conditioner, but you will have an up hill battle to get that gin clear look so many people seem to want

[kathateria]

Sorry,repeated above answer

[King Edward]

Do you have any fish in the pond?

[Gaz9977]

Hello
Do you have any lillies in your pond?...im not hundred 100% sure but i believe a pond should be 70% covered to maintain healthy water.My pond is is about half covered and the water is pritty clear.You could always add some duckweed for quick coverage

[RobinP]

Hi

No fish, and no lilies. I will try a few more things, hopefully it will improve.

Robin

[Gaz9977]

I would def start by covering the surface m8,im not an expert,but is works for me ....Ive used duckweed and its great for starting a pond,spreads very quick!...but with the addition of lilies and oxygenating plants and it will even it self out over time...hope this help.

Gareth