Murky Pond Problem
Discussion
Asking on behalf of my brother.
He's got a small garden pond, maybe 8ft x 4ft and a couple of feet deep. For years it has always stayed lovely and clear, presumaby as he has a decent filter system and also a UV light thing.
Couple of weeks ago it became murky pretty quickly. He'd always kept the filter clean, he cleaned it again, and also replaced the UV bulb. It cleared for five or six days but now it's back to murky again. Filter is clear, and for the sake of a fiver he replaced the UV bulb in case it had failed quickly.
Thoughts anyone? More info needed?
Cheers
He's got a small garden pond, maybe 8ft x 4ft and a couple of feet deep. For years it has always stayed lovely and clear, presumaby as he has a decent filter system and also a UV light thing.
Couple of weeks ago it became murky pretty quickly. He'd always kept the filter clean, he cleaned it again, and also replaced the UV bulb. It cleared for five or six days but now it's back to murky again. Filter is clear, and for the sake of a fiver he replaced the UV bulb in case it had failed quickly.
Thoughts anyone? More info needed?
Cheers
Arrivalist said:
Is it full of decaying matter such as leaves?
No, he keeps it pretty clean, and I'm sure that his maintenance routine hasn't changed over the last few years. Lots of sunshine recently will perhaps have had an impact, but I know nothing of ponds, and plenty on here do.Cheers
The sun this week won’t be helping with growth in the pond.
This is really good and causes algae etc to clump together and fall to the bottom of the pond/get taken into the filter. Worked on my pond in about a few hours, was crystal clear, did need to clean the filter again after. https://amzn.eu/d/0bH9nWy5
You’ll also want a simple water test kit to check levels etc, nothing too fancy but always a good indicator.
This is really good and causes algae etc to clump together and fall to the bottom of the pond/get taken into the filter. Worked on my pond in about a few hours, was crystal clear, did need to clean the filter again after. https://amzn.eu/d/0bH9nWy5
You’ll also want a simple water test kit to check levels etc, nothing too fancy but always a good indicator.
Maybe more plants required to suck the nitrates out of the water?
Excess `plant food' will cause algal bloom and typically happens in newer ponds that have fewer established plants. It's not a bad thing provided it's a passing phase as it generates food for minuscule animals to feed on which forms the basis of the food pyramid and will later encourage small critters that fish can eat. It often happens in established ponds as the weather warms and `suspended plants' get going faster than bigger ones - hence water goes green. Many owners of `fishing ponds' fertilise the pond to encourage this to get going in spring as a way of generating a more productive food chain.
UV light will kill suspended stuff and can hold off green water until bigger plants start sucking it out of the water.
Cleaning out dying vegetation at end of the year helps reduce the nitrogen loading over winter. More plants or associated `bog filter' will also work well.
Excess `plant food' will cause algal bloom and typically happens in newer ponds that have fewer established plants. It's not a bad thing provided it's a passing phase as it generates food for minuscule animals to feed on which forms the basis of the food pyramid and will later encourage small critters that fish can eat. It often happens in established ponds as the weather warms and `suspended plants' get going faster than bigger ones - hence water goes green. Many owners of `fishing ponds' fertilise the pond to encourage this to get going in spring as a way of generating a more productive food chain.
UV light will kill suspended stuff and can hold off green water until bigger plants start sucking it out of the water.
Cleaning out dying vegetation at end of the year helps reduce the nitrogen loading over winter. More plants or associated `bog filter' will also work well.
Edited by ShortBeardy on Saturday 2nd May 19:29
Edited by ShortBeardy on Saturday 2nd May 19:55
Russet Grange said:
Again, thanks all.
He thinks the UV light has failed, not the bulb, but whatever powers it. I didn't enquire further but he's buying a new system so hopefully all will be well.
Assuming it's a fluorescent the ballasts tend to pack up before the bulbs. Luckily such bits are cheap, especially vs a full system.He thinks the UV light has failed, not the bulb, but whatever powers it. I didn't enquire further but he's buying a new system so hopefully all will be well.
I tend to test the electronics with a regular tube as it's a bit safer than playing with an exposed UVC one.
Never had a fully dead electronic ballast but have had them fail to the point of not lighting the tube. Even had a brand new Osram ballast not work properly out of the box.
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