Green water -to clear pond water - how?

no1catman

What way do have of getting rid of 'green water' in your pond?

I used to have a bioforce 800 filter, and as soon as the waterfall flow lessened - I knew it was time to clean it out. Since, I invested in a Revolution filter to flow is that much better, and besides the pond was cleaned in February so the muck amount is small.

However, after a clear start the water has got greener and greener - only time I see them now is when they come up to feed.

I've tried Blagdon remedy - useless, tried Tetra - an improvement but didn't last long.
Last year I used granules from tapsaquatic - but World of Water who stocked it, are no longer in the area.

With the clean-up went a lot of the elodea, but what's left is growing, and I've added more marginal plants - would floating hyacinth be a help?

Look forward to comments, advice and your experience.

Froglet

Does the filter have a uv as well ?.Apart from a lot of plants,especially surface cover ones,there is no other way to clear green water,though it is actually a sign of a healthy pond.It is also good for deterring blanket weed.

Do you have a lot of fish,that can contribute.? It is difficult to maintain a healthy pond.When you say clean up I hope you didn't empty the pond and refill because that can make the green water even worse.Also if leaves and such like drop in and aren't fished out,that too can make it green.The amount of sun we have had lately is another major factor,so the more surface cover the better.

no1catman

When in 2012 I had landscaping down to the garden, and a waterfall/cascade put in - they also emptied the pond of all the build up of fish sh**, mud and silt; thinned out the water weeds.
Great result, but time passes, and pumps give out!
When after Storm Imogen, the new fence installer inadvertently stepped on the filter - it was opportune to upgrade it to a Revolution.
But to get the best out of it, thought again to have a 'clean' - same people as before. Drain the pond (filled the water butts with some), some is wasted, some is used to fill a temporary home for the fish, and the rest near the bottom - with the sludge is put on the garden (the roses liked it), then refilled, with some old, and new (with treatment added) put marginal plants back - add fish (able to count them in - 45) - finish refilling. The whole procedure took about six hours.

Pond, stayed very clear, (with the sound of the waterfall such that I could hear it thirty feet away) until a combination of the sun, and the temperature rising enough that it was time to feed. However, it's only been really bad in the last couple of months, perhaps with the higher temperatures.

no1catman

According to some videos on youtube - one option is extra aeration.

Anyone tried this? What did you find the most effective - solar or mains powered? Which is best bubbles coming up, or fountain cascading water coming down?

Look forward to any comments.

a_saver

The main reason I've always found that caused the water to go green is to do with the amount of light getting to it. If you have plants that create some shade that should help. You can use pond plants to create shade and also help with oxygenation but you can also have plants around the pond to create shade. I have a gunnera which can grow very large that creates shade. A gunnera does require maintenance, in that before the first frosts, I have to cut back the leaves and cover the crowns in layers of winter fleece and the leaves I have cut off alternately. I use a solar panelled fountain to stir up the water and barley straw bales to prevent blanket weed.

no1catman

a_saver wrote: »

I use a solar panelled fountain to stir up the water and barley straw bales to prevent blanket weed.

Interesting, can you tell me more about the solar panel fountain you have please? I've seen aerators advertised suitable for 3,000 litres (so I'd need two).

no1catman

Just as a further update - I did put a new UV in - and boy was that a challenge, trying to unscrew it - it was a right b****** thing to do!

So hard to know whether the reduction in 'greenness' is due to the weather, or the UV.

And speaking of weather - I know to stop feeding shortly with temperatures going below 10 degrees, but what's the consensus - leave the pump running until the pond freezes, or switch it off earlier than that??

Froglet

Leave the pump running but turn down the flow.That keeps the filter ticking over so you don't have to start from scratch again in spring,and if the pond does freeze over it keeps the area around the fountain clear of ice so the fish can breathe better.

As regards feeding you can continue with wheatgerm pellets for a while so long as you test the temperature with a thermometer and it is over 5 degrees.