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Opinion on why my pond is so muddy?
Posted on 6/22/23 at 10:57 am
Posted on 6/22/23 at 10:57 am
We dug a pond (2.5 acres) at the end of last summer on my property. There are trees on about 50% of the bank and the rest of the bank is wide open pasture. While digging, we hit a natural spring and it runs straight through the middle of the pond
After the rains in fall/winter, it filled up with water and was super clear
As the rains started in the early spring, it would cloud up but get clear again after a few dry days
But around mid to late April, it got cloudy and appears to be getting worse. It looks like a pond full of chocolate milk now. We have had a lot rain locally but recently went 15 days of no rain and it hasn’t changed
I’m not sure if this is typical or if it’s something I should be concerned with?
After the rains in fall/winter, it filled up with water and was super clear
As the rains started in the early spring, it would cloud up but get clear again after a few dry days
But around mid to late April, it got cloudy and appears to be getting worse. It looks like a pond full of chocolate milk now. We have had a lot rain locally but recently went 15 days of no rain and it hasn’t changed
I’m not sure if this is typical or if it’s something I should be concerned with?
Posted on 6/22/23 at 1:48 pm to JPB
Fill a 5 gallon bucket with pond water and see if it settles. If it doesn't, then you have some suspended clay particles. It won't clear without treatment.
Posted on 6/22/23 at 4:15 pm to White Bear
if you have catfish it will muddy some. There are treatments that will clear it up. I used soilfloc to help with my water infiltration and it cleaned the water crystal clear grabbing the particles out of the water. Wasn't the intent but it worked.
I would recommend adding gypsum. That will work and not change the pond PH
I would recommend adding gypsum. That will work and not change the pond PH
Posted on 6/22/23 at 5:06 pm to JPB
Do you still have water running out of the spillway after 15 days of no rain?
Posted on 6/22/23 at 8:36 pm to RummelTiger
We stocked in early April with bass, bluegill, fatheads. No catfish
Posted on 6/22/23 at 8:37 pm to deeprig9
No the water came down below the spillway during the 15 day dry spell
Posted on 6/22/23 at 9:41 pm to JPB
The water isn't turning over so it isn't clearing itself. When normal rain and runoff occurs again, it should start to clear itself. At this point the water is sitting in a big bowl, evaporating daily and concentrating the particulate, making it worse and worse each day.
The spring, by itself, should still have it at full pool and trickling through the spillway. But it isn't, so maybe it was a tiny little spring or maybe your spring got obstructed/collapsed in some way. Or your earthen dam is seeping.
The spring, by itself, should still have it at full pool and trickling through the spillway. But it isn't, so maybe it was a tiny little spring or maybe your spring got obstructed/collapsed in some way. Or your earthen dam is seeping.
Posted on 6/23/23 at 6:24 am to JPB
put some shock in it followed by some flock out...works for pools.
That is complete bullshite. Don't do that.
I would just let it do its thing for a bit or get in touch with your county/parrish Extension agent.
That is complete bullshite. Don't do that.
I would just let it do its thing for a bit or get in touch with your county/parrish Extension agent.
Posted on 6/23/23 at 11:03 am to JPB
Here are a couple publications that will help you better understand causes and “chemistry” of colloidal turbidity and possible solutions once you better understand what you think is the most likely cause.
Clay turbidity is more common in waters with low alkalinity (buffering capacity) so at the very least you will need a simple water analysis of your pond water. If you have a natural spring providing low alkalinity water in the pond on a continual basis that might be problematic.
By and large turbidity is more of an aesthetic issue than biological issue, though heavy clay turbidity does suppress phytoplankton growth and potential fish production - but for a recreation pond that is usually less of an issue to the owner than the aesthetics.
You can contact your county extension agent for some assistance if you feel it’s warranted.
Control of Clay Turbidity in Ponds
Clearing Muddy Ponds - Texas A&M
Clay turbidity is more common in waters with low alkalinity (buffering capacity) so at the very least you will need a simple water analysis of your pond water. If you have a natural spring providing low alkalinity water in the pond on a continual basis that might be problematic.
By and large turbidity is more of an aesthetic issue than biological issue, though heavy clay turbidity does suppress phytoplankton growth and potential fish production - but for a recreation pond that is usually less of an issue to the owner than the aesthetics.
You can contact your county extension agent for some assistance if you feel it’s warranted.
Control of Clay Turbidity in Ponds
Clearing Muddy Ponds - Texas A&M
Posted on 6/23/23 at 12:21 pm to CrawDude
Thanks OB. I’m still learning about ponds so y’all’s help is greatly appreciated
Posted on 6/23/23 at 9:30 pm to JPB
How deep is it, at deepest?
Is the spring a bank or sumberged?
Is the spring a bank or sumberged?
Posted on 6/24/23 at 6:10 am to not Jack
10-12’ at the deepest. Rather steep banks except for one large shallow flat
Spring is in the deepest waters
Spring is in the deepest waters
Posted on 6/24/23 at 8:03 am to JPB
I had exact same issue with mine.
Treated with gypsum and helped a little but came back. Ended up treating with aluminum sulfate.
Check out the pond boss forum. It’s the TD for ponds. Wealth of knowledge and I learned a lot.
Treated with gypsum and helped a little but came back. Ended up treating with aluminum sulfate.
Check out the pond boss forum. It’s the TD for ponds. Wealth of knowledge and I learned a lot.
Posted on 6/24/23 at 12:23 pm to Tbooux
Will do.
What does the extension agent do exactly? I’ve had a few people suggest getting in touch with their office but not exactly sure what it is they do?
What does the extension agent do exactly? I’ve had a few people suggest getting in touch with their office but not exactly sure what it is they do?
Posted on 6/24/23 at 6:44 pm to JPB
quote:
What does the extension agent do exactly? I’ve had a few people suggest getting in touch with their office but not exactly sure what it is they do?
I’m assuming you are TX so I’m just going to link the TAMU extension service website for you so you can read what they do LINK and here is the link to each county’s extension office, and the employees in each office that can most likely assist you. LINK
It’s a “free” service but of course you pay for it with your federal and state tax $$$.
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