Why is pond water tea colored

The majority of the times that people ask me about brown water, it is because of tannins in the water. Tannins are a chemical in plants that cause them to turn brown. The reason your pond is turning brown is not that your neighbor decided to recreate the Boston Tea Party in your backyard, but instead, the culprits are the tree branches and leaves in your pond. Also, make sure to test your pH levels and adjust pH as necessary.

If your pond water is brown and cloudy, then I believe there is excess sediment in your water. I like to test my water by scooping some into a glass jar and letting it sit for a bit. But for the most part, the pond is open. I lost my very large grass carp last year during a flood where he went onto the grassy dam while the water was cresting, when it receded the carp did not make it back into the water.

Since then, the natural growth of weeds and the such on the bottom and sides of the pond have taken off. The pond is stocked with bass. So I have a multitude of problems… The color of my pond is brown and unattractive. My bass make sticking the pond nearly impossible. Hi Kathy.

I would say that most of your problems are due to an overpopulation of fish and it sound like the bass are the main culprits. Bass are predators and very aggressive. Most any type of fish are food for them. I think that keeping them in check is going to be your biggest problem.

My first suggestions would be to remove some of the bass, probably a good majority of them. This will lessen the amount of waste they produce and will also give any new stocks a better chance of survival. The easiest and cheapest way I know of is by fishing for them or let others fish for them making sure that they take what they catch.

When it starts to become more difficult to catch them then cut back on the fishing but do not stop as bass can quickly reproduce and you will be back to square one. I think it would just compound your problems. My second suggestion is to install some type of aeration system. This will help with the overall health of your pond by raising the oxygen levels.

There are many types of plants that you can add that will help with aeration, but you have to be careful with them. Many are very invasive and will quickly take over. My third suggestion is for stocking your pond. It can be very difficult to find a supplier of larger fish to stock with and as you know putting in fingerlings is just feeding the bass. They may even be willing to send a biologist to look at your pond to give you more specific ideas on restoring it.

Unfortunately bringing your pond back into balance will take a several years and you will not see results for awhile. Finding the balance between types of fish, the total amount of fish,and plants can be very challenging.

Good luck and remember that perseverance is your best friend when dealing with these issues. Will this clear up on its own? Thanks for all the above advice. I have a situation somewhat like Kathy. We have some foliage around it but mostly small shrubs.

We have resident ducks and local frogs. I have also stocked it with Rainbow trout, not many but enough for the kids to catch. The water since we moved to the property has always been dark tannin. I have cleared some shrubs and other culprits huge maple upstream but am wondering what I can do. Climate is temperate as we live on Vancouver Island. Short of draining the pond and starting from scratch I really have no idea what I can try? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

These can also be used in tandem. If neither of those options work, then draining your pond is your next best bet. Thanks for the reply Beckie. Thanks again! One potential solution would be with an organic scavenger system, which works similarly to activated carbon some actually use it, too , but on a much larger scale. Essentially, these systems contain a strong base anion resin with a very porous structure which works to capture the organic content in the water.

Many of these systems are intended for the medical or manufacturing industries but can be modified for use with lakes and ponds, as the core mechanism remains essentially the same.

But you could also contact some local companies who offer these filters for pools and ponds and explain your situation. We recently bought a house that came with a very small pond and did whatever research we could to revive this pond to make it a habitat for our new friends. No trees surrounding the pond but our next door neighbor has very tall pine and sugar maple trees which are about 50 feet from the pond.

We have the following in our pond which consist of waterfall with assorted filters, skimmer and aeration pump and a UV light. We have notice with the constant falling of pine needles and maple leaves each day August its been a headache to maintain constantly. The pond water is very clear but the rocks and gravel are turning a dark color brown.

Algae is constantly blooming due to open sun exposure and constant raining. Each morning skim the pond surface for fallen leaves or anything stuck in skimmer catchment. We have no catchment for extra water so only using groundwater from our hose to refill pond with Chlorine remover, from time to time we add Pond salt. Someone mentioned to us about the use of Active Carbon? It is spring fed with no inlet or outlet of water. Keep in mind, if you are using tap water to do this, you will likely need to treat it with a water conditioner.

A conditioner, also called a softener, will reduce the effects of heavy metals present in the water, and neutralize certain chemical compounds like ammonia and chlorine. This is beneficial and often necessary for any marine life you may have living in or visiting your pond. Beyond your conditioner, there are other beneficial water treatments that you can employ to facilitate the breakdown of organic compounds in a manner which will not stain your water. Certain bacteria will feed on the compounds generated by decaying organic material, thus keeping your water clean.

Consult an expert in pond care to ensure that the bacteria you select will be appropriate for your climate, system, and wildlife, and follow the instructions for its use.

The last and most effective step in keeping your pond free of the stain caused by tannins is adding activated carbon. Following the instructions, place the sealed bag of charcoal in a location where the water passes through at a high rate.

The carbon in the charcoal will bind with the tannins and other unwanted compounds to remove them from your water.

Soon after, your water should appear clean and clear. Once you have cleaned your pond to your liking, develop a regular maintenance schedule. This schedule should include cleaning your pond and also check the filter. The removal of twigs, leaves, and other debris should happen regularly, whereas the scouring of the bottom can happen less often.

Any time you replace a significant amount of the water in your pond, you may have to re-introduce any compounds you use to treat the new water. Make sure that your water conditioner, beneficial bacteria, and activated charcoal are stored in a cool, dry place, properly sealed, to prevent spoilage. Follow the instructions for replacing your charcoal bag as needed.

Not everybody has the time to perform regular maintenance on their pond. But at least by creating a proper schedule and putting it in a place where your household can see it, you will know what you should be doing. Getting organized will serve you well in ensuring that your pond remains pristine for as long as you own your home.

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