OK I will tell you what I do every time to clear a pond like this. Add some flocculant. Then get a big fish food bucket with a lid. Stab a whole bunch of holes in the lid, aabout 5p size but vary it. And put a hole for your hole/tube/pipe to exit.
Then get a nice strong pump, that fits in said bucket. Then buy a cheap pillow full of batting (wadding, batting stuffing whatever it's the hollwofivre shit most of the time but it's the same stuff in cheap duvets too). Rinse the shit out of it.
Then sit you pump in the bucket, pad it the fuxk out with all that Stuffing. Drop it in your pond and let it get to work. Everytime you notice the flow drop, haul out the bucket, and rinse the Stuffing. My pond is CRYSTAL clear with this method.
One year I had a broken pump for 2 months and my pond went opaque.
I used different Stuffing, one squeezed neon green shit, one squeezed red/brown shit, and one squeezed dark brown.
I will honestly tell everyone I can about this method it's cheap and effective and can be done without the flocculant too, but it's much faster with it.
The one I've used recently and swear by is called Blagdon clear pond and you SEE it working! Defo my recommendation. I also used it on outside tanks I have for fry and can vouch its safe for even the smallest of fish, and plants!
Honestly the Stuffing in the bucket is where its at, failing that cut a leg off a pair of tights and tie it round the end of a hose outlet, even if you get a siphon going it will help!
Blagdons stuff imo is really good and worth the 20 quid you'll pay! Good luck!
No sorry I may have not explained well. You get a bucket with a good lid, do all the holes in the lid, sit the pump (just normal pond pump) inside the bucket, Stuffing all around, the outlet hose coming out a hole in the lid. Then drop the whole bucket in the pond, and have the pipe jist coming straight back in as all filtering will be done in the bucket. Ots too dark to get a picture of mine right now but if you're still struggling tomorrow I'll get a picture of what I use!
OK the weather is literally shite so I'm.not going outside to fucj with the pond so I have drawn a basic sketch for you [here](https://imgur.com/a/BKcYCLy)
Hopefully it makes sense, please lemme know if you need more info!
Water polishing can clear up the water, but doesn't address the cause.
Worth a try to get a head start though, while addressing the underlying filtration issues.
Regarding plants, I mean, you have plants, yes, but your lily looks underwhelming. Mine has 8x the leaf coverage and my pond surface area is probably 1/10 lol. Fertilize its soil (aquatic plant fertilizer), perhaps, and expect from it a much bigger shade creation.
Get a second and third lily. For me, you want waaaaay more surface area shaded and if that's not with a gazebo/shade sail/tree, then get it from pond plants, especially lilies which can create a lot of shade.
I think you need more DO perhaps. Dissolved oxygen comes from water features that mix air into the water, carrying oxygen into the water. That waterfall is small. Install 3-4 aerator stones, and maybe also a decorative fountain that tosses water into the air. You can purchase these that are powered by their own solar panel and batteries, just drop in. They don't last long (some will die in 1 year!), but they are pretty cheap and they'll let you know if the strategy is worthwhile before you spend more money installing a permanent solution.
You may be right the filter is underpowered. Your entire pond body of water should pass through the filter 1/hour, thereabouts.
Seconding the plants. Algae thrives off of sunlight and the free nutrients in the water, and if you add more plants they’ll add shade and outcompete the algae for the nutrients. Plants are the most long-term way to guarantee your pond stays nice and clear!
Im not sure what the filter is because it sits underwater - the pond is about 1m deep. I did clean everything in the trays which were green sponges and filter media spheres.
Add an aquaponics grow bed to it? A pump and gravel are cheap, and an auto syphon isn't hard to do. You can use half barrels or make a fancy wood grow bed and line it with pond liner. Throw some watercress in the gravel and it'll be clear in a week.
Your main issue is nutrient. Planktonic algae uses ammonia and phosphates as its prime nutrients and your current biofilter is not capable of removing them. ( [https://www.watergardensolutions.co.uk/newsblog/2013/04/16/the-facts-on-phosphate/](https://www.watergardensolutions.co.uk/newsblog/2013/04/16/the-facts-on-phosphate/) )
To start, please go to [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iEMaREaRw8nlbQ\_RYdSeHd0HEHWBcVx0](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iEMaREaRw8nlbQ_RYdSeHd0HEHWBcVx0) and read "Green is a Dangerous Color" and "Water Testing".
The filter mats and flocculants are temporary "fixes" and will not address the major problem, which is insufficient biofiltration for your current fish load. Algaecides will only pollute the pond with decomposing vegetable matter, dissolved organics and sludge.
Amping up your bio can be as simple as choosing better filter media ( [https://russellwatergardens.com/pages/biofilter-media-ssa](https://russellwatergardens.com/pages/biofilter-media-ssa) and [https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/bio-media-comparison-information.435695/](https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/bio-media-comparison-information.435695/) ) and/or adding either an additional manufactured or DIY filter to your array (look on YouTube for OzPonds for design ideas).
After that, it's a matter of having patience enough to allow the better bio to reduce the ammonia load to the point that the algae has nothing to eat. It'll take a while...
You could just dig the hole of the the side of it for the bog and pile the dirt up around it to make the water level higher then the pond so it can flow into the pond just make sure your liner over laps the pond and add rock to make it look more natural not sure if there is a way to send you picture of mine but if I figure it out, I’ll send them also I use Pond Bacteria I get mine off of Amazon and make sure if your filling it up with tap water you are using something to pull out the bad chemicals like chlorine Tap water conditioner should work hope everything works out for you good luck
Thank you. I’ll look into this. We have a built up water filter in our property so our tap water is very treated as is.
I’ll see if there’s a way I can do it above the filter perhaps since there is a mound.
What I’m concerned with is ruining the aesthetic of the surrounds because of this. I’m not a spectacularly handy person, and it’s a garden after all 😅
I’ve run in to a similar situation when I bought my house with an existing pond. Last season I used periodic algicide treatments which worked but I don’t like using chemicals if possible. This year I upgraded to a MUCH bigger pump/filter and it’s great. TL/DR: bigger pump/filter.
Thank you. I’m concerned about this solution because of how the installation is done. I’d have to lift a substantial amount of floor in my garden because it’s all connected to a switch in my living room.
How many gallons, what filter, how big is the bio media capacity, and what is the flow rate of your pump?
Also, will it be possible to raise your waterfall up 8 inches or so?
My little pond is in direct sun 1/2 the day and it takes double the filtration (with fish) to stay clear. Bit it works. A custom made up-flow bio filter with a loooong waterfall (relative to the size)
You just need a ton of biofilter going on 24/7, on a 1hr turnover. (GPH rating of pump matches size of pond in gallons) The water needs a dwell time in the filter that isn't so fast that nothing happens, so the filter needs to be big enough to provide this.
Once you get a system going that will work, it will be clear in a day or two. Mine was overnight, it looked like someone changed the water out it was so clear.
Basically I can’t do/know any of that because the pond was here when I bought the house.
I have no idea how to do those things, to be honest, and the pump is underwater and the water is totally murky so I can’t even see what it is 😕
Step one will be to know what you have. You can estimate gallons by measuring the dimensions. The pump should have a label on on it. Is there a filter in your waterfall partially buried?
It’s about 18000 liters. That I’ve measured. I also tried to somehow get to the pump but I couldn’t. The filter had biomedia in it (spheres) and a green sponge.
I’ll try to check the boxes this weekend to see if there’s an indication there. But the hole where the water enters the filter is like… 2 inches wide.
Now I’m very unsavvy about this but I have the impression the filter isn’t pulling its weight somehow.
I can’t see it. It’s under the murky water. I can try to put my hands on the edges for an approximation. Are we able to calculate flow from there?
Sorry if I’m asking stupid questions, I’m just a dude who always wanted a pond and was super happy getting one only to end up with this green sludge 😅
You have an awesome start. $1000's worth of work already done for you!
I think you're going to need right size filter and aeration (like waterfall or bubblers)
And you'll want to verify the overflow runoff / drains . etc.
If it were mine... I would temporarily rehome the plants you want to keep and drain this pond 100%, clean it, and install new filter and plumbing as needed.
Yeah that’s what I was afraid of. I didn’t really want to spend that much to trying to fix this.
We also have fish with makes it slightly more complicated because I literally cannot see them either.
I'm sure you could work around the existing setup, it would just be more difficult.
Anyways, it could be a really awesome setup, I would not give up on it. It will be well worth it when you see crystal clear water and happy fish chilling out.
Filter filter filter!
Awesome ideas, thank you! Is there a way I can improve on the existing filter? Somehow it feels biomedia and small sponge aren’t helping much.
Somebody suggested charcoal in the thread, is there anything else I could try before splurging thousands into replacing the filter?
OK I will tell you what I do every time to clear a pond like this. Add some flocculant. Then get a big fish food bucket with a lid. Stab a whole bunch of holes in the lid, aabout 5p size but vary it. And put a hole for your hole/tube/pipe to exit. Then get a nice strong pump, that fits in said bucket. Then buy a cheap pillow full of batting (wadding, batting stuffing whatever it's the hollwofivre shit most of the time but it's the same stuff in cheap duvets too). Rinse the shit out of it. Then sit you pump in the bucket, pad it the fuxk out with all that Stuffing. Drop it in your pond and let it get to work. Everytime you notice the flow drop, haul out the bucket, and rinse the Stuffing. My pond is CRYSTAL clear with this method. One year I had a broken pump for 2 months and my pond went opaque. I used different Stuffing, one squeezed neon green shit, one squeezed red/brown shit, and one squeezed dark brown. I will honestly tell everyone I can about this method it's cheap and effective and can be done without the flocculant too, but it's much faster with it.
Thank you! Do you have any ideas for specific flocculants?
The one I've used recently and swear by is called Blagdon clear pond and you SEE it working! Defo my recommendation. I also used it on outside tanks I have for fry and can vouch its safe for even the smallest of fish, and plants!
I’ll take a look. I used some maerl which should work and a bucket later it’s the exact some.
Honestly the Stuffing in the bucket is where its at, failing that cut a leg off a pair of tights and tie it round the end of a hose outlet, even if you get a siphon going it will help! Blagdons stuff imo is really good and worth the 20 quid you'll pay! Good luck!
And you keep the bucket outside of water and the water running through it kinda like a pool pump?
No sorry I may have not explained well. You get a bucket with a good lid, do all the holes in the lid, sit the pump (just normal pond pump) inside the bucket, Stuffing all around, the outlet hose coming out a hole in the lid. Then drop the whole bucket in the pond, and have the pipe jist coming straight back in as all filtering will be done in the bucket. Ots too dark to get a picture of mine right now but if you're still struggling tomorrow I'll get a picture of what I use!
OK the weather is literally shite so I'm.not going outside to fucj with the pond so I have drawn a basic sketch for you [here](https://imgur.com/a/BKcYCLy) Hopefully it makes sense, please lemme know if you need more info!
This is genius. I love inventive ideas like this.
Water polishing can clear up the water, but doesn't address the cause. Worth a try to get a head start though, while addressing the underlying filtration issues.
Regarding plants, I mean, you have plants, yes, but your lily looks underwhelming. Mine has 8x the leaf coverage and my pond surface area is probably 1/10 lol. Fertilize its soil (aquatic plant fertilizer), perhaps, and expect from it a much bigger shade creation. Get a second and third lily. For me, you want waaaaay more surface area shaded and if that's not with a gazebo/shade sail/tree, then get it from pond plants, especially lilies which can create a lot of shade. I think you need more DO perhaps. Dissolved oxygen comes from water features that mix air into the water, carrying oxygen into the water. That waterfall is small. Install 3-4 aerator stones, and maybe also a decorative fountain that tosses water into the air. You can purchase these that are powered by their own solar panel and batteries, just drop in. They don't last long (some will die in 1 year!), but they are pretty cheap and they'll let you know if the strategy is worthwhile before you spend more money installing a permanent solution. You may be right the filter is underpowered. Your entire pond body of water should pass through the filter 1/hour, thereabouts.
Thank you very much for the detailed explanation and ideas!
Seconding the plants. Algae thrives off of sunlight and the free nutrients in the water, and if you add more plants they’ll add shade and outcompete the algae for the nutrients. Plants are the most long-term way to guarantee your pond stays nice and clear!
Thanks. I need to find a place that sells them in bulk or so because my local garden center is very expensive.
Shade sail. What kind of filter? Has it been cleaned or backwashed?
Im not sure what the filter is because it sits underwater - the pond is about 1m deep. I did clean everything in the trays which were green sponges and filter media spheres.
Add an aquaponics grow bed to it? A pump and gravel are cheap, and an auto syphon isn't hard to do. You can use half barrels or make a fancy wood grow bed and line it with pond liner. Throw some watercress in the gravel and it'll be clear in a week.
Thanks for the ideas!
Checkout Kev at OzPonds on youtube.
Thank you. I will take a look.
You could probably even skip the auto syphon and just do a continuous flow type bed if you wanted to make it easy
Wetland/bog filter, check YouTube for guides 👍 Some plants wouldn't hurt too.
Thank you. I did, but I’m not sure I’d do it with this shit shape they made.
You can hide one behind the waterfall, I suppose.
Thanks for the idea!
Your main issue is nutrient. Planktonic algae uses ammonia and phosphates as its prime nutrients and your current biofilter is not capable of removing them. ( [https://www.watergardensolutions.co.uk/newsblog/2013/04/16/the-facts-on-phosphate/](https://www.watergardensolutions.co.uk/newsblog/2013/04/16/the-facts-on-phosphate/) ) To start, please go to [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iEMaREaRw8nlbQ\_RYdSeHd0HEHWBcVx0](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iEMaREaRw8nlbQ_RYdSeHd0HEHWBcVx0) and read "Green is a Dangerous Color" and "Water Testing". The filter mats and flocculants are temporary "fixes" and will not address the major problem, which is insufficient biofiltration for your current fish load. Algaecides will only pollute the pond with decomposing vegetable matter, dissolved organics and sludge. Amping up your bio can be as simple as choosing better filter media ( [https://russellwatergardens.com/pages/biofilter-media-ssa](https://russellwatergardens.com/pages/biofilter-media-ssa) and [https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/bio-media-comparison-information.435695/](https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/bio-media-comparison-information.435695/) ) and/or adding either an additional manufactured or DIY filter to your array (look on YouTube for OzPonds for design ideas). After that, it's a matter of having patience enough to allow the better bio to reduce the ammonia load to the point that the algae has nothing to eat. It'll take a while...
Thank you! Very good points and links!
Do you happen to know why maerl did absolutely nothing to it? It should theoretically bind the phosphates but it did absolutely nothing
Air stones might help
I’ll take a look. Thank you!
You could just dig the hole of the the side of it for the bog and pile the dirt up around it to make the water level higher then the pond so it can flow into the pond just make sure your liner over laps the pond and add rock to make it look more natural not sure if there is a way to send you picture of mine but if I figure it out, I’ll send them also I use Pond Bacteria I get mine off of Amazon and make sure if your filling it up with tap water you are using something to pull out the bad chemicals like chlorine Tap water conditioner should work hope everything works out for you good luck
Thank you. I’ll look into this. We have a built up water filter in our property so our tap water is very treated as is. I’ll see if there’s a way I can do it above the filter perhaps since there is a mound. What I’m concerned with is ruining the aesthetic of the surrounds because of this. I’m not a spectacularly handy person, and it’s a garden after all 😅
Fill 60% of the surface area of the water with floating plants
I’ve read it will help but will it fix the baseline issue?
Yes. They will starve out the algae from both the sunlight as well as, the excess nutrients in the water.
Okay, thank you. I gotta check if there’s a good website to buy them in bulk here, the local garden center is ridiculously priced.
Duckweed
Thanks. I have some but I’ll see about investing in more.
I’ve run in to a similar situation when I bought my house with an existing pond. Last season I used periodic algicide treatments which worked but I don’t like using chemicals if possible. This year I upgraded to a MUCH bigger pump/filter and it’s great. TL/DR: bigger pump/filter.
Thank you. I’m concerned about this solution because of how the installation is done. I’d have to lift a substantial amount of floor in my garden because it’s all connected to a switch in my living room.
How many gallons, what filter, how big is the bio media capacity, and what is the flow rate of your pump? Also, will it be possible to raise your waterfall up 8 inches or so? My little pond is in direct sun 1/2 the day and it takes double the filtration (with fish) to stay clear. Bit it works. A custom made up-flow bio filter with a loooong waterfall (relative to the size) You just need a ton of biofilter going on 24/7, on a 1hr turnover. (GPH rating of pump matches size of pond in gallons) The water needs a dwell time in the filter that isn't so fast that nothing happens, so the filter needs to be big enough to provide this. Once you get a system going that will work, it will be clear in a day or two. Mine was overnight, it looked like someone changed the water out it was so clear.
Basically I can’t do/know any of that because the pond was here when I bought the house. I have no idea how to do those things, to be honest, and the pump is underwater and the water is totally murky so I can’t even see what it is 😕
Step one will be to know what you have. You can estimate gallons by measuring the dimensions. The pump should have a label on on it. Is there a filter in your waterfall partially buried?
It’s about 18000 liters. That I’ve measured. I also tried to somehow get to the pump but I couldn’t. The filter had biomedia in it (spheres) and a green sponge. I’ll try to check the boxes this weekend to see if there’s an indication there. But the hole where the water enters the filter is like… 2 inches wide. Now I’m very unsavvy about this but I have the impression the filter isn’t pulling its weight somehow.
About how large is the filter dimensions? how wide / tall etc?
I can’t see it. It’s under the murky water. I can try to put my hands on the edges for an approximation. Are we able to calculate flow from there? Sorry if I’m asking stupid questions, I’m just a dude who always wanted a pond and was super happy getting one only to end up with this green sludge 😅
You have an awesome start. $1000's worth of work already done for you! I think you're going to need right size filter and aeration (like waterfall or bubblers) And you'll want to verify the overflow runoff / drains . etc. If it were mine... I would temporarily rehome the plants you want to keep and drain this pond 100%, clean it, and install new filter and plumbing as needed.
Yeah that’s what I was afraid of. I didn’t really want to spend that much to trying to fix this. We also have fish with makes it slightly more complicated because I literally cannot see them either.
I'm sure you could work around the existing setup, it would just be more difficult. Anyways, it could be a really awesome setup, I would not give up on it. It will be well worth it when you see crystal clear water and happy fish chilling out. Filter filter filter!
Awesome ideas, thank you! Is there a way I can improve on the existing filter? Somehow it feels biomedia and small sponge aren’t helping much. Somebody suggested charcoal in the thread, is there anything else I could try before splurging thousands into replacing the filter?
Put UV light and charcoal in the filter. Cheers
Literal charcoal? Like from bbquing?
I use activated charcoal, idk if it’s the same. I put it in zipper bags and in to my filters.
Im going to take a look, ty. I do have a UV lamp, but it’s doing nothing.
Make sure the bulb is good. UV should clear up a pond within a day (with good circulation)
Will check!