So - this is my first year of having the pond come out of winter. Fish are great and the water is crystal clear. The plants have been going in and out of growth phases with our wacky southern weather. Lots of marginals are going. Parrot's Feather getting fluffy and lily pads up! Water celery looks lush!
I know there are stages the pond will go through, especially with algae - blooming before the plants really get going to use up the nutrients. When the trees all leaf out and make some shade, that will make a difference too.
My question is about the grey-green, almost powdery, crumbly looking stuff that is on the bottom and sitting on all the flat surfaces of the pond. If I swirled my hand, I could stir it up. Is this dead algae or just crumblies of dead microscopic aquatic life? It's not pretty, but I know the water surface will soon have so many plants on it, it won't be noticeable. Is this the pond equivalent of leaf mold on a forest floor?
Will the pond life cycle eventually absorb this? Or is this what that expensive jar of "beneficial bacteria" is for?
It doesn't seem to be hurting a thing. As I said - fish are super happy and the water is clear as can be.
I know there are stages the pond will go through, especially with algae - blooming before the plants really get going to use up the nutrients. When the trees all leaf out and make some shade, that will make a difference too.
My question is about the grey-green, almost powdery, crumbly looking stuff that is on the bottom and sitting on all the flat surfaces of the pond. If I swirled my hand, I could stir it up. Is this dead algae or just crumblies of dead microscopic aquatic life? It's not pretty, but I know the water surface will soon have so many plants on it, it won't be noticeable. Is this the pond equivalent of leaf mold on a forest floor?
Will the pond life cycle eventually absorb this? Or is this what that expensive jar of "beneficial bacteria" is for?
It doesn't seem to be hurting a thing. As I said - fish are super happy and the water is clear as can be.