pond/rain

[lauragal]

Hi all!

I'm a pond newbie. I have an 8' x 10' (2 feet deep) pond - goldfish and koi and one frog that stumbled upon the pond a few weeks ago.

My question is this - I live in New York and we've had so much rain here this summer it's ridiculous! Is it normal for the pond to become murky due to so much rain? Every time the pond starts to clear up, it rains again. I have a store-bought filter system with scrubbie pads as the medium.

Thanks!

Laura

BTW - here's a few pictures of my pond and the resident frog!

 

[koiguy1969]

it looks like your water is full of particulants and tannins, if you have a extra pump and 5 gallon bucket, you could fill the bucket with fiber fill or batting a put a return hose or pipe near the bottom of the bucket and let the pump hose feed into the top of the bucket, and the return back to the pond.add some activated carbon if you like to absorb some tannins. but i see no waterfall or external water return,so do you only have an under water filter? if thats the case i would buy or better yet, build an external filter. you will find building instructions for a couple versions of fantastic bio filters here on this site...in the diy section look for 'my 70 gallon shippy filter' and in the equipment forum '55 gallon bilo filters' these are the same basic upflow filters, and are extremely efficient. easy to build and cost effective. you can build your filter out of an outdoor plastic trash can, 20 gallon and up!!

 

[koiguy1969]

oh... should of mentioned..NICE POND!!

 

[aviator79]

I also wonder if the outer edge is sloped down to prevent ground water from the terential rains seep into the pond. If not it is ok so long as chemicals dont get into the pond, but ya, maybe a fines filter to clear it up so lond as the other filter keeps the water clear othewise. I do like the pond but would look nice with small watefall off a stock tank filter at the far end.

 

[lauragal]

Thanks guys!

I have an external filter in the woods behind the pond that you can't see. It's a pool filter, filled with scrubbie pads (got that idea from this forum!). The edge of the pond is slightly sloped, but maybe not enough. The water is now even more murky than this picture. I had it looking so clean for a while, so I don't know what happened. I checked all the levels in the pond and everything is perfect.

Like I said, I'm new to this - I'm not sure, koiguy, if you mean I should have a permanent 2nd filter? I understand what you mean about getting a 5 gallon bucket, filling it with fiber fill, etc. I'm not sure what activated carbon is, should I put that directly into the pond?

Aviator, that is my next project (a waterfall)! I'm just not sure how to build one. I think I got my husband into this now (he originally wanted nothing to do with it - I dug out and built it myself which was not an easy task for me - he did help with laying the liner!!), so maybe he can help me figure out how to do a waterfall. I already want to expand it and make another pond behind this one - somehow make it a little higher and have the water fall down into this one. I think it will have to wait until next spring, though.

 

[jenn.]

very pretty pond! I have the same problem when it rains. all the dust, dirt and pollen on the rocks get dumped into the pond and it is murky for a while. I thought that was just how it goes. My hubby wanted nothing to do with it either but after I tore a ligiment in my ankle digging out grass he was more helpful and loves "Mt. Wanahakalugi and Lake Urias" (our waterfall and pond) :biggrin:

 

[koiguy1969]

the activated carbon can go in the filter or even in a high water flow area of the pond put it in afine mesh bag or an old nylon stocking. or right in the bucet set up.

 

[aviator79]

Yes, this is why I decided to run a fines filter 24/7 except in winter. If your filter can keep up normally, I would set up a fines filter and at least run it after rains until the water clears. A 350gph pump would work, but I decided to go with a 550. More would work, I just wanted to keep it small.

 

[DrCase]

Both my ponds are surounded with rocks,,,where i do have dirt i use landscape fabric behind the rocks to hold the dirt back....No change in the water even with real heavy rains
Thats a real nice pond you have..

 

[lauragal]

Thanks everyone. I have been preparing for my daughter's wedding, so things have been hectic here. I have not had a chance to attend to the pond in an attempt to get the water clear yet. It is still very murky and is not clearing out. I've backwashed it a few times, but no improvement.

I'm going to take your advice and do the bucket, pump and carbon stuff hopefully on Sunday. I'm just shocked that my filter isn't cleaning this water up.

 

[lauragal]

BTW - DrCase, how do you set up the landscape fabric behind the rocks to hold the dirt back so it doesn't show? And what exactly is landscape fabric?

Koiguy - are you saying I can just put the activated carbon directly into the filter in a fine mesh bag? I'm wondering how much carbon I need to buy?

 

[DrCase]

I set my rocks were i want them and then take the land scape fabric [its the black stuff that you use to keep weeds from growing in your flower bed,,its not plastic ] and fold it up the back of the rocks and then put the dirt in to hold it up..the fabric keeps the dirt from washing thru...then i top it with mulch

 

[koiguy1969]

the A.C can go anywhere theres good water movement but it wont remove floating particles, just the coloration (tannins). for your floating debris you need to set up a fines basket filter under your water fall or return line. thats just a milkcrate or laundry basket full of pillow stuffing (fiber fill) or quilt batting.as the water runs thru it will trap the fine solids. or rig one up with a extra pump if you have one...as far as amount goes, you cant have too much of the A.C the ore you have the more it can handle.

 

[lauragal]

Ok, thanks. I'll run this by my husband as he will understand better what you guys are talking about! Not sure why I just don't get it:banghead3:

 

[DrDave]

lauragal
Welcome to the Forum!
Please add your location using the User CP at the top of this page.