Red "dust"

[James_Pond]

Can anyone tell me what's happening in these two pics? I have what looks like red dust or rust in my pond.

My pond s fairly new, two weeks or so, I've plants in it but no filter or pump.

The second picture looks like bird poo but it's not. It came away like dust when I put my hand in it. This is on a lot of the rocks in the pond.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Probably a type of red algae. I've seen red algae like that form in buckets of rain water I collected.
If you have a PH test kit I'd be curious to know what the PH of your pond water is.

 

[James_Pond]

I don't have a pH kit. I could get one if you think it would help.

Assuming it is algae, is it something to worry about or will it sort itself out?

 

[Smaug]

Looks like diatomaceous algae. It's very common on new systems and will go away all by itself after a month or so.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Well, I've only seen that red algae grow in the pails of rain water, and generally rain water is somewhat acidic so I'm curious what the PH in your pond water is. However, even if it is low PH it shouldn't be a problem unless you have fish in that pond or your particular plants prefer a more alkaline environment.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

It could also just be some angry algae.

 

[James_Pond]

Probably a type of red algae. I've seen red algae like that form in buckets of rain water I collected.
If you have a PH test kit I'd be curious to know what the PH of your pond water is.

I foprgot that I'd bought a ph kit last summer for the paddling pool. I've just whacked a strip in the pond and the results are:

Free chlorine - 0
PH - 6.2*
Total alkalinity - 40ppm

*6.2 was the lowest number on the chart, but the colour was slightly lighter, so it could be slightly less than 6.2

 

[Meyer Jordan]

That is quite low pH. I would not add any fish unless it is over 6.5.

 

[James_Pond]

That is quite low pH. I would not add any fish unless it is over 6.5.

I'm not adding fish at all. Should the ph increase on its own, or should I be doing something?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

No need to be concerned if you are not adding fish.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

I foprgot that I'd bought a ph kit last summer for the paddling pool. I've just whacked a strip in the pond and the results are:

Free chlorine - 0
PH - 6.2*
Total alkalinity - 40ppm

*6.2 was the lowest number on the chart, but the colour was slightly lighter, so it could be slightly less than 6.2

So my guess about low PH was right.
Since you have no fish in that pond the low PH is not a big issue, but if you have plants that seem to be struggling and turning yellow it could be they might benefit from raising the PH to neutral. Also, I'd be curious to see if that red algae disappears when you raise the PH.
A little bit of baking soda will do it.