Terrible water quality last 3 weeks

[vestaviascott]

Hello again everyone!

We have been away for most of the last 3 weeks and the pond has taken a turn for the worst. Pump and UV filter have been running the whole time. Today, I pulled the pump to check it. Lots of brownish sludge I'm seeing. I've never cleaned the filter (its only a little over a year old).

OK to clean the filter with a water hose? I'm thinking that is option #1. I suppose if that doesn't help clear it up in a few days, I may need to use a coagulent as Meyer indicates: https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/basic-water-quality-problems.3753/

By the way, my pond is appx 4x10x2 with 6 small koi and one goldfish

 

[Angel]

ok to clean the filter just don't go overboard and go for brand new look. just rinse off enough to clean it from clogs.

 

[vestaviascott]

Easy enough. Thanks for the advice!

 

[CometKeith]

I wouldn't recommend to clean it with a garden hose. Chlorine in the water will kill beneficial bacteria in your filter. I only take apart my filter once a year at the end of the season. If your water quality is bad than you can either clean sludge from the pond or try netting organics etc. It's not the filter that's causing the problem. Also I wonder if you pump is on the bottom of the pond or raised a little. it should never sit on the bottom for two reasons; One if a hose breaks you will lose all your water, and Two, the pump picks up too much sediment from the bottom. I hope this helps!

 

[MitchM]

That brown slime looks like nostoc, a cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria lives in excess nutrient systems.
That coarse material around the pump isn't a filter, but only protects the pump from damage and clogging.
You should have a separate filter that has media which traps detritus and you can rinse and clean.

 

[vestaviascott]

Thanks for all the suggestions. The cleaning of the filter has had no effect on clearing up the water. Visibility is still only about 6-8 inches deep.

At the recommendation of the local aquatics center, they gave me a bottle of coagulant (Accu Clear). However, it has not helped. It did rain last night so the rainwater and runoff is definitely not helping.

Here is a pic of the water sample drawn out of the pond:

Here is the Accu-Clear coagulant that has not helped (although the overnight rainfall may have nullified its use)

 

[Mmathis]

When you say “run off,” do you mean yard water that is flowing into the pond?

 

[cas]

Ha - looks like my pond water! The slight green tint is the beginning of an algae bloom because the pond is rich in nutrients and there aren't other plants to compete with the algae for the nutrients.
I'm not sure of your whole situation, but I can tell you what works for me. April 1st my water was cloudy and I could only see about 10" down. I started the pump on April 1st with filters in the skimmer (which are rinsed with the hose every couple of days) and filters in the bio falls box (which are left alone all season). Today, April 7, I can see the bottom of the pond (34") but the water still is slightly cloudy. Once my plants start to grow (if it ever warms up!), the water will clear the rest of the way.

 

[vestaviascott]

When you say “run off,” do you mean yard water that is flowing into the pond?

No, the pond is elevated and separated from the yard runoff. However, on one side of the pond, my patio overlays it. some water runoff from the patio gets into the pond.

Here's a shot taken last summer (lily's are no longer elevated on blocks):

 

[vestaviascott]

Ha - looks like my pond water! The slight green tint is the beginning of an algae bloom because the pond is rich in nutrients and there aren't other plants to compete with the algae for the nutrients....Once my plants start to grow (if it ever warms up!), the water will clear the rest of the way.

Good info. I only have two hearty lilys in the pond. Hopefully things start to clear up next few days and weeks.

 

[cas]

. I only have two hearty lilys in the pond.

ahh... you will need more plants. Lilies alone don't take up enough nutrients. And they don't start to grow soon enough.

 

[Mmathis]

Good info. I only have two hearty lilys in the pond. Hopefully things start to clear up next few days and weeks.

ahh... you will need more plants. Lilies alone don't take up enough nutrients. And they don't start to grow soon enough.

And, lilies don’t take their nutrients from the water — unless they are planted bare root.