I recently installed a new pond. Used a Beckett pond kit. The pond is about 8' wide by 6' long and 22" at its deepest. It's been about 3 weeks since I filled it. The water has been a tea color since then. I thought it might be from pollen and those little stringy things that fall off oak trees (not helicopters). I changed about 1/4 of the water last weekend. Still very tea colored.

I have the pump and filter that came with the Beckett kit. It's a cylindrical foam filter. How can I get my water clear so I can see the bottom????? Please help.

Hi NewtoPonds and welcome! :)
What type of filter do you have?
What zone are you in?
You will need to get some bio-filtering going on if you don't have something already.

Tia

Hi NTP Is your pond in direct sunlight? You could invest in a in line UV clarifier which would kill off a lot of the bacteria and stop the algae from blooming, When the little stringy things fall in the water do you get them out?

Sounds like tanins in the water, which will seep from any wood, mulch, etc and give the water that tea appearance. It doesn't sound like algae (yet! LOL)...Activated Charcoal is supposed to help, plus water changes, and try to get out and keep out anything wood related. On the bright side, if it is tanins it doesn't effect the water quality at all, just the look of it.

I agree with Derrick. Sounds like tannins. If the tree is still dropping stringy things netting untill this phase is over should help. Do you have fish? Have you checked your water paramaters?

Don't know what zone I'm in. I live on Long Island, NY. My filter is the pump that came with the Beckett kit. A 500 gph pump with a cylindrical foam filter. How do I get bio-filtering started?? I added plants already. Three lilies, 1 anacharis, and a floating plant.

My pond only gets about 3 hours of direct sunlight. Its in the shade most of the time. I get the little oak tree stringy things out and ant other floating debris as soon as I can. They will sit overnight of course and during the day while I'm at work. I don't think the tea color is from algea since it looked like tea from about the second day I filled it.

I dont have any wood or mulch around, or close to the pond. How can I use activated charcoal with the type of filter I have??

When you added your plants what type of soil did you use?

I will have to look up that filter b/c I am not familar with it. My little Giant is a filter box that the pump fits inside of and I added bio-balls to the box which it was designed for.

Tia

HAVE HEARD THAT OAK TREE DROPPINGS DO TINT THE COLOR SOME. THEY DID SOME SERIOUS HARM TO OUR POND AND IT WAS ALSO NEW. WE DID NOT DRAIN THE POND BECAUSE OF WATER COSTS AND ALSO HAVING TO THEN ADD MORE NUTRIENTS TO THE NEW WATER. I THINK WITH TIME YOUR PLANTS WILL START FILTERING MORE FOR YOU AS WELL AS YOUR PUMP. BE PATIENT AND RESULTS WILL HOPEFULLY FOLLOW. KEEP NETTING OUT LEAVES AND OTHER JUNK AS IT FLIES IN. A POND IS AN ECOSYSTEM AND IT REALLY TAKES TIME FOR RESULTS TO SHOW UP.

Here is are couple of links to some info about bio-filters from the Drs Foster & Smith website:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article....ept_id=&aid=128
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article....tid=432&aid=952

If you search through the forum long enough you will also find some info in bio-filters.

One thing that I did to clear up my water quickly (mine was green but I also had brown water too) was to wrap the filter with quilt batting. If you look as my sig you will see that my pond is pretty small. My filter looks like this: http://www.lgpc.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=1084
It has the pump inside, like I said before. I added bio-balls around the pump in the box. I wrapped the outside of the box with quilt batting. Worked pretty good for me.
Just like some else said, new ponds take time to get established. My pond is a year old now and I still have clarity problems. Almost all (but not all) of do so join the club! :)
You can also build your own filter if you are handy.

Hope this helps. :)

Tia

First, thanks to everyone who is responding and trying to help me. I really appreciate the help. I am a novice (at best) at ponding, hoping to become a Pond "Guru" one day where I can offer help.

tlc - I purchased plants from a local pond shop that were growing well and were a in pots (already potted with soil. The guy told me the potting mix was made for ponds), or netting bags ready to place/drop in the pond. My foam fliter slides onto a plastic cylinder that is part of the pump and it sits at the bottom of my pond. I looked at your filter and I believe I saw where I could purchase one like it to place my pump in. It would probably work better than the filter I have now.

Barbara - thanks for your reply. I guess I'm a little impatient and will have to wait some things out.

Route3 & frogman3 - thanks for the reply. I'll figure out a way to try the activated charcoal.

Make sure that before you buy the filter the pump that you have now will work with it meaning fit inside. You sure don't want to spend the money and find out that it won't. :(
I know it's hard when you start out to try to figure out what to do and when to do it. Everyone has a different approach, some work some don't. Most folks on here have been through it all so they give pretty good advise. You will have to find what works for you and your ponding situation. :)
Good luck!

I have 3 container ponds on my verandah. I always cover the 2 that have fish in them when it rains because we get rain coming through trees here and that always turns the water to the colour of tea - tannins. The one with the lilies in I don't cover and the water is always tea coloured.

Basically anything that falls from a tree can make your water tea coloured - dead leaves, bark, twigs etc etc

I AM STILL NEW TO PONDING ALSO. THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE HAS BEEN ON INTERNET AND BOOKS. IT IS SUCH A LIVE AND LEARN THING. OUR POND WAS AN INGROUND POOL, 18X38 WITH 6FT DEEP. THE OAK TREE REALLY KILLED US. WE WAITED TOO LONG TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND NOW WE ARE ADDING STUFF TO BREAK THE FINE SLUGE DOWN. OUR TOWN WATER SYSTEM REMOVES ALL TRACES OF IRON SO THE HYACINTHS SUFFER AND WE HAVE TO ADD IRON TO THE WATER. INSECTS ARE TRULY BAD AND EAT HYACINTHS AND PARROT FEATHERS. ALGAE GROWS BECAUSE IN LA. THE TEMPS REACH IN THE 90'S. I USE A BRUSH TO REMOVE SOME EXCESS FROM POND SIDES AND PLANTS. SOUTH LA. IS IN ZONE 9 AND WE DO NOT HAVE PONDERS AROUND HERE. MUCH LESS ANYONE WHO DID A POOL TO POND CONVERSION. OUR FISH INCLUDE 5 BASS, 6 PERCH, 1 YELLOW CATFISH, 2 BULL BRIMS, CRAWFISH, SHRIMP AND SNAILS. ONE OF OUR BASS JUMPED OUT MEMORIAL DAY TO CATCH A DRAGONFLY. I CRIED WHEN I FOUND HIM DEAD ON THE CONCRETE. I BURIED HIM IN THE FLOWER BED. SORRY TO WRITE SO MUCH.

Barbara do you live in LA California or Louisana?

Sorry that your fish died. You wouldn't think that a fish can make you cry but it sure can. :) What a good place to bury your fish. I should have done that :)

Tia

Oak trees (and other trees but oaks at a higher level) have a lot of tannins and lignins in their debris (branches, leaves, acorns, and those flowers (male parts?) which you are talking about falling in to the water). Those not only color the water but will lower the pH. I suggest checking the pH. To remove the coloration, do a water change and put fresh activated carbon in the filter. Carbon is good at removing tannins and lignins. Be sure to have the pond well netted when leaves and acorns fall.

A box shaped pond your size would be 660 gallons so it's probably more like 300 to 500 gallons depending on the various depths. I suggest having a pump at least 1000 gph. It sounds like a lot but I use a 700 gph pump on my 153 gallon pond, and it's often not enough. Since I can't see your pump/filter, I don't know what biological components it may have. Good bacteria will grow on everything in the pond but having a high surface area material in the filter really helps with a place for the good bacteria to grow.

I also don't know if you can put a mesh bag of carbon in your filter. If not, put a mesh bag of carbon in the pond itself, preferably near moving water.

You'll need a lot more plants to help filter and shade the pond.

Barbara, I was sorry to read about your bass jumping out. I'm sure there are ponders in your area! Assuming you meant Louisiana (which I'm guessing from your animal list), I looked on-line, and there's a Louisiana Pond Society but I can't find their web site. I did find this club though; they'd know what's in your area if you're in that state:
http://www.capwgs.org/
If you're in LA, CA, they've got tons of pond clubs there.

You converted your pool to a pond? If you would like to contribute tips or photos on that for my web site, let me know. I get a lot of questions about that.

Good luck to everyone!

TRULY WISH I COULD SEND SOME OF THE PHOTOS OF THE POOL-POND. IT IS JUST A RECTANGULAR WATER HOLE WITH PLANTS, FISH, AND CEMENT DECK SURROUNGING IT. YET WE LOVE EACH AND EVERY FISH IN IT. LET ME INCLUDE THAT WE ARE FROM LOUISIANA WHICH IS WHY I CALL IT A SOUTHERN POND. THE FISH ARE ALL NATIVE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TWO COMETS IN IT. THE COMETS ARE SO FAT FOR BEING ONLY 5-6" AND LOVE THE FREEDOM OF THE LARGE POND. THEY EAT THE ALGAE LIKE CRAZY.

IN THE POND WE NOW HAVE TWO 500 GPH PUMPS. I FIGURED IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO HARD TO MAKE A FILTERING SYSTEM. OURS IS TOTALLY UNUSUAL BUT IT WORKS. I GOT TWO SQUARE PLASTIC MILK CRATES. CUT OUT 6 ONE INCH SECTIONS OF FOAM TO GO AROUND THE BOTTOM, SIDES AND TOP. PUMP WAS PUT INSIDE, HELD WITH A LARGE ROCK(JUST IN CASE IT DECIDED TO FLOAT UP). ADDED 1 DOZEN BATH POOFS(FOR WOMEN'S BATHS) INTO A LAUNDRY BAG. TOSSED IT AROUND THE PUMP AND COVERED IT WITH THE SIXTH PIECE OF FOAM. ALSO HAVE THE OUTPUT THROUGH A HOLE IN FOAM TOP WITH PVC PIPE TOPPED W/ FITTING FOR FOUNTAIN SPRAY. I HOPE I EXPLAINED THIS WELL. I AM A CAJUN AND WE SOMETIMES TEND TO SHORTEN INSTRUCTIONS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WHEN I REMOVE THE FILTER-PUMPING SYSTEMS WEEKLY FOR CLEANING, THEY ARE SO FILTHY WITH THE "FINE" FROM THE POOL BOTTOM.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT BUT THE WATER IS CLEAR WITH NO SMELL. TEA COLORED BUT STILL WE CAN SEE OUR COMETS, BASS AND PERCH SWIMMING AROUND. AS WE LOOK INTO THE DEEPER AREA THE "FINE" FROM THE TREE IS DARK AND TROUBLESOME. WHEN STIRRED UP IT DOES MESS THE WATER QUALITY WHICH IS WHY WE ARE RUNNING TWO PUMPS FOR FILTERING AND AERATION AND SAFETY OF OUR FISH. I LOVE THEM TOO MUCH TO RISK THEIR LIVES.

SORRY I CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO PC PHOTOS OTHERWISE I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE MY POND SHOTS WITH YOU. THE REASON I DECIDED TO "GO FOR A POND" WAS THE POOL WAS NO LONGER BEING USED, GRANDKIDS WERE OLDER, AND HUSBAND HAD HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT KEPT US FROM IT. SO INTERNET RESEARCH SAID "WHY NOT" AND I WENT AHEAD WITH. JUST A SOUTHERN POND WITH WONDERFUL FISH WITHIN. WOW, THEY ARE SO BREATHTAKING. I LOVE MY FISH AND MUCH AS MY OTHER ANIMALS. I AM BLESSED. I THINK. HA..

I live on Long Island also and just went through my yearly battle with the "Tea"
It definately comes from the oak trees.
I would recomend 25% water changes at least twice a week.
The mesh bag of activated charcol also will help.

HAVE SEEN THE ACTIVATED CHARCOAL SOLD AT WAL-MARTS. IT S SOLD IN SMALL AMOUNTS. IS THAT THE SAME AS THE ONE YOU ARE REFERRING TO AS USING IT IN A MESH BAG. TOO BAD REGULAR CHARCOAL WOULD NOT WORK IN THE SAME WAY. IT IS SOLD IN LARGER AMOUNTS AND SOME DO COME WITHOUT THE ADDED CHEMICALS.

ALSO EXACTLY WHAT DOES IT DO TO YOUR WATER?? I AM ADDING THE BACTERIA/ENZYME ADDITIVE FOR THE BREAKING DOWN OF THE TREE DROPPINGS. IT DOES WORK BY TURNING THE SLUDGE INTO A "FINER" MESS AS WELL AS ADDING GOOD BACTERIAL. IT WILL BE A REAL TEST OF MY PATIENCE TO REMOVE THE "FINE" MESS. I DO HATE WHEN I MOVE IT AROUND WITH A NET CAUSE IT STIRS UP THE WATER QUALITY SO BAD UNTIL IT SETTLES BACK ON THE BOTTOM AGAIN.

TO VACUUM UP THE FINE MESS WOULD ALSO PICK UP THE SMALL SHRIMP AND NEW TADPOLES. I HATE LOSING ANY OF THESE AS WELL AS THE MINNOWS, BABY BASS, AND SNAILS. THIS REALLY IS A PREDICTAMENT. DO ALL PONDS HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF "FINE MESS" OR IS IT JUST MINE?? NEXT YEAR I WILL DEFINITELY USE A NETTING OVER THE POND.

Not sure how "fine" my mess is, but I don't worry about it too much. I can barely see the bottom through all the green water anyway! hahaha

Charcol (Activated carbon) simply acts as a filter.
Check this link:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...52&pcatid=12952

And also click on the link for the mesh bags.
All that is required is to place the whole jar of charcol into the mesh bag.
Rinse it thoroughly (and I mean for 5-10 minutes) to get rid of the black dust from the charcol. It will be effective for about a month and then must be replaced.
When you remove the bag from the pond you will be amazed at all the junk it has collected.

Hi BB, I vacume my pond to keep the excessive organics from building up. I looked into adding a species of shrimp that would survive Ohio winters but I struck out. If I did have them I would be in the same situation as you. My tad poles are 2 years old and are 5 inches long so no worry there. I did suck up two baby goldies that I found in the discharge bag and they seemed to be fine. Although I don't think they enjoyed the ride. :lol:

Fm3

Activated carbon has lots of little tiny sites in it where organic compounds and other chemicals can stick. Think of it like you rolling or throwing things like potato chips, gumballs, popcorn, etc. over a plush rug. Some things stick to the rug and stay there (until you remove it or the rug). That's kind of what the carbon does.

Carbon = charcoal for the most part

It should be activated which means it has the most of those little holes in it. You can look up how it's activated on-line if you want. I think they super heat it.

All established ponds will have some debris on the bottom. Vacuuming the bottom and adding good bacteria will reduce the mulm layer (organic material) but bacteria can't do anything with the silt (ground up rocks, etc.).