How can I control the water quality within my pond?

When people think about having a pond most people worry about having a pond with water that resembles pea soup more than a peaceful refuge.  Believe it or not, you can operate a pond with clear water and it can be simpler than you think. 

First off, I would suggest listening to the on of the free audios you would have received when you became a member of this site.  The interview with Aaron Powers will be very helpful and help relieve a lot of fear you may have.

Now, let me address your concerns.  I have had the privilege of talking with many professionals within the water garden and ponding industry, and I have heard one overwhelming theme through all my conversations.  “Don’t panic but do it right the first time.”  Each pond is essentially its own ecosystem.  Install the right sized pump, bio filter and skimmer for the volume of your pond and fill the pond with plants.  You must have plants in the pond; they are really your first line of defense to keep a clear pond.  They actually compete with algae for the nutrients within the water.  The plants actually filter the water. 

It is not advised to add algicides to clear up the water.  Algicides can actually make the situation worse.  Because the pond is its own ecosystem it is teaming with life right down to all the beneficial bacteria that develop in the water and through the bio filter or bio falls you installed.  Algicides can kill the very bacteria that your pond needs to create a healthy eco-system.  Algicides kill the algae in the pond and that algae can settle on the bottom.  As it decomposes it creates the very components that promote further algae growth and algae development.  It can actually grow in thicker after an algicide treatment.

So what should you do?  Making sure you have the right sized equipment in the pond and functioning correctly will be a great start.  Secondly, fill the pond with plants and let nature do the rest (for a basic guideline on how many plants to put in the pond check out .  Your pond may need time for the eco-system to balance out.  It is important not to panic and react too soon by using a chemical “solution”.  Just watch nature take its course.  You will be amazed at the results.

Garth Epp Publisher, BuildingMyPond.com 

Hi my name is Lynn and have been learning about ponds on a trial and error basis. I live in Northeast Nebraska and I was determined to have this beautiful natural enviroment.  I have a good variety of plants, fish, good pump and filter system, clean the filter daily, and yet the algae persists.  So I used barley bails in the intake and outflow  and changed them monthly and still algae. It would get so bad, we couldn't see the fish.  Horrible, murky yuk!!  That was last year. Then this year a pond friend introduced me to Algaefix. I know its against all your thinking, but WOW, does it make pond care easy.  Beautiful clear water with so little effort!!!  Sorry, but I'm hooked on this stuff and don't care to go back to working on the "natural enviroment".  My koi are thriving, growing bigger everyday and reproducing. Last year we saw little growth and the numbers stayed the same. My plants, especially water lilies, did so much better this year. So I am one who is a proponent of chemicals. Sorry but I do think they have their place in the world of ponds. I had carefully studied all the materials I received from your emails  last year, and was determined to go your route. But now I know their are two ways of thinking when it comes to ponds.

Next time I'll share what I learned from winterizing in NE Nebr.