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Common Pond Discolouration Problems

<p>Keeping ponds can be difficult; there are a lot of things that you should be looking out for. One of which is the colour of the pond. The pond may be clear, green, cloudy, brown, foamy, and black. Here, we have outlined various things you should be looking out for, what the discolouration may mean and what you can do to resolve the issue.&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: left;" align="center"><strong>Green Water and Slimy Algae (Useful Blogs: <a title="Green Water and Slimy Algae" href="../blog/green-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green Water and Slimy Algae</a>)</strong></p> <p>Green Water and Slimy Algae are the result of a build-up of algae in the pond. This can result in the pond turning green (like pea soup; a common way to describe a build-up of algae) or you may see furry growths on exposed areas of the pond (logs, rocks and on the liner).</p> <p>It is normally best to treat green water with a treatment, like <strong><a href="../pondxpert-green-water-beaters-bogof/p2466">Green Water Beaters</a></strong> or the <strong><a href="../blagdon-clear-pond-1000ml/p467">Blagdon Clear Pond</a></strong>. But you should check the status of your UV bulb, add plants, or consider adding an extra <strong><a href="../uvc-units/s55">UV clarifier</a></strong>. Please see the below table for more information.</p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="width: 1389px; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; height: 565px;" border="1" width="699" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong>Cause</strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong>Treatment</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 45.45pt; text-align: center;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; height: 45.45pt;" width="112"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><a href="../blog/why-temperature-plays-a-big-role-in-pond-development">Warm Temperatures and Sunlight</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; height: 45.45pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">Green algae thrive in these conditions; it&rsquo;s worth trying to cover the pond and add shade or add surface plants (Lillies are great for this!)</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><a href="../blog/benefits-of-uv-filtration-in-your-pond">Lack of UV filtration</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">If your UV is too small for your pond or for the number of fish, this can be the reason why the pond turns green.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><a href="../blog/air-pumps-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lack of Aeration</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">Extra oxygen boosts healthy bacterial colonisation. This in turn helps to keep the ecosystem balanced by controlling Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><a title="Water Quality" href="../blog/the-quality-of-your-pond-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nutrient Imbalance</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">Excess nutrients (Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates) feed algae. These chemicals come from excess sludge, fish waste and fish food. Making sure to keep the pond clean and filtered properly helps to reduce this as a problem.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><a title="Pond Plants" href="../blog/pond-plants-29" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lack of Plants</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">Plants help to provide oxygen into the pond, alongside waterfalls and fountains. But plants can also control the chemicals in the water, provide shade and places for fish to hide.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Overstocked Pond</p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">If your pond has a lot of fish, your filter system may not be adequate. This can also result in fish producing more waste, which decomposes and causes a <strong>Nutrient Imbalance</strong>.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><a href="../blog/fish-food-when-to-feed-your-fish-and-what-food-to-use">Overfeeding Fish</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">Put simply; feeding too much allows excess food to decompose and form sludge. This can cause a <strong>Nutrient Imbalance</strong>.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border-right: 1.5pt solid #538135; border-bottom: 1.5pt solid #538135; border-left: 1.5pt solid #538135; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; text-align: center;" width="112"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><a href="../blog/new-pond-syndrome">New Pond Syndrome</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center">A new pond takes time to go through the Nitrogen Cycle. This is a normal process where your pond has spikes of Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates.&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Signs of NPS in your fish include fish that are not eating, they may be gasping at the surface or sulking from other fish. These are common signs of stress.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="text-align: left;" align="center"><strong>Cloudy Water (Useful Blogs: <a title="Cloudy Water" href="../blog/cloudy-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cloudy Water</a>)</strong></p> <p>Cloudy Water can be a sign of many things, most notably excess sludge in the pond or a lack of aeration. You should check the areas below, but generally the <a href="../pondxpert-anticloudy-water-1000ml/p3445"><strong>PondXpert</strong> <strong>Anti-Cloudy Water</strong></a> treatment can help.</p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="width: 1389px; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; height: 384px;" border="1" width="699" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center"><strong>Cause</strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center"><strong>Treatment</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center"><strong><a href="../blog/pond-sludge-how-to-prevent-and-treat-it">Sludge / Decaying Matter</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">Cloudy water is generally caused by debris in the pond, which is causing the water to go murky. It could be a sign that the filter has not been cleaned or the foams need to be replaced.</p> <p align="center">A sludge treatment (like the <a href="../pondxpert-sludge-eliminator-1kg/p3523"><strong>Sludge Eliminator</strong></a><strong>)</strong> may be helpful if this is the cause.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center"><strong><a href="../blog/air-pumps-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lack of Aeration</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">The murkiness in the pond could be down to a lack of healthy bacteria in the pond. The healthy bacteria normally help to keep the pond clean, clear, and free of sludge.</p> <p align="center">Other signs of a lack of aeration include fish gasping at the surface, foul odours, and rapid algae development.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center"><strong><a href="../blog/new-pond-syndrome">New Pond Syndrome</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">A new pond takes time to go through the Nitrogen Cycle. This is a normal process where your pond has spikes of Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates.</p> <p align="center">Signs of NPS in your fish include fish that are not eating, they may be gasping at the surface or sulking from other fish. These are common signs of stress.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="text-align: left;" align="center"><strong>Brown Water (Useful Blogs: <a title="Brown Water" href="../blog/why-is-my-pond-brown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brown Water</a>)</strong></p> <p>Brown Water is an uncommon problem. It is easy to diagnose the cause, but potentially difficult to treat.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The cause is either tannins (chemicals) or floating sediment. To identify the cause, you should take a glass of water from the pond and leave it on a surface for an hour.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[endif]-->&bull; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">If there is sediment at the bottom of the glass, then the brown water is caused by sediment. This can be difficult to treat.</span><br />* The first thing to try is ensure that you have fine filter foams in your filtration.<br /><!-- [if !supportLists]-->* A <strong><a title="Electronic Pond Vacuums" href="../vacelectronic/s17" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vacuum with a discharge basket</a></strong>, or a <strong><a title="Pond Netting" href="../pond-netting/s66" target="_blank" rel="noopener">net with a fine mesh</a></strong>, can be used to remove the sediment.<br />* The next step is to do a partial water change.<br />* The last resort is to commit to a full water change.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->&bull; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">If the water remains brown, the cause is tannins. This will need to be treated with a bacterial treatment, like </span><a href="../pondxpert-throw-n-go-pond-gel-balls-8-for-5-deal/p3477"><strong>PondXpert Gel Balls</strong></a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Foamy Water</span></strong><strong> (Useful Blogs: <a title="Foamy Water" href="../blog/foamy-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foamy Water</a>)</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Foamy water can be a sign of an underlying problem that needs to be treated quickly. It is normally due to a build-up of protein in the pond from organic matter (mainly food from overfeeding!) or from decaying plant material.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">You should test your water as soon as possible to see if there is a chemical imbalance in the pond. It may be beneficial to commit to a partial water change, as this should keep the pond healthy. Remember to dechlorinate the water or use rainwater.</p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="width: 1389px; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; height: 278px;" border="1" width="699" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center"><strong>Cause</strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center"><strong>Treatment</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center">A suitable Pump and Filter</p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">If the pump and filter is not suitable for the pond, they can&rsquo;t filter the water effectively. The UV will be undersized, there won&rsquo;t be enough foams or biomedia.</p> <p align="center">It is best to remove any sludge present using a treatment, net, or vacuum.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center">Overstocked Pond</p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">As above, an overstocked pond may result in your filter system not being adequate. This can also result in fish producing more waste, which decomposes and causes a <strong>Nutrient Imbalance</strong>.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center"><strong><a href="../blog/fish-food-when-to-feed-your-fish-and-what-food-to-use">Overfeeding Fish</a></strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">Put simply; feeding too much allows excess food to decompose and form sludge. This can cause a <strong>Nutrient Imbalance</strong>.</p> <p align="center">Excess food, particularly food high in protein, can cause a foamy pond. If the cause is overfeeding, then you should give their fish less food and the issue should clear up within 2-3 weeks.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="text-align: left;" align="center"><strong>Black Water (Useful Blogs: <a title="Black Water" href="../blog/black-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Water</a>)</strong></p> <p>Black water is a very unusual problem that pond keepers may experience. It is not normally dangerous to fish, but the underlying causes may be dangerous. You should test the pond water straight away if your pond water is black.</p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="width: 1390px; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; height: 39px;" border="1" width="699" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center"><strong>Cause</strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center"><strong>Treatment</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center">Waste or Low Oxygen</p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">A suitable pump and filter system will keep the pond suitably filtered by removing sludge, preventing algae build up and balancing the chemicals in the pond. But an aerator can help to improve the healthy bacteria in the pond. These help to prevent the water turning black.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center">Damaged Pond Liner</p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">A damaged pond liner can cause water levels to drop, or sediment and minerals to seep into the pond from below. This normally causes the water to turn brown, but it can lead to black water.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="width: 84.3pt; border: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-themeshade: 191; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="112"> <p align="center">Chemicals or Algae?</p> </td> <td style="width: 439.95pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 191; border-right: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-right-themeshade: 191; mso-border-top-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-top-themeshade: 191; mso-border-left-alt: solid #538135 1.5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-left-themeshade: 191; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" width="587"> <p align="center">The water could have turned black from a chemical imbalance in the pond from using too many treatments. Some pondkeepers report black water and tell us they are regularly using treatments for preventative measures. Treatments should only be used sparingly in this case; not on a regular basis.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>If you have any queries, please email us on <strong>info@pondkeeper.co.uk</strong>.</p>
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