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New Pond - water color

Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
in Problem solving
Created a new raised pond 2.5mtrs SQ (Sleepers) and half is 900mm deep the other 600mm deep. Butyl liner.   20th August'ish.

Waited a little over a week before adding plants (water colour at this stage had started to turn slightly green, i was expecting this).  This is where my problem could be.  B/H Weekend.

Over the next few days i was expecting the pond to continue to colour up a darker green and it did.   The Wood Pigeons are regular visitors already, Robin practically drowned itself yesterday.  Wasps drinking all day long and a darter (Dragonfly to most) today.

However...... all of a sudden (overnight) the pond is starting to clear and turn a pale golden brown colour along with sediment forming a thin golden brown film of sludge on plants, pots, rocks and even the vertical side of the butyl liner.   Some submerged leafs are dying back.

Aquatic compost is expensive and i read somewhere that as an alternative if you dig down deep (two or more spade depths) take and use the soil below, this is acceptable.  I'm now wondering!

Or do i have nothing to worry about and i should just wait for the pond to sort itself out?

Is the green algae dying, turning brown and settling?

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Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I think it sounds fine. 
    Devon.
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    I have used clay based cat litter in the past for planting
  • NewBoy2NewBoy2 Posts: 1,813
    I would check that nothing has fallen into the pond like some earth or oil or bird food.

    When oil is added to water it creates a thin film.

    Good luck.
    Everyone is just trying to be Happy.....So lets help Them.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd guess the oily film is the pigeons - bathing.Starlings leave an oily film too. Nothing to worry about. It goes away   :)
    Most plants just need a medium which isn't too rich, so ordinary garden soil is often fine, especially from lower down. 
    As already said - It's early days, and very little to worry about  :)

    The one thing that stands out to me though - you said there was sludge on the 'vertical side of the liner'. There shouldn't really be any liner showing, except occasionally when there's a bit of evaporation in hot weather. You may need to fill it up. If liner's showing only in one place, it means the pond isn't level, so you'd need to either address that, or have some planting to hide it  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
    edited September 2020
    Thank you everybody who has replied.   I can add that there is no oily residue on the surface of the pond.  The sides of the pond are vertical and the pond is at the deepest end 900mm deep.  The liner is submerged but it is still visible through the water.  This pond is still in construction though as the top has not been capped off yet.  Haven't made our minds up yet what to cap off with, stone, various preformed concrete products or timber.

    Putting my hand and arm under water and rubbing my hand over the vertical side of the butyl liner and i rub off a slimy brown sludge as i go.

    Pond water continues to clear in colour and opacity each day and the brown sludge is becoming more noticeable.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't think you need to worry. Sludge and algae appear on a new pond and will tend to cover the sides. 
    Have you got a sloped edge anywhere though? Vertical sides all round aren't great for access for wildlife, including birds. They need a wee shallow bit to bathe and drink safely.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
    We have built up some areas with stone up to the surface to provide bathing pools and places for wildlife to settle on and drink from.  We have provided an escape route for anything that may need it which also provides a way in too.  Planks of timber, temporary at the mo until we construct something better, something that looks more natural and pleasing to the eye.

    Work in progress.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm sure it'll be fine - a pond is such a lovely thing to have in a garden. Look forward to seeing some pix when you have it all finished  :) 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
    Some Photos. Please accept that the pond isn't finished.... work in progress.  You can clearly see the problem.


  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    You can relax ... this is not a problem ... it’s just a stage in the process your pond has to go through as it establishes an ecosystem.
    Your pond is going to be gorgeous 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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