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Can aquatic soil turn pond brown?

Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
in Problem solving
A couple of years ago my bowl pond was mostly lily roots, but crystal clear, so I cleaned it all out, and split & repotted the lilies and curly pond weed in aquatic soil. (I'd added slate rocks which messed it up, but took them all out on @Lyn's advice, and everything looked great). Then it slowly started to go brown again - like a tannin rather than mud brown.
I checked for stray slate, and cleared the few leaves out, but there's nothing obvious in there.
I took the yellow flag out a few days ago and potted it up in clay soil & water - the water is clear.
Should I dump the soil out the pots and just put clay mud in? 

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  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    When planting into a pond, assuming you are using pots or baskets, line the baskets with hessian or plastic and leave enough spare to wrap around the plant (loosely) and then cover with gravel to stop the soil coming out.  Fish will try to dig into the soil otherwise.  If using plastic make plenty of cuts in it to allow the water in.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    edited May 2023
    I did use hessian, and gravel on top. 
    There's no fish in there.. the only difference now from before is the soil. 😕 It should settle regardless though shouldn't it? There's nothing to stir it up. 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I find the same when using aquatic soil.
    It looks a bit muddy for a few days but soon clears.
    I don't line with hessian but do put gravel on top, then give it a good soak before gently putting it in the water.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    This has been over a year Pete, and the first time I've actually potted up pond plants rather than just chuck them on silt - only there wasn't much silt to keep after the roots were cleared! 
    It just doesn't look like mud, but I have no idea why it would have tannins in there. 🤔
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    That doesn't sound right - I know what you mean about tannins - I used to breed tetras and used peat in the filter so the water although crystal clear always had a brown tint.
    If there's no peat in the aquatic compost, could it be leaching from any wood that is in the pond?
    The murk from aquatic soil usually clears in a few days.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I have added nothing to my pond except a littlr fsh food for 5++ years.  It is a clear but brown colour.  Isn't that what pond water is?

    I have never used pond-soil. just clean shingle.  I force my plants to get all their nutrient from the water.  No chemicals either, It seems to work.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    If your bowl is made of steel or similar could it be rust that is colouring the water?

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    The last time I bought/used aquatic soil was about 10 years ago for some water lillies. I never noticed any problems. The pond was quite large tho - about 4 mts x 3 at the widest point and just over 1 m  deep in the centre. Lots of plants and aquatic life. 
    Could the makeup of the aquatic soil have altered in recent years ? 
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    edited May 2023
    It's a small fibreglass pond so it's nothing leaching from that..
    I don't know about your pond @bédé, is it large? The last one I did was crystal clear with nothing added ever, we did get the plants (and snails) from the local chasewater ponds, as we didn't know not to! It was about 7x6x3ft. 
    I've never used aquatic soil before, so I don't know about the constituents. I'll see of I can remember what make it was.
    @Pete.8 no there's not been wood in it since last year. 
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    edited May 2023
    I found the bag, it was Velda aquatic compost - "based on peat.." - I didn't check when I bought it, but I also wouldn't have thought it would bother the water. 🤷‍♀️
    I've just washed off the plant roots and repotted them, the roots are good but the leaves are not particularly healthy. I'll see what happens.. 
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